The Connecticut Connection

We spent nine days in a Connecticut campground nearish to G’s family.  I say “nearish” because we were an hour north of Aunt Marie (pronounced Mauree) who lives in Westport, approximately forty-five minutes from daughters Chris and Kim in Norwalk and Trumbull, and about fifteen minutes from brother Eric in Harwinton.

At $442 for nine nights the campground was a budget buster.  Loads of trees made for deep shadows and downright gloomy sites.  Venturing out onto the highways is always a challenge when dealing with the rushed, aggressive drivers in CT.  Many of the roads are in bad repair although they pay the highest taxes in the USA. 

However, it was worth the pain of expense and nerves to be able to visit with G’s family.  We had a delightful lunch with ninety-two year old Aunt Marie on her screened terrace.  We even managed to keep our feet from being attacked by her nasty little dog Ruby who hates all visitors and generally goes on foot attack when one attempts to walk around.  She especially hates flip-flops and men’s sneakers.  One must tread lightly.

We also had multiple visits with G’s brother Eric and his lovable Chocolate Labrador at their country place.  Eric is entertaining and always makes us laugh.  Quiet daughter Kim cooked us a feast and we sat down to a sumptuous meal with her family.  Granddaughters Ashley and Anna have grown cuter, taller and wiser.

Longtime family friend Mary Rousseau invited us to lunch with her at Sturges Cottage which is her home in Fairfield.  Mary is also in her nineties and still going strong.  She was having the front of her massive, historic house repainted.  It’s always a delight to spend time in her company.  Mary is a gracious host and friend; so warm and welcoming and interested in everyone she meets. 

Chris works at a Country Club coordinating wedding events and since this was the busy season she and son Marty weren’t able to meet up with us.

On one occasion, G drove an hour to get his Aunt Marie and brought her to the campground as she was very desirous of seeing our rig.  Her nasty little dog Ruby went for our Westie's food and he nailed her.  Duncan has never shown aggression before, but it was clear that he meant to defend his food to the death.  Aunt Marie was quite surprised to find our fifth-wheel spacious, efficiently laid out and comfortable.  I fixed a nice lunch, we sat outside for awhile, and then G returned Aunt Marie and nasty little Ruby to Westport.

I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t a single photo from our time there as I was constantly forgetting to take the camera along on our visits. 

The family was sorry to see us go as it was a short visit.  If not so expensive we could have stayed longer.  But, also I was chomping at the bit to get to NY state to see my kids, grandkids and extended family since it has been more than a year since I saw them last.

Arlington National Cemetery

  

We made the trek into Washington DC to see Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend.  When my eye scans the sheer number of tombstones it causes a reverential hush to cloak my soul.  This hallowed ground is a visual lesson in courage, commitment and sacrifice, and the impact is heavy. 

Hand-placed miniature American flags are anchored at the base of each headstone.  Row after row of thousands of perfectly aligned gravestones go on as far as the eye can see in all directions.

We made our way by shuttle with a guide respectfully drawing our attention to certain areas where memorable US citizens lay in their final resting places.

We left the shuttle and walked to the Tomb of the Unknowns and looked with sad eyes at the monument commemorating the WWI soldier that was buried here, identity unknown.  The inscription on the tomb reads:

HERE RESTS IN

HONORED GLORY

AN AMERICAN

SOLDIER

KNOWN BUT TO GOD

"West of this grave are the crypts of Unknowns from World War II (south) and Korea (north). Between the two lies a crypt that once contained an Unknown from Vietnam (middle). His remains were positively identified in 1998 through DNA testing as First Lieutenant Michael Blassie, United States Air Force and were removed. Those three graves are marked with white marble slabs flush with the plaza."

They are somebody’s son, brother, or husband to be sure, but their names and histories are a mystery known only by God.

Our eyes fall on the soldier guarding it. 

"Since April 6, 1948 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of weather.  Millions of Americans annually visit the Memorial Amphitheater to watch these dedicated soldiers of a new generation, dutifully pace 21 steps across a black mat on the west face of the Tomb.  It is a time honored ritual, executed with great precision and filled with American pride.

• The sentinel marches 21 steps across the black mat, past the final resting places of the Unknown Soldiers of World War I, World War II, Korea, and the crypt of the Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War.  
• With a crisp turn, the sentinel turns 90 degrees to face east for 21 seconds.
• The sentinel then turns a sharp 90 degrees again to face north for 21 seconds.  A crisp "shoulder-arms" movement places the rifle on the shoulder nearest the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the tomb and any threat.
• After the moment, the sentinel paces 21 steps north, turns and repeats the process.

The practiced cadence is timed so that the sentinel paces at a rate of 90 steps each minute.

Appropriately, the men who march 21 steps south, turn and march 21 steps north, and then repeat the process minute-by-minute for up to an hour at a time day or night, are the very best of the Army's best.  Whether under a blazing sun, unsheltered from driving rains, or in freezing snow, they perform their duty with great precision and military bearing.  Each of them is a volunteer from the 3rd Infantry, eligible to apply for duty as a sentinel ONLY after they have already been ceremonially qualified in The Old Guard.  Each soldier among them is physically fit for the demanding responsibility and between 5'10" and 6'4" tall with a proportionate weight and build.

Acceptance in The Old Guard's Company E does not assure a volunteer that he will become one of the fewer than 400 soldiers in the last 45 years to earn the distinctive Tomb Guard Badge.  Before any soldier is allowed "a walk," he must memorize seven pages of history on Arlington National Cemetery and then recite it verbatim.  If a soldier finishes this phase and is granted "a walk," he enters a new phase of training known as "new-soldier training."  In addition to extensive training in the manual of arms, the guard change ceremony, and the intricacies of military ritual, the new-soldier is required to memorize additional information on Arlington, including the grave locations of nearly 300 veterans.

It may take months for a soldier to earn the right to TEST to wear the coveted silver Tomb Guard Identification badge, and even then, the award is temporary.  Only after the sentinel has served at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for nine months does the award become permanent.  One of the Army's rarest emblems, it features the inverted laurel and a replica of the East face of the tomb where Greek images represent the virtues of Victory, Valor, and Peace.

Each "walk" is a shift of one-half hour during daylight hours in the summer, one hour during daylight hours in the winter, and all night shifts are one-hour walks.  Each walk concludes with the ceremonial Changing of the Guards...even when no audience is present."[i]

Members of Rolling Thunder.  Rolling Thunder members are old and young, men and women, veterans and non-veterans.  All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for Prisoners Of War (POW) and Missing In Action (MIA) of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by our watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.”

Arlington National Cemetery Amphitheater

Space Shuttle Memorial

Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial

Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial

USS Maine Mast

Arlington House - Former home of Mary Anna Randolf Custis Lee and General Robert E. Lee.

Views of Washington DC from Arlington House

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[i]  http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/unknowns/0_unknowns_sentinels.html

Jamestowne Settlement

While we were in Williamsburg, we also visited Jamestowne which dates back to 1607 as the first permanent English settlement in America. Unfortunately, G's knee was really bothering him after a full day at Colonial Williamsburg, and he could barely walk, so we had to limit our time here.  We had to forgo Yorktown altogether.

We decided to pass over the original site of Jamestowne where archaeologists are still uncovering foundations and artifacts and decided to explore the Jamestowne Settlement which is a living history museum.

In 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of Virginia's James River. They were sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, whose stockholders hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The community suffered terrible hardships in its early years, but managed to endure, earning the distinction of being America's first permanent English colony.

Today at Jamestowne Settlement, the story of the people who founded Jamestown and of the Virginia Indians they encountered is told through film, gallery exhibits and living history. Expansive gallery exhibits and an introductory film trace Jamestown's beginnings in England and the first century of the Virginia colony and describe the cultures of the Powhatan Indians, Europeans and Africans who converged in 1600s Virginia.

Outdoors, visitors can board replicas of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607, explore life-size re-creations of the colonist's fort and a Powhatan village.  In the outdoor areas, costumed historical interpreters describe and demonstrate daily life in the early 17th century.

The Church

The three ships: The Susan Constant, the Discovery and the Elizabeth.

The Susan Constant carried passengers and cargo.

The Discovery carried cargo with a tiny crew.

The Elizabeth brought passengers and cargo.

Bunks

The galley.

The galley.

More bunks

The James River Ferry

Path to the Indian Village

Powhatan Indian Village

The Indians must have all been out hunting and gathering as there wasn't a single one is sight.