Friday and Saturday Mornings..We are in beautiful Washington, D.C.

Well Friday morning found us waking up at the Tracy's cabin in western Alleghany County at 5:30. We actually didn't sleep to well due to a strange bed but the accommodations were very nice after a relaxing supper and then the gals won again in Spades; but at least the score was close and the final hand determined the winners. We headed out just at day break and had an uneventful trip up I-77 to I-81.

We stopped in Christiansburg for a delicious breakfast at Cracker Barrel around 9'ish. That held us until late evening supper at Outback after a very busy afternoon. We headed into D.C. on route 50 which runs through the area and west to Winchester which I drove on most of my teen age years. Kathryn got us passes into Arlington Cemetery as her mom and dad are interred there. I also remembered an old childhood friend from Mt. Falls who served during WW11. Col. Kurstedt had a young daughter who was a year older than me and we played together daily before I went to live with my uncle away from the small community where they came to live during the summer from Pittsburg. We eventually went to high school together when their family moved permanently to Mt. Falls and stayed life long friends until we all went our separate ways in life. He and his wife Betty are both interred there.

We framed around the cemetery for nearly 4 hours looking up other important or significant soldiers from the various wars these men and women served their country. When one gazes upon the rows after rows of various tombstones the reality of the price of freedom become self evident. We also were fortunate to see the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which was very solemn. To think these men who guard the tomb is a 24/7 and 365 days a year honor. We then were able to motor around this huge complex whereas most visitors were on foot. We visited the Civil War area as well as the most recent grave site of the general killed in Afghanistan. We also happened upon a cortege with a 6 white horse caisson with complete honor guard and the burial of another soldier being interred into this hallowed ground.

We visited the Eternal Flame and graves of the

Kennedy's and learned the mansion on the property was at one time before the Civil War belonged Gen. Robert E. Lee. The cemetery property overlooks the Potomac River and the Pentagon is just across the way. What an unbelievable beautiful site with the perfect placement of tomb stones. Well we could have spent more hours there as we visited some grave sites and I learned I am eligible for burial there as well after serving during the wartime of the Vietnam era. What an honor bestowed upon these who gave their lives for their country. Only those who served during a war time event can receive this final honor of burial as well as their wives can be interred with them as well.

We had an awesome supper at Outback before heading to our Parkview Marriott. Wow the hotel is  first class and were on the 14th floor. The Tracy's made this a birthday present to me and wow did they ever do great, LATER