The National Memorial Day Parade presented by Boeing returned to Constitution Ave. between 7th &…read more17th Ave with pre-parade musical performances starting at 1:00 & a 2:00 parade afterwards. We attended in person and it was televised around the world. The story of American 's sacrifice is shared from Washington, DC and beyond. This year's parade is hosted by actor-comedians Anthony Anderson and Drew Carey. We saw dignitaries, high school bands, antique cars, horses, veterans, veteran groups & costumed historic figures.

Decided to volunteer my time earlier this year to help with registration at the brain cancer/tumor…read morerun. It was a rainy day but the organization is pretty well on top of things so I was able to assist several people during their check-in's smoothly. Freedom plaza feels right in the heart of DC and with police regulating traffic and parking, everything was straightforward. Freedom plaza is a great location for DC events.

This plaza is along Pennsylvania Avenue, directly between the White House & the Capitol. The stone…read morepavers of Freedom Plaza depict a map of Washington, DC, according to planner Pierre Charles L'Enfant's plan for the city. There were tiles with profound sayings by: George Washington, Alexander Graham Bell, Mark Twain, Fredrick Douglas, MLK, Lincoln, Hoover, Emerson, Henry James ... I enjoyed reading the meaningful sayings in the pavement & some are totally worn out. There was a lot to read & look at, i didn't want to bore you by cutting @ pasting. The plaza could easily be overlooked, but it's worth stopping to read.

Stumbled into this museum and history space directly across from the nat geo building in downtown…read moreDC. Came across some fascinating DC public schools archival documents and memorabilia they had on display. This venue also hosts programs and events on its various floors.

The Charles Sumner School Museum is a hidden gem; it is one of the first sites, historically, that…read morewas dedicated to African American education, and with links to Chinese American history as well since the earliest Qing-dynasty Chinese students also studied here. Highly recommend this place.

My husband had always wanted to see the Friday Evening Parade, so we reserved tickets for the two…read moreof us and his father to see the presentation. I didn't really know much about the 8th and I traditions, so the experience was a really beautiful look into the discipline and pageantry of the Marine Corps. We parked at the recommended lot ($15) and took the huge MC bus to the drop off point. (I seriously have no idea how they navigate that bus through the tiny streets, but it was a very comfortable ride.) At the gate, you can scan your QR code on the emailed tickets, or they can look up the name for your party on their digital list. There was plenty of stadium seating, and they made sure everyone knew where they could get water or locate the bathrooms. They also have a small outdoor gift shop and offer veteran discounts. Before the presentation started, some members of the band came out to visit with the audience and answer questions. The actual parade was amazing. The precision and form of each group was flawless, and the music was specially organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America. The Silent Drill Platoon was the shining star of the parade. The coordination of the routine was perfection, and the difficulty of their movements was stunning to see. The members of this platoon were masters of the craft, and it was truly an honor to see them perform in person. If you've never seen the parade before, I so highly recommend it!

Great DC and local attraction rich in history and current military appreciation goodness. Plus who…read morewouldn't find Chesty the English Bulldog and Barracks' mascot adorable (can a Marine be adorable? Maybe not.). The Silent Drill Team, two bands, and amazing drill by Marine Barracks Washington is incredibly impressive. Definitely bring water for a summer evening performance. The bleachers are cushioned but a second cushion is recommended. Gates close at 8pm and the parade starts 45 minutes later. That's a lot of sitting...but worth it! Definitely a must see!

This is a low-key memorial that is dedicated to the brave men and women of law enforcement who have…read moremade the ultimate sacrifice. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance. It is right across the street from the Law Enforcement Museum and the DC Court of Appeals. On the other side of the memorial, you will find the Building Museum. The memorial was designed by architect Davis Buckley and dedicated on October 15, 1991. It sits on three acres of federal park land. It has a water feature. However, it was dry during my visit. I looked like they were doing some maintenance on it. The Memorial also features two curving limestone walls along its perimeter, each over 300 feet long, with the names of more than 24,000 officers who died in the line of duty etched on them. The walls are a part of the memorial, along with a line of trees, called "pathways of remembrance". You will find a pathway on each side of the memorial, and each entrance is marked by a powerful statuary grouping of an adult lion protecting its cubs. The sculptures are the work of Raymond Kaskey. They symbolize the protective role of law enforcement officers and convey the strength, courage, and valor that are hallmarks of those who serve and protect. The people being honored date back to the first known death in 1786. The memorial is ever-changing. New names of fallen officers are added to it each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week. I did not see much seating at the memorial, but this place is not a park. It is meant to honor. It does have a peaceful effect, even with the Metro elevator right in the middle. This is not a destination spot, but it is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

I visited a lot of law enforcement museums, and this is the best one I have ever been so far. This…read moreis not a free museum, but it worth the money you spent. They offers law enforcement and student discount tickets. Security and staff were very friendly. My favorite were the use of force demonstration and driving stimulator that visitors can experiences how police officers handle certain situations. There was an instructor, who had 30+ years experience coaching us throughout the experience. I enjoyed that a lot. I will come back again if I happened to be in town.

The George Mason Memorial is close to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and is a lesser known one. In…read morefact, I didn't even know about it until we saw it on our way to the Jefferson Memorial. It's near the Tidal Basin and south of the FDR Memorial. George Mason is long forgotten as a founding father. He was the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights which inspired the U.S. Bill of Rights. There is a sculpture of him crossing his legs, and while there was a lot of space for the memorial there wasn't much else. The little water reservoir was empty and it just looked plain and desolate. George Mason was a forgotten father and this felt like a forgotten memorial.

If you are visiting DC seeing the monuments and memorials are a must. The George Mason Memorial is…read moreon the Hains Point Loop trail, we were not familiar with this memorial so we checked it out. George Mason was an author and his writings inspired several important documents. The memorial itself is smaller but nice. If you want a break you can sit near the fountain on a bench for a rest.

" What is the Friends Committee on National Legislation? To answer that here is three paragraphs…read morefrom the www.fcnl.org website....then I will add my two cents... The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is the largest peace lobby in Washington, DC. Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL staff and volunteers work with a nationwide network of tens of thousands of people from many different races, religions, and cultures to advocate social and economic justice, peace, and good government. FCNL is nonpartisan. FCNL is also the oldest registered ecumenical lobby in Washington, DC. The organization's legislative priorities and policies are set by a General Committee made up of some 220 Quakers from around the country. FCNL's multi-issue advocacy connects historic Quaker testimonies on peace, equality, simplicity, and truth with peace and social justice issues which the United States government is or should be addressing. FCNL is a nonpartisan 501(c)4 public interest lobby. It is neither a political action committee (PAC) nor a special interest lobby. The FCNL Education Fund is a parallel 501(c)3 organization that supports the research, analysis and education for which FCNL is known and respected. " So one of the great things about social networking on the web is that you can use it to quickly voice your feedback and opinions to political leaders. it used to be that you had to write letters and search for info-time consuming activities. Now groups like this send you info as well as links and sample letters to write President Obama and congresspeople on issues. It's that easy. Heck, President Obama used Facebook to win the election, now you can use tools as well to let him know what you want from him. I also like that this is a non-partiisan group, supporting whatever candidate helps achieve peaceful objectives. They will send you a weekly newsletter with issues. You can respond to any or none of them. Check it out at www.fcnl.org

Being careful with my charity donations, I give 75% of my donation funds to FCNL because I know for…read morea fact that the organization is staffed 100%with bright and hard-working people who accept modest compensation to dedicate their daily lives to achieving peace and justice for our country. Respected by both sides of the political aisle in Washington DC for their friendliness and willlingness to do research regardless of party affiliation, FCNL enjoys my complete trust. Unlike almost every charity I can think of they do not waste money on fancy brochures and (often double) mailings and I am confident every cent I donate will be well spent. I have come to believe that when it comes to any peace and justice issue, those who will work hardest and most cost- effectively will be FCNL

One of the many memorials in the D.C. area. Unfortunately, it's easy to miss. But don't let that…read moredeter you. It's still a must-see if you're close by and worth the time to do so.

The women were hiding behind a tree. I almost missed them. They were very close to the Vietnam…read moreVeterans Wall. A former U.S. Army nurse, co-founded the Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation in 1984 with 2 other veterans. It took years of lobbying and meetings for this memorial to finally be approved. In 1988,With assistance from members of Congress the monument was erected. The Vietnam Women's Memorial was established to honor the 265,000 military & civilian women who served around the world during the Vietnam War. Three uniformed women with a wounded male soldier symbolize the support & caregiving roles that women played in the war as nurses and other specialists.