The Capitol Idea of the USA, 10 Years Ago

I often speak about how inspiring it is to visit Washington, D.C.  I have gone on multiple trips there and had numerous layovers there, too, with each experience unique and giving me the opportunity to build on what I've experienced already.

It was 10 years ago this week that my family foursome went there on a trip for a few days, from July 22-28.

We rode the tollways east.  We stopped in Annapolis to visit the Maryland State Capitol.  The Continental Congress met there back in the 1780's, and during one of these meetings, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.  It was an amazing experience to visit the place where something so momentous happened that set the tone for the United States at its founding.

Our lodgings for our stay were in National Harbor, a commercial area just south of the southernmost tip of Washington, D.C.

I was glad that on Sunday, we had the chance to visit the Washington National Cathedral during this trip, as I had been interested in going there for some time.  It is an incredible sacred space, filled with religious imagery and also so much symbolism of the USA.  Earlier that day, I went to Mass at a historic church, St. Ignatius, in nearby Oxon Hill, MD.

On Monday, we walked around in Old Town Alexandria, since our previous stay there in December 2004 piqued my interest.  Then, we spent a chunk of time at the National Museum of American History, chock full of great exhibits.  We attended a free evening concert at the Kennedy Center.  After having dinner there, we took in some great views from the roof of the Kennedy Center.

Our tour of the US Capitol on Tuesday, July 26, was a true highlight.  I booked a tour through the office of Representative Danny Davis, who still serves the 7th Illinois Congressional District.  As we waited in his office for the staff to take us on our tour, I couldn't help but feel at home with all the decor evoking a sense of Chicagoland, including an item on loan from the Field Museum  We visited the Crypt, the Rotunda, and the Old Senate and House Chambers. We sat in the House gallery for a few minutes to observe a session of Congress.  Interestingly, there were more people in the gallery than on the House floor, where someone was talking about something related to oil drilling.  We then had the thrill of riding the tram system back to the Rayburn House Office Building.  We finished our capitol visit with a brief visit with Danny Davis.  He remarked about notable people from Oak Park.  I remarked how inspiring it is to be in Washington, D.C.  He remarked how inspiring the process is to see legislation become law.

Earlier during our stay, we visited with one of my brother Eric's college friends, Paul, who, at the time, worked in the DC office of Senator Chuck Grassley.  It was fascinating to get his perspective.  On our way back to Oak Park, we stopped in the Columbus Metro Area, and visited with another one of Eric's friends, Jeff.

As I reflect on this trip 10 years later, I am inspired by how my experiences during those days gave me a new sense of who we are as the people of the United States.  It is such that it is truly our government and our common heritage that we get to see in that city.  We see exhibits in museums and even the displays in the National Archives, which connect us with who we are.  And it was fabulous to converse with Danny Davis, which was an opportunity to connect closely with those who serve in the government.

We share a great common heritage as people of the United States, much of which is stewarded by those who serve and work in Washington, D.C., so that we can continue to connect with what our country is.

It was a great time sharing a truly USA experience with my family.

Above is the Old Senate Chamber of the Maryland State Capitol, where George Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army at a meeting of the COntinental Congress on December 23, 1783.

In the above photo, you can see the Illinois flag in the nave of the Washington National Cathedral.

Mom and I are posing in the National Museum of American History.  The area with the gold tiles is at the entrance to an exhibit on the US flag that waved at the Battle of Fort McHenry in September 1814.  Eric or Dad might have gotten this photo.

Someone got this photo of my pose on the rooftop of the Kennedy Center, with the Washington Monument to the left of me and the Lincoln Memorial to the right.

Above, I am riding the tram system from the US capitol to the Rayburn House Office Building, taken by Lucas, an intern in Representative Davis's office, who appear to the left of me in the photo below, with Congressman Davis appearing to the right, in the inner office of Representative Davis.

Here's a family photo with Danny Davis, probably taken by Lucas.

George W. Bush at 75

George W. Bush was born 75 years ago today, July 6, 1946, in New Haven, CT.

Nearly 55 years later, on January 20, 2001, he was inaugurated the 43rd President of the United States.  I was in 4th grade.  I wasn't at school that day, since it was a Saturday, and I remember being at home watching the inauguration ceremony, the first time I can recall watching a presidential inauguration.

Over the course of the next 8 years, my sociopolitical awareness increased.  George W. Bush stands out most in my mind because he was President during noteworthy years of my coming of age, and my perspectives on the world around me were shaped in significant ways by the events of his presidency.

While I was observing the unfolding of the 2000 presidential election campaign, for some reason, I had a better feeling when I considered George W. Bush, versus Al Gore, although I can't really explain why.

One admirable quality of George W. Bush is that he is a gracious person.  I feel that is reflected in his leadership style.  It was rooted in a commitment to faith, and throughout his time in public office, he sought to engage faith-based initiatives.  His deep sense of faith resonated deeply with me as I came to embrace faith more deeply during the years he was president.  In fact, my Confirmation happened in 2005 at the midpoint of his administration.  I felt his leadership qualities were something to emulate as I sought to live out my Confirmed faith, and that was the motivation behind my choice of the Confirmation name George.

I enjoyed reading his memoir, Decision Points.  I was intrigued by his approach, to address significant decisions he faced.  Even though he focused on select areas of his life and presidency, he still covered a significant amount of ground.  Having lived through the events of his presidency while coming of age, it was intriguing to read about his thought process in situations like September 11, the War on Terror, embryonic stem cell research, and the 2008 financial crisis.  Indeed, reading the book helped me see him as someone thoughtful.

One other George W. Bush-related memory I have is visiting the White House just days before Nativity Day 2004, and seeing all the decorations.  They reflected their personal touch, especially as they involved their pets, Barney and India.

Happy 75-year Birthday, George W. Bush!  Thank you for the gracious ways you have served and edified the United States of America.

Patriotic Greetings 2021: The Culture of the USA

Patriotic Greetings!

Huzzah for the Spirit of '76 as we once again mark and celebrate those momentous days in 1776.

Following the conclusion of conflict between Britain and France in 1763, tensions increased between Britain and its 13 North American colonies as the British government steadily increased control over colonial affairs.  As the colonists resisted, the British government reacted more intensely, until the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, launched war, increasing momentum for the colonies' independence.

On June 7, 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee presented the following resolution before the Continental Congress: "Resolved. That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

After some initial discussion, the Congress decided to schedule a vote on the resolution for July 1 as the colonies used the interval to consider their stance on the resolution.  Meanwhile, Congress appointed a committee to draft a document explaining the move for independence should it be needed, and Virginia delegate Thomas Jefferson was its primary author.

On July 1, Congress discussed the resolution.  The following day, Tuesday, July 2, 1776, Congress adopted the independence resolution by a unanimous vote.  After discussing Thomas Jefferson's draft, they adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

Following several more years of war, the American colonists won a decisive victory at Yorktown against the British in October 1781.  On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris 1783 formally concluded the war, and the United States of America became fully independent.

I consider these days in July so special because they speak to who we are as they tell about how we came into existence.  This story took on whole new dimensions for me 5 years ago last month when I visited Philadelphia and my long-awaited dream of touring Independence Hall became reality, as shown in the photo below taken by a fellow tourist when I was in the assembly room there.

It was one instance of traveling as an experience by which I came to more deeply behold what the United States is.

The United States has become so much over the course of the succeeding years, and has encompassed so much over this vast land, as I've come to see through many experience.  Especially throughout the past year, I've had so many experiences that have given me new insights into the all the richness of this country, especially its culture.

One encounters a very distinct sense of US culture driving along Route 66, and last summer, I drove most of the Illinois portion, from the edge of Berwyn and Cicero all the way to the Chain of Rocks Bridge at the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis.  I've heard stories about people from Europe specifically coming to the United States to visit Route 66 locations.  Once while in Springfield, IL, I even met a couple from Britain who said they were driving the whole length of the historic route.  There's something so down-to-earth driving through small towns, where local businesses sprang up as part of the infrastructure and services for Route 66 travelers.

Later that same week, I marveled at some great natural beauty in and around the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, which is kind of like a hidden natural treasure.  It may not have the prominence of places like Yellowstone National Park, but there's so much beauty there nonetheless.

Another way I really soak in a sense of US culture is riding Amtrak.  While traveling from city to city, I see the land that is the United States while riding along, particularly on long-distance rides.  And there's a certain lifestyle connected with the geography of each region.  Crossing major rivers like the Mississippi, the Colorado, or the Potomac, often marks a passage from one state to another, and from one sense of culture to another.  From my seat, I see flat plains filled with farmlands as well as mountainous terrain, and the sky conditions add a special touch, too, like when I gaze upon an amazing sunrise or sunset.  And as I pass through small towns like Denmark, SC, and big cities like Kansas City, I can take note of how each place is unique and contributes something valuable to making the USA what it is.  Amtrak has truly helped me connect with my country, and so with great delight I marked its 50th anniversary back on May 1.

From the end of last September into October, I went to visit my friend Roy out in southern California, journeying there onboard the Amtrak Southwest Chief line, a route that hearkens back to the storied days of the Super Chief train and the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad in the height of rail travel's golden days.

On my way there, I stopped in Flagstaff to take a day trip to visit the Grand Canyon.  It's challenging for pictures or words to convey the experience of gazing out at the vastness of the canyon.  Indeed, it's something that you feel inside of you when you stand at the rim.  It's a great natural wonder of the world, and a true national treasure, and it makes sense why Theodore Roosevelt said everyone should visit it.

Sheldon the guide or someone in my tour group got this photo of me, posing at the Grand Canyon, while sporting a patriotic bolo tie--the bolo tie is the official state neckwear of Arizona.

It was indeed a great first visit to the amazing state of Arizona.

Indeed, even in the desert, there is so much beauty to stir something inside a person, which I felt traveling through New Mexico and Arizona, especially watching the sunrise in eastern Arizona by Petrified Forest National Park.  Even in the dark of night, there was something amazing about the southern California desert under a moonlit sky.

My trip to visit Roy was my first time in Southern California, and being in such a warm place had a certain laidback vibe to it.  It was a culture of warmth matching the pleasant, sunny climate.

Months later, I was on a trip to southern Florida, with just as strong of a laidback, pleasant culture as its persistently warm climate.  

Here I am posing in Florida with a slice of key lime pie, the official Florida state pie--courtesy of Mom or Dad.

I also noticed how Florida draws upon its proximity to Cuba, geographically and demographically with all those who fled from there to southern Florida.  And few things could match the soothing sounds of ocean waves, especially at night.  I was so pleased that even in an area that caters so heavily to drawing tourists, I could still appreciate natural beauty, not only at the Atlantic Ocean, but also in the Everglades.

On my way back from Florida, I had a short visit to Washington, D.C.  There's so much in that city that speaks to the heart of who we are as a nation, and our culture.  Our values are reflected in the government institutions there that strive, even if imperfectly, to raise up and empower the people to run the government, which was how this country got started, and how it functions to this day.

That sense of our foundation was the inspiration I felt each time I served as an election judge worker, most recently on November 3, 2020, and then again on April 6, 2021.  We are called upon as the American people to contribute something to our government, manifested by going to the polls on Election Day, even as it compels us to keep up our involvement in government affairs in between elections.  But what's more, serving as an election judge gives me a strong sense of the community where I live as I served residents, neighbors, and even fellow Ascension parishioners.  One of the most exciting and inspiring parts of Election Day is seeing first-time voters.

The events of 1776 live on because they became so much more.  I even think about how the events of 1818 when Illinois became a state became so much more, especially as July 1, 2021, marks 50 years since the 4th Illinois State Constitution took effect.  These events have caused so much to happen as we act upon them in the democratic process of the Republic of the United States, at the ballot box and beyond.  

We're a people of action.  We're a people who can appreciate beauty, and pleasant climates, drawing from them in a way distinctly reflected in our culture.  And in such a vast land, we can be bound together by the reality that we, in all our variety, compose a single country, in all our richness.

So from actions taken on those pivotal days in the summer of 1776, to our vast culture today, we have so much to celebrate.

May our Patroness Saint, Blessed Mary of the Immaculate Conception, intercede for this land.

And may God bless the United States of America, and may He continue to prosper it.

Paul

At the heart of the United States: Here is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge crossing the Mississippi River just north of downtown St. Louis, MO.  On this bridge, I walked over the Mississippi River for the first time in my life during my downstate Illinois vacation last summer.

P.S. This is my annual Patriotic Greetings note that I first wrote in 2008, and which has appeared annually on my blog since 2013.

Here are links to view the versions of these notes that appear on my blog for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

If you'd like a print copy, please feel free to contact me and let me know where I should send it.  A contact form is available on the sidebar of this blog page.