Day 4: Washington, D.C. - Arlington National Cemetery

Here's a quick update from Dr. Borchardt.  Our second day of the institute started with breakfast.  Many of us were a little groggy because we stayed up late to watch the end of the NBA Finals.  Our Cleveland team was extremely excited by the outcome.  Mr. O'Grady celebrated the win by jumping on top of the coffee table and doling out high fives like a mad man.  After breakfast and some coffee for me, we had a map activity with Ms. O'Hara and Mr. Wagner our institute leaders.  Then Dr. Chadbourn, the Normandy Institute lead historian, lectured us on the context leading up to World War II.  Our last lecturer of the day, Dr. Blakemore from Mary Washington University, gave an overview of what we were up against with the German army.

Our tour guide of Arlington National Cemetery, Julian

Following lunch, we loaded the bus to head to Arlington National Cemetery.  Our tour guide was Julian, who had been the lead teacher of the Normandy Institute for the past two years.  He took us on a great tour of the cemetery, including some lesser known spots.  Of course we saw the eternal flame at JFK's grave and the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, but we also saw graves of people like boxing great Joe Louis and NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Evers, who are also buried at Normandy. Beyond the individual graves, the sea of white headstones and the greenery is very reminiscent of the Normandy American Cemetery.  Arlington is a must see when you visit Washington, and one of the most beautiful places in the country.  Below are some of the many photos I took at the cemetery.  

Random Indiana Plate at Cemetery: Go Irish!

The highlight of the trip was the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We also got to see a wreath laying ceremony and a bugle solo.  

We had a long ride back to Maryland, so Isaac and I worked on his eulogy.  After a long, draining day, I'm calling it an early night.  Until tomorrow.