Capital Beauty
While watching the inauguration of the president and all the festivities
accompanying it this week, I was reminded that there are some truly beautiful
buildings and monuments in the U.S. capital, and some lovely scenery, as well.
With the exception of the images at Arlington Cemetery, the photos on this page
were all taken in Washington, D.C., a city not only rich in history, but filled with
impressive architecture, imposing monuments and a place where nature puts
on a show that's hard to top every year at cherry blossom time.  --  Nancy
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A tree in full bloom in the garden of the National Cathedral --
the Cathedral can be seen in the background.
A block of Washinton's unique and colorful row houses.
Above, sunrise at the Library of Congress --
two photos below, interior of the Library.
Lion statue outside of Union Station.
Capitol building
The grave of French-born architect and engineer, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, sits atop a hill
in Arlington Cemetery, overlooking the city he helped design.  L'Enfant died in poverty in
1825, his only possessions were some books, maps, surveying instruments and a watch.
He was buried in a nondescript grave in Maryland.  In 1909, at the urging of the French
ambassador, L'Enfant's contributions to his adopted country were recognized and,
after lying in state in the Capitol rotunda, his remains were re-interred at Arlington.
In 1911, a monument engraved with his plan for the city was placed on his grave.
Statue of President Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Memorial
President Roosevelt and his dog, Fala, at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
The memorial includes a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt, honoring her dedication to
the United Nations.  It's the only presidential memorial to depict a First Lady.
The White House
Statue of President Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson Memorial
Above and below, cherry trees near the Tidal Basin.
National Cathedral
National Archives
National World War II Memorial;
below, photos left at the memorial tell one family's story.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Capitol building, dressed up for the 2013 Inauguration.
The most visited gravesites in Arlington Cemetery are those of
President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Recently, I was going through some boxes of books and came across a book I'd long
ago forgotten I had, "Quotations from the Scripture by John Fitzgerald Kennedy."
I can't find a date of publication, but it appears to have been compiled after the
President's death.  The quotes were taken from speeches on occasions when he'd
quoted or referred to Bible verses, with a note about the context.  The quote below
was taken from President Kennedy's inaugural address on January 21, 1961.
Now the trumpet summons us again, not as a call to battle, but a call to bear the burden
of a long struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" - a
struggle against the common enemies of man:  poverty, disease and war itself.  -- JFK
Since it was the inauguration this week that gave me the idea for this page, it seems
fitting to end the page with an inaugural quote.  This one references Romans 12:12: