VETERANS DAY

Working in Washington D.C. offers a unique experience and appreciation for Veterans Day. Last year as I walked along the National Mall on this day of remembrance, a group of ROTC in uniform were standing around a flag while being instructed by their leader. A few yards away a family picnicked on the grass. Groups of veterans on motorcycles were already beginning their weekend-long rides through the city, while overhead, two Blue and White Hueys thundered above, transporting Washington power players to their destination. I watched with special appreciation as I passed by the WW2 Memorial and the sea of names on the Vietnam Memorial. As I later cabbed from downtown D.C. to the airport, we passed the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. While crossing the Potomac on my way to Reagan National, I could easily see the Pentagon, the towering 9/11 Memorial, and off in the distance, Arlington Cemetery. I felt a mix of emotions as I prayed for this nation and for those who have fought in so many wars, especially for those who died or sustained permanent injuries while defending our nation. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU, VETERANS!!!