W A S H I N G T O N   D . C .   -   D A Y   # 2

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

On my way to the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial, my next major sight, I pass through Constitution Gardens. The water in the lake is really muddy and dirty looking. However, to its credit, it creates an interesting reflection of the sun as it tries to push its rays through the clouds.

I notice a little bridge of sorts, it crosses over a narrow waterway. I cross over it to investigate what's on the other side.

On the other side of the bridge I find this lackluster memorial. It's a subtle tribute to the 56 signers of The Declaration of Independence. Each signer has a dedicated stone that bares their signature in granite.

I'm getting close to the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial now. Hey! Look at that black squirrel. He's hard to get a picture of because he's pretty darn skittish. Did you know that black squirrels are not native to this area? 18 Canadian black squirrels were released near the National Zoo early in the 20th century. Since then, their population has grown to exceed that of the gray squirrel. Reason being, it's an evolutionary process kinda thing say the experts. Their black coat gives them an advantage over their gray cousins during the cold weather months. Their darker coats absorb more heat from the sun, thus enabling them to use less energy to stay warm.

I finally arrive at the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial. Almost 500 feet long and more than 10 feet tall at its highest section, the black granite memorial stands in remembrance to the 58,249 Americans who died in the conflict. The magnitude of the monument, with all its inscribed names, is rather overwhelming. It has a far more personal touch, as compared to the National World War II Monument.

Click here for more detail and pictures of my tour of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.