After two weeks outside the U.S., it was wonderful to be back on familiar soil after arriving from Morocco.
Time spent outside the country offers a fresh perspective on America’s governance and history. When our plane from Casablanca touched down at Washington’s Dulles Airport, I was excited to visit many of the symbols of American democracy: the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol building and the Jefferson Memorial, among others.
Even though Dulles Airport is more than 20 miles from Washington, D.C., in suburban Virginia, it’s connected with a fast, efficient train. Still, it takes about an hour to get from baggage claim to L’Enfant Plaza, in the heart of Washington.
We received a note from our hotel before checking in, encouraging us to use public transportation. The Hyatt House on the Wharf did offer on-site parking, but the price was steep: $65 per day.
It was just a short walk from the hotel to the Tidal Basin, where our self-guided statuary tour began.
We were a little late to see the beautiful cherry blossoms on the trees surrounding the Tidal Basin, but you cannot miss the 28-foot high “Stone of Hope” statue honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King’s likeness is carved from a giant block of softened white granite. The words of Dr. King are literally carved in stone on the side of the sculpture: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”
Surrounding the statue are several other inspirational quotes, taken from various speeches Dr. King made. King is the first African American to be memorialized on or near the National Mall.
“His vision of America is captured in his message of hope and possibility for a future anchored in dignity, sensitivity, and mutual respect; a message that challenges each of us to recognize that America’s true strength lies in its diversity of talents,” according to the official statement on the memorial.
During our trip outside the country, we continued to follow the news “back home.” Many of the daily reports we read were from Washington, D.C., regarding many changes of federal rules and regulations, including layoffs of federal workers.
King’s words now are more than 50 years old, but they are just as poignant and relevant as they day they were spoken.
It’s a short walk from King’s memorial to the adjacent memorial to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR.
Roosevelt is the nation’s longest-serving president, serving during the Great Depression and World War II. His story — and the memorial — spans many iconic moments in American history. Amid the waterfalls and statues is a life-size bronze statue of Roosevelt in a wheelchair. During his presidency there was a concerted effort to keep Roosevelt’s disabled status as a polio survivor, a secret.
All along the walls of Roosevelt’s memorial are inspirational quotes from his time as president, including “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
A full-size statue of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is included in the memorial.
The giant Jefferson Memorial crowns the Tidal Basin, with its huge Greek columns and imposing statue of Jefferson, the third president of the U.S. All around his statue inside the memorial are important quotes from his notable documents, including the Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
These words are carved in stone and speak to us powerfully today as they did more than 200 years ago when our country was founded.
The statues and the museums and even the Library of Congress invite you to go beyond your high school history books and view anew important lessons put forth by our nation’s first leaders. After all, what caused these men of means to take up arms in a fight for freedom?
Today’s visitor to Washington, D.C., now will find the foundational memorials and statuary from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol still are there. But there’s more to the story of America.
While I was on foot exploring the monuments, I recommend a bike to make better time at the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the other important works on the National Mall.
New museums like the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture challenge much of the whitewashed history lessons from my high school days.
These two museums in particular cause visitors to reflect on the complex history of Europeans’ arrival on the continent, the relentless push west to the Pacific, the scourge of slavery and the broken treaties with Native Americans. These museums offer Americans a clearer picture of our diverse cultural mix as a nation, where we came with all of our faults and our achievements and where we are now.
The African American museum reveals the horrors of slavery from the dawn of the 17th century. But the museum also showcases the important contributions to art, culture and science made by African Americans, in spite of systemic oppression.
The American Indian museum articulates the pattern of betrayal toward Native Americans, with more than 400 broken treaties between the United States and various Native American tribal nations. Visitors can learn more about the effort to take the children from their parents and place them in boarding schools and force them to convert to Christianity. It’s a sobering look toward our not-so-distant past.
In both of these museums, there also are exhibits honoring the courageous efforts of Native Americans and African Americans during foreign wars.
Before you visit Washington, D.C., make plans to contact our Congressional delegation. You are not imposing on the delegation or wasting their time. They want to hear from you, their constituents. Our two senators and our single representative have staff in place to accommodate visiting constituents. But you must make appointments in advance.
Our congressional delegation, in addition to hearing what issues are important to you, also can arrange for tours of the U.S. Capitol. During our recent visit, Sen. Dan Sullivan’s office helped with tickets for the free tour to see the original House chamber, as well as the Rotunda. It’s an impressive tour and lasts less than one hour.
Since we made an appointment in advance, the office of Rep. Nick Begich arranged for a staff member to meet with us to discuss important issues such as Medicaid and the Essential Air Service program.
I’ve never been shy about saying the Pledge of Allegiance ... or belting out our national anthem, with or without accompaniment. But even in today’s challenging political environment, a visit to our nation’s capital can change you. A walk through the granite and bronze statuary with timeless words carved in stone helps you remember about our nation’s heroes. It may inspire you to take your place in the long line of patriots who stood in the gap when others sought to destroy America.
A visit to Washington, D.C., may embolden you to better understand where you’ve come from, to appreciate where you are in America today and to plot a course for how you can help our country going forward.