Gettysburg and Meal of the Week

Gettysburg
On Friday, May 30th, I went to Gettysburg, PA with a few people from church to see the Gettysburg National Military Park and Gettysburg National Cemetery.  We left early at around 8:00 am.  Gettysburg is about 1 hour and 40 minutes away from Alexandria.

While in the Visitor Center, we did many activities. We saw a movie about Gettysburg.  Afterwards we went to the Cyclorama.  The Cylcorama is massive oil-on-canvas paintings enhanced with landscaped foregrounds featuring grasses and fences. A 3-D view surrounded me while I stood on a central platform, literally placing me in the center of the battle. This painting brings the fury of the final Confederate assault on July 3, 1863 to life, providing a view with a sense of what occurred at the battle long touted as the turning point of the Civil War.  Then we went through the museum that over viewed the whole Civil War especially the Battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Address.

After the Visitor Center we traveled to Eisenhower's house and farm and the Gettysburg's battlefield, while doing a self-guided tour.  The Eisenhowers bought a house right next to the Gettysburg battlefield as a retirement home after Dwight after WWII.  Dwight wanted to take up farming and raised black angus cattle.  Eisenhower was able to accept gifts as president (last one to do so) and his house filled with them.  Next we went to Gettysburg battlefield.  The battlefield is huge!  It took us about 45 minutes to go over the while self guided tour.  Along there road there a ton of signs and monuments.  There are monuments to different divisions from each side of the conflict.  I could not believe how many signs and monuments were present.  They appears to occur every 100 feet.

I had a really enjoyable time!  I am glad I was able to see where brave men laid down their lives for principle of human equality as espoused by Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg address.

Meal of the Week
This week I made soft shell tacos.  I made the tacos by browning then draining ground beef (85/15).  Adding water and a taco seasoning pack to the drained ground beef.  The taco meat, salsa, and cheese was added to a flour tortilla.  I was able to make 6 soft shell tacos.

Gettysburg Visitor Center

Cyclorama 

Cyclorama and I

Statue of Abraham Lincoln

Rock with Gettysburg Address

Eisenhower's Stable and Secret Service Station

Eisenhower's Farm

Eisenhower's House

Main Room of Eisenhower's House

Main Room of Eisenhower's House

Eisenhower Golfing Green

Battlefield

Battlefield

Battlefield

Battlefield with Cannons

Battlefield

Cemetery 

Me with Gettysburg Battlefield Behind Me

 

View of Battlefield from Little Round Top

Iowa and DC Memorial Day Parade

Iowa
I was in Iowa for a little over a week.  Among other events, I attended Josh's graduation from the University of Iowa, helped prepare the house for Jake's graduation party, attended Jake's graduation party, and visited with friends and family.  I had an enjoyable time.

DC Memorial Day Parade
After shopping with Jon who got a GoPro for his 3 month work trip to Austria that starts on May 30th, I went to the DC Memorial Day Parade.  I was near the beginning of the parade at the corner of 7th Street NW and Constitution.  A parade route can be found here.  I saw multiple high school marching bands, units from all areas of the armed forces, American Revolutionary Army actors, and Gary Sinise.

Midshipman at Navy Memorial Laying a Wreath Near Parade Route

Police at the Beginning of the Parade

Sign with Official Title for the Parade

A Member of All Branches of the Armed Services Marching Together

All Branches of the Armed Services Marching Together

Air Force Marching

American Revolutionary Army Actors Marching

Pentagon Tour and Embassies of an EU Countries

Pentagon Tour

The headquarters of the US Department of Defense opened its door to me for a tour on May 9th.  I was excited!  This is one of the few things in DC that I want to do that I have not done yet.  The other two I can recall off hand are go up the Washington Monument and go into an embassy.  A friend from church was gracious enough to offer me his time and give me a tour.  I really appreciated it.  Before the tour, I went outside to the 9/11 Memorial for all of those who died in the Pentagon when a terrorist plane struct the Pentagon.  We went through different corridors that each had it own mini museum.  There were corridors for General Douglas MacArthur, the Air Force, the Coast Gaurd, POWs and MIAs, humanitarian efforts, and a timeline of all wars and major conflicts in US Military history.  I was not able to see all of the mini museums.  We spent a fair amount of time in the Air Force corridor because my friend is biased towards the Air Force because of his previous career in the Air Force and his schooling at the Air Force Academy.  I learned a lot about planes and the Air Force.

Embassies of EU Countries

After making 125 boxes of food to ship to northern Virginia at the Christ House Food Pantry, I went to an Open House of many European Union (EU) countries.  Due to arriving late because of volunteering, there were many people and long lines at all of the embassies that were a part of the Open House.  I was able to get into the British embassy to see the Ambassador's residence and cars from Britain.  During my time at the British Embassy, it started to rain.  I was unprepared for the weather without my umbrella, which I left at home.  So rather than wait in line for at least 2 hours in the rain or in wet clothes to see only one more embassy, I decided to head home.  Next time, I plan on being at the event earlier and bring my umbrella.

Nats vs. Dodgers

Nats vs. Dodgers
On Tuesday, May 6th, I went to a Nats vs. Dodgers game with a few friends from the Patent Office.  One of my friends is from North Hollywood and a casual Dodgers fan.  He wore his Dodgers hat to the game.  We left from work plenty early to make sure each one of us received a Washington Nationals shopping bag.  The shopping bags were only available for the first 25,000 fans.  One of my friends bought peanuts and sunflower seed, which he graciously shared with all of us.  Our seats were in a great location and great price ($8 per seat).  I would expect nothing less from the person who bought the tickets, which was me.  We were in the 5th row in the second section in from the foul pole in left field (i.e. Section 105).  We were close to the exit and in prime position to catch a home run ball.  Before the game, Clayton Kershaw was warming up on near the warning track right in front of us.  I was able to snap a few pictures.  This was his first start this season in the US.  He strained a back muscle in a game against the Diamondbacks in Australia.

We had a fun time at the game.  I helped a friend pick out a Nats hat.  We talked while the game progressed.  I left the game in about the 7th inning because I wanted to get back home.  I wanted to get home, so I could get some rest before work the next day.  One of my friends who stayed said another friend got a home run ball and threw the ball back on the field.  My friend said the ball ended being right where I was sitting.  All of this occurred about 2 minutes after I left.  I am disappointed, but I am affirmed the location of my tickets are good to get a home run ball.  The Nats ended up losing 8-3.

Washington Nationals Shopping Bag

Clayton Kershaw Warming Up

Clayton Kershaw Warming Up