Day 4 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Today was to be our busiest day of the trip; and indeed, it didn't disappoint. So much to do, that we did a little schedule modification to accommodate the most important sights and reschedule some others.

We started off in line for the Holocaust Museum hoping to get tickets. And to our surprise, we got in at 10:30am (it opened at 10:00am). After MUCH debating, and speaking to many people that had been through prior, we were torn as to allow Hannah and Jackson to go through. So our first stop, once inside, was Daniel's Story - a family friendly exhibit, geared toward children, as told through Daniel, a survivor who was only 11 years old during the Holocaust. Hannah found comfort realizing that she too is eleven; and Jackson related to all of the "little boy" antics displayed in Daniel's Story.

Afterward, we agreed to go through the main exhibit, as a family. Of course, at most of the graphic displays (which bluntly depict the insanity of the Nazis) there is a barrier wall to block those who aren't intended to view that particular display. Other than the obvious grotesque reactions to such vile ideas, and the unimaginable fate of more than 6 million Jews, we didn't speak much of the "why". With Taylor having recently completed the Holocaust section in school, and Aubrey currently in the mix of it, we spoke more on the "how"; How could that have happened? How could the world have turned while 6 million people were systematically exterminated? How, how, how??? To which Aubrey explained to us that it is more understandable than most people think - through social conditioning: a concept where you and I are more apt to condone, or accept, or go along with an idea, although contrary to our own, if we have been socially conditioned to do so, and if we can deflect that blame to someone else. But I still found myself thinking, how in the world did this happen? Still without an answer, I did find comfort in knowing that the United States military, and our allies, eventually defeated the Nazis and liberated the Jews in captivity. At the end of the exhibit we visited with a Holocaust Survivor. Very emotional. Very deep.

Then we proceeded to the Washington Monument and westerly along the mall. Of course one could sit and look upward at the monument, from every imaginable distance and angle, for hours; taking more photos each time. Truly a spectacular site. I had so much fun listening to Jack rattle off his recently acquired knowledge of the height and reason for the difference in shades of color.

As we approached the Word War II Monument, it was apparent that there was a very large group there ahead of us. Jack asked me if they were all from Boise State -  as everyone in this group was wearing blue or orange shirts. What we learned was, that this was a group from Honor Flight - a nonprofit group dedicated to assembling groups of WWII vets and bringing them to Washington D.C. to experience their monument. If there were only three events that could collectively encompass all of my thoughts and feelings about our nation's capitol, this was one of them. The kids were able to meet, shake hands, and thank dozens of WWII vets. Of those that we met, I especially enjoyed having our picture taken with Les Gadbury. As a young Marine, Les was a part of the invasion of Iwo Jima. Unbelievable - we all got to shake hands and visit with an actual Iwo Jima survivor. At 88 years old, Les was walking about (one of the only few not in a wheelchair), joking with the kids, and giving us all big hugs. What a priceless moment!

Simply hearing about the Korean War Statues (whether from second hand experiences, reading about them online, or seeing them on TV) could not possibly do to them justice. Walking along the mall and coming across 19 larger than life military statues, as if on a patrol, is so captivating you simply have to see them in person. We loved, loved, loved this phenomenal tribute to America's forgotten war.

(Shortly after we ordered our MIA/KIA Vietnam bracelets, long before we departed from Boise, Idaho, I made a very interesting connection. Hannah chose to wear the bracelet of John "Jack" Geoghegan. Portrayed in the movie We Were Soldiers, Jack Geoghegan [Gee-gan] was the young Lieutenant whose wife gave birth to his baby daughter, Cammie, just prior to his deployment to Vietnam. Soon after, while rescuing his fellow soldier, Jack was shot and killed. I contacted his daughter and told her about Hannah wanting to wear her father's bracelet. Cammie was so supportive of Hannah, and our family blog, that she has since contacted Hannah with very sweet, thankful comments for memorializing her father. Ironically, Cammie lives in Virginia and rearranged her scheduled so she could meet us at The Wall.)

En route to Vietnam Memorial, I notified Cammie of our estimated time of arrival. After making our way past the construction of the Reflecting Pool, we came in plain sight of that black granite wall. Perhaps one of the heaviest concepts of our journey, we would all soon have the opportunity to locate our fallen soldier on The Wall. Near the center of the monument I was approached by a very classy, blond haired woman, only a few years older than I, "You must be the Schultz family?" she asked. What an amazing experience for Hannah, and all of us, to meet the daughter of one of the names on The Wall. Cammie kindly took Hannah and showed her where her father's name is etched in black. She then helped Hannah do the rubbing of Jack Geoghegan's name. And we visited for nearly an hour, sharing stories with one another; laughing and crying. What an incredible lady she was. She rearranged her schedule and traveled for hours - to meet us, complete strangers, at The Wall. Thank you Cammie! You will never know how much your sweetness meant to our family. Afterward, we each located our selected name on The Wall. I watched the kids trace their honored name with such respect and dignity. It was a moment that I will never forget.

Our day ended, as planned, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. We climbed up and stood at the feet of Old Abe, seated, overlooking Washington D.C. We read the two writings on the interior walls (the Gettysburg Address and his 2nd Inaugural Address - said to be his two greatest speeches) and to Jack's request, walked the outer perimeter of the monument. Now it was night time. As I stood on the very square from which Martin Luther King, Jr. declared, "I have a dream!" I realized that I had just accomplished one of mine.

Semper Fi!
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