20 Years of Abraham Lincoln and History Connections

My anticipation had been building for some time leading to this day 20 years ago today: On Friday, July 29, 2005, my parents and I were in Springfield, IL, to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, which had just opened about 3 months prior.

I like to think this trip was an 8th graduation present from my parents, giving me the chance to experience history at the new museum, along with a visit to the state historic site and Camp River DuBois the following day before returning home.

The Chicago Tribune covered its opening in April, and even had a special section with a map of the museum, which I brought with me for this visit.  It noted this place was not your father's, or grandfather's, Lincoln museum.  It used lots of technology and wax figures to bring history alive.

As I reflect on my first visit there 20 years ago, here's 20 parts of the museum that stand out to me:

1. The statues of the Lincoln family in the rotunda, where visitors can pose with them

2. The Law office scene

3. Mr. Lincoln at Knox College during one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates

4. The video showing the Sectional War of the 1860s in just a few minutes

5. The 1860 Presidential Campaign ads moderated by Tim Russert

6. The Cabinet meeting scene as President Lincoln introduces the Emancipation Proclamation with a view out of a window of the partially completed Washington Monument

7. A small corridor presents different views on the Emancipation Proclamation for visitors to consider

8. The scene of Abraham Lincoln reading by firelight

9. Mrs. Lincoln's dresses

10. The Gettysburg mural

11. There was a very moving display of President Lincoln's casket lying in state at the Old State Capitol after his assassination.

12. The General Store display

13. The White House Kitchen

14. Walking into a scene reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln's birthplace

15. A penny in the center of the rotunda

16. The White House South Portico at the entrance of the exhibit about Abraham Lincoln's White House years.

17. Some displays mention the location of places where they happened, noting some are 800 miles away in Washington, D.C., and some just blocks away in Springfield.

18. The Treasures gallery with special artifacts

19. Through Lincoln Eyes presentation

20. The Ghosts of the Library presentation does a great job helping the audience appreciate the importance of history.

Indeed, the museum has helped people appreciate history. And so I offer a Big Congratulations to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum on its 20th anniversary year.

Huzzah!

Dear 1036: What the USPS Brought

Dearly Beloved 1036 Clarence,

Two days ago was the 250th anniversary of when Congress established an independence postal system for the USA.

It was some time in 2008 when a friendly mail carrier named Alex started making his rounds on our block and went so far as to introduce himself.

There were times when I had a day off school and I was at home, and I'd keep an eye out for Alex as he came down the block.

Among the many pieces of mail I enjoyed getting were postcards that I requested from family and friends when they traveled. I got postcards from all over the USA and all over the world.

It was amazing to get a piece of cardboard that had traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles straight to the mailbox at 1036 Clarence.  I delighted in receiving each one, and helped connect with me other places.

Indeed, it was a delight for so many years to receive mail bearing my name and 1036 Clarence Avenue.

I still bear you deeply within me.  You shall not fade into the background, but remain deep in my heart.

And we shall remain connected:

All my relations.

God's blessings,

With great joy,

Paul

Reflecting on the Kingdom of Heaven

As part of the Confirmation preparation process 20 years ago, I went to a meeting during the summer, and I was at the July meeting on July 24, 2005.

We had the opportunity to look at our test results from May.  We also took time to reflect on the Scriptures for Mass that weekend, perhaps in the spirit of the reflections we did from the end of the November prior until Pentecost Sunday.

The Gospel reading for that weekend was from Matthew 13, in which Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven in three ways: a treasure in a field, a pearl of great price, and workers sorting a catch of fish.

We strive to be among those good fish that are kept, the righteous who live into Eternal Life with God in His Kingdom.  To be on that path, we are called in this life to behold the Kingdom of Heaven as a great treasure, which is worth all our while to strive after.  Surely also King Solomon offers a great example, since in the first reading that Sunday, we heard the story of how he asked God for wisdom when God offered him anything.

Confirmation is meant to fill us the faithful with the grace of the Holy Spirit through 7 Gifts so that we can strive after the Kingdom of Heaven, building treasure in Heaven during this life on Earth, because it is the greatest good that leads to the great reward of being fully in union with God.

Patriotic Greetings 2025: The Spirit of the Founding Era

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Patriotic Greetings!

It's an inspiring time that reconnects us with the foundation of the USA as we celebrate the pivotal days in July 1776 that birthed the United States of America.  

Following the conclusion of the conflict between Britain and France in 1763, tensions built 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, triggered war, and accelerated momentum for the colonies' independence.  The Second Continental Congress convened on May 10, 1775, and over the succeeding weeks, they took several decisive actions, including the establishment of an army.

At the session of the Congress on June 7, 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee presented the following resolution: "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 hold a vote on the resolution on July 1 and the colonies used the intervening time for further consideration.  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 opened debate on the resolution.  The following day, Tuesday, July 2, 1776, they adopted the independence resolution by a unanimous vote.  After discussing Thomas Jefferson's draft, they adopted the Declaration of Independence on Thursday, 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.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Independence Resolution in 2026, this year provides a good opportunity to commemorate the events that hastened the momentum toward independence, when armed conflict erupted in Massachusetts.  Wanting to connect with that history, I traveled to the Boston Metro Area before heading south for my annual Washington, DC, Metro Area vacation.  (You can read about my trip here.  As of the publishing of this post, the text of my vacation post is there, but I'm still working on getting pictures in place.  Please feel free to contact me if you want to know when the post on my vacation is complete, including the photos.)

The amount of history I experienced in the course of a few hours in the Boston Metro Area was exhilarating as I made my way from downtown Boston to Lexington and then on to Concord.

The Lexington Battle Green

Someone passing by photographed me at the Battle Green in Lexington.

One site that resonated with me was the monument at the Old North Bridge in Concord, MA--please see the photo below.  It has an inscription bearing the first stanza of the poem "The Concord Hymn".  

In 7th grade, I selected this poem for an assignment in which I had to memorize a poem, speech, or other writing.  When I was in middle school, I experienced a blossoming of my person, especially in understanding the history of the USA and my place in this country as a citizen.  In that time, I became drawn to the story of how this country came into existence, so I decided that poem would be a good choice for that assignment.  The fourth stanza has a profound phrase: "Spirit, that made those heroes dare..."

A spirit was present in those who decided to take action and chart a new course that birthed this country.  And that spirit continues to spur us to action in our present day.

In light of the US Army's 250th Anniversary, so many have nobly served to uphold and defend this country throughout those many years, driven by a spirit of something larger than themselves.  They have done so much to make possible our national experience today.

I think about my work on the frontlines on Election Day, April 1, 2025.  I was up around 4 AM and around 5 AM, after a short walk, I was at the Brooks Middle School gym to begin my duties as an election judge.  After serving several times as an election judge for precinct 16 at the Maze Branch Library, I was in a different spot, and I was actually serving for my own precinct.

Even with the voters trickling in throughout the day, it was another great opportunity to serve the community by helping facilitate the democratic process of the republic in the matter of local affairs.  It was nice spending time with my fellow election judges, one of whom is a neighbor, and also seeing other neighbors on my block and nearby. Even if local races don't have the same prominence as the presidential election, they still have an important impact on our community.  I am continually inspired when I'm an election judge and see people from all walks of life and backgrounds coming to participate in the process.

It's fitting in some ways that I served as an election judge inside a middle school, because it was at Julian Middle School that I experienced a burst of patriotic inspiration to appreciate my part in this country and contribute to it.  It wasn't just inside the walls of Julian.  Every Friday during 6th grade, I came home to watch Liberty's Kids, with episodes on events of the founding era.  It was on a July day in 2003 that I watched the final episode, and seeing George Washington's inauguration stirred an enormous amount of palpable inspiration in me.  It's probably one moment I would go to if I could time travel.  Indeed, I came to appreciate this country's story and my place in this country, sensing a call to do my part in upholding it.  That's what motivated me in 8th grade to ask Dr. Sharts, the principal, if I could lead the school in the Pledge of Allegiance for the final two regular school days my 8th grade year, after nearly a month of its absence.  It was a great honor to finish my middle school experience taking up that role.

Coming to appreciate my part in the USA, and the story of its founding, has brought me to embrace the spirit of what we celebrate during the first days of July.  It is furthermore a time to appreciate our values as a country, as we look ahead to the 250th anniversary of Independence in a year.  Also, we can appreciate what our values mean on the world stage since the election of Leo XIV as the first US-born Pope.

I found this song, "God Bless America" on YouTube, and I am inspired by its soaring lyrics that show how we can flourish as one nation under God.

I hope recognizing this country's founding story inspires you anew to embrace our God-given freedoms so we can together purposefully edify this country.

To the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the USA,

To the Dove and the Eagle.

God's blessings to you readers,

God bless the USA!

Paul

Huzzah!

P.S. Here's a link to the 2025 Annual July 4 ceremony at the National Archives.  It airs live at 10 AM ET/9 AM ET.  It should be available for viewing later.

This post is my annual Patriotic Greetings post.  You can view previous years' posts at these links: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.  If you would like a print copy of this note, please contact me.

Please feel free to share this year's post, or any previous year's post, with others.

Connecting Anew with This Country

So much of what makes this country great and what inspires me is found there.  

I have appreciated the opportunity to vacation in the Washington, D.C., Metro Area on a regular basis the past few years.  

It is one of many places along the East Coast that hearken to the important principles of this country and its founding era.

In the month of May 2025, I was eager to reconnect with those values once again on a vacation, and to enhance it by experiencing history, especially in light of the 250th Anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution.  So before traveling to Washington, D.C., I set my sights further north.

Around 8:40 PM CDT, on May 21, I got in the car of fellow parishioner Matt, and he drove me to Chicago Union Station.  (Please note that all times in this post are EDT unless otherwise stated, on my days at Chicago Union Station. And as typical, all photos are mine unless otherwise stated.)  

The Lake Shore Limited train is here on the Departure info board, the final train to depart for the evening from Chicago Union Station.

Soon after entering and getting my water bottle filled, I headed to the platforms and, for the first time, boarded the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited train.  It departed on its eastward journey at 9:30 PM CDT.  About 1 hour and 20 minutes later, it entered the Eastern Time Zone and then made its first stop at South Bend shortly before midnight.  I soon went asleep after that point.

Early in the morning on Thursday, May, 22, I got off to walk on the platform at Toledo, a stop of nearly an hour, and then Cleveland.  The daylight emerged after Cleveland as we headed into Pennsylvania, a short stretch of the route with one stop at Erie.  A few minutes later, the train entered New York, and I had the chance to step off the train for a little walking at the Buffalo-Depew station.

For the next few hours, the train traveled across New York, and it was a great way for me to see the countryside around the Finger Lakes region and then scenic views of the Mohawk River and to see some of the prominent cities of New York besides New York City, including Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady.

The Mohawk River

Schenectady, NY, as viewed from the elevated train tracks

Around 2:15, the train reached Albany and then crossed the Hudson River, and soon reached Rensselaer and the Albany-Rensselaer train station.  

Here's the Hudson River.  I believe the view is looking south, with Albany on the right.

Above is the exterior of the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Train Station, and below is the interior.

It was an extended layover, so I exited the train and went into the station to buy myself dinner at the cafe.

The Lake Shore Limited train splits at Albany-Rensselaer. In the foreground is the Boston-bound portion of the train, and toward the background is the New York City-bound portion of the train.

Around 3:30, the half of the Lake Shore Limited train I was on departed, bound for Boston.  At 4:19 PM, for the first time in my life, I entered Massachusetts.

This is right around the moment the train entered Massachusetts.

At Pittsfield, it came time for Jacqueline to detrain. She was seated next to me, and was traveling back from California. She photographed me before leaving the train.

The train continued east, stopping in Springfield, Worcester, and Framingham before reaching the two stations in Boston. I had company in the seat next to me during part of that time, a man who had a bag of Haitian food.

Around 8:20 PM, the train reached its final destination of Boston South Station, which completed for me another through ride, this time on the full length of the Lake Shore Limited.  At approximately 8:26 PM, I stepped off the train and took my first step onto Massachusetts on the platform.

Here's the Lake Shore Limited train upon arrival at Boston South Station.

In the center of the photo is the engine of the Lake Shore Limited train.

Boston South Station

I walked through the station to the MBTA Red Line.  A helpful transit ambassador--I think his name was Jaime--oriented me to using the T system.  Shortly after getting my Charlie Card, I boarded the Red Line for a short ride to JFK, where I boarded a bus.  A few minutes later, I exited the bus and into the steady rain of a classic Nor'easter as I walked to my Airbnb lodgings for the night in the Dorchester neighborhood.  After some directional confusion because of the lack of clarity on the street signs, I reached the house.  As I settled, I visited with a couple from the UK.  We talked about their recent visit to Chicagoland, where they saw the Bahai Temple.  At some point, our conversation turned to religion.

The next morning, on Friday, May 23, I was up around 7 AM or so.  Shortly after 8 AM, I departed for my day of sightseeing.  Per a suggestion from my friend Roy, I boarded a bus and rode it to Kenmore Square, which is the eastern terminus of US Federal Route 20.  I have visited the western terminus in Oregon, and my workplace is just south of US 20 in Addison.

Looking east along Commonwealth Avenue, with the end of US 20 sign

Looking west along Commonwealth Avenue, with the West US 20 sign

Looking west along Commonwealth Avenue at its intersection with Beacon Street at Kenmore Square

Then I boarded the Green Line Trolley and rode it to Park Street.  From the station, it was a short walk along the eastern edge of Boston Common to the Massachusetts Statehouse.  There, I participated in the 10 AM tour.  Bowen was the tour guide, and he did a great job.  It started in the Doric Hall, which had a large portrait of Abraham Lincoln.  We looked in the other halls, the legislative chambers, and the governor's office.  All along the way, we looked at various pieces of artwork, like paintings of scenes from the founding era that connect with Massachusetts.  Two pieces that stood out to me that I knew from my childhood reading were two fish: Sacred Cod in the Massachusetts House chamber and Holy Mackerel in the Senate chamber. I lingered after the tour inside, and went to see the State Library.

Before heading inside for a tour, I asked someone on the street to photograph me in front of the Statehouse.

Here's Doric Hall, where all the tours begin.

A monument in the Nurses' Hall

In this hall are the flags of all municipalities in Massachusetts

The House Chamber

Suspended by the gallery of the House is Sacred Cod, a piece of artwork.

In the Governor's Office Reception Area

Portrait of Abigail Adams

The Senate Chamber, formerly the House chamber

Suspended above the Senate Chamber is another piece of artwork, Holy Mackerel, at the centerpoint of Boston.

The wall near the center of the photo has signs for notable Massachusetts women.  To the right of the signs is the tour guide, whose name I recall was Bowen.

Massachusetts Library

A fellow visitor photographed me posing by Abraham Lincoln's portrait.

By 11:30, I was back at the Park Street Station and boarded the T Red Line, bound for Alewife.  It emerged from a tunnel onto a bridge over the Charles River, with amazing views.

Boston Common

View from the Longfellow Bridge crossing, toward the south 

View from the Longfellow Bridge looking north

Upon reaching Alewife, I boarded a bus that took me to Lexington.  Upon arriving, I first went to the Lexington Visitors' Center to orient myself to what there was to see in the area.  The staff did a great job telling me what was there and answering my questions.  Inside the visitors' center, I watched a video about the opening battles of the American Revolution, which was in a room with a diorama of the Battle of Lexington. Then I walked around the Lexington Green, which was flanked by many historic buildings.  And then I went to see the Green up close.

Diorama of the Battle of Lexington

Here's the Lexington Visitors' Center. A costumed interpreter is playing the fife outside the entrance.

The Lexington Green

Subsequently, I got a sandwich for lunch at Via Lago.  I then went across the street to the Cary Memorial Library to use the Wi-Fi to get an Uber ride.  A sign on the door was in English and Mandarin, and I found out that there is a large population of Mandarin Chinese speakers in the area.

A costumed person is in Via Lago.

Inside the Cary Memorial Library

Outside the Cary Memorial Library

The view of Lexington at Meriam Street and Massachusetts Avenue outside the Library

Around 1:45 PM, my Uber ride arrived, and I began my journey to Concord.  On the drive along Massachusetts State Route 2A, there were many historic sites.  

The Paul Revere Capture site

Above and below are historic buildings along Route 2A.

I was at the North Bridge Visitors' Center by 2:10.  Once I finished eating my sandwich, I walked to the Old North Bridge. Back at the visitors' center, as I waited for my Uber ride, I watched a video about the site.  

Then I got my Uber ride to downtown Concord, and I enjoyed my conversation with the driver during the approximately 10-minute ride.  He brought me to the Concord MBTA commuter rail station, and I waited there for the 3:15 arrival of the eastbound train.  About 30 minutes after it departed from Concord, I arrived at the Porter Station, where I switched to the Red Line light-rail train.  After getting on another bus and a short walk, I was back at the house where I spent the night to retrieve my luggage.  And then I headed back to where I got off the bus last night to board another bus and ride it to the Red Line and then back to South Station, where I saw the same transit ambassador I met the night before and I thanked him for his help.

The eastbound MBTA Fitchburg Line train arrives at the Concord Station.

The last car of the train departs the Porter Station.

 

At South Station, while waiting for my train's departure gate to be posted, I read and I got two pieces of Boston-style pizza for dinner.  I called Mom and we talked right until the moment I saw the departure gate appear for Amtrak train #65.  It departed at 6:45, and I was excited to be on my way traveling along the Northeast Corridor from a point further north than I had ever ridden it.  During the ride, I continued an audio program I began yesterday and had the pizza.

About 7:15, I entered Rhode Island for the first time, and when it stopped at Providence around 7:26, I stepped off the train to take my first steps in Rhode Island.  At 7:58, I entered Connecticut for the first time.  There were great views of the coastal areas along Long Island Sound.  

At 9:10, the train reached New Haven, where I would spend the night, and I took my first steps on Connecticut ground as I walked onto the platform.  It was a short ride to my AirBnb lodgings for the night.

The next morning, on Saturday, May 24, I was awake a few minutes after 6 AM.  Before heading to New Haven Union Station, I got an Uber ride to take me to St. Mary's Church, a site special to me as a Knight of Columbus because it's where Blessed Father Michael McGivney founded the Knights.  Having a moment of prayer there was a great way to start the day.  

St. Mary's Church, with Blessed Father Michael McGivney's Portrait displayed on the front of the church

I was at Union Station by 7:15.  After getting food and drink from Dunkin in the station, I headed to the platform to board Amtrak train #143.  It departed at about 7:35, headed southwest.  Around 8:45, the train neared Manhattan and I saw amazing views of the skyline, which put me in the mood for the New York song by Frank Sinatra.

The train stopped for about half an hour at Penn Station underneath New York City.  At 9:45 or so, the train entered New Jersey.  By 11:20, I was in Philadelphia. I exited the train and put my luggage in storage.  Then I rode a SEPTA train to the Jefferson Station. I walked along toward Independence National Historical Park, keeping an eye out for a place to eat lunch.  I ended up at a Wawa across the street from Congress Hall in the Independence Hall complex.  I saw a National Park Service ranger on his break and I decided to take my turkey sandwich to near where he was sitting and strike up a conversation with him. I enjoyed discussing the role of history and its presentation.

Shortly before 1 PM, I was in the waiting area for the Independence Hall tour, and that same ranger was checking tickets for those who booked the 1 PM tour.  Carla, another ranger, led our tour, and started by having us shout, "Huzzah!"  Every tour I've done in Independence Hall focuses on a different topic, and hers was about working toward a more just society.

By 2 PM, after lingering in the Independence Hall complex, I was back at the Philadelphia William H. Gray III 30th Street Station.  At 2:45 or so, I was down at the platform level and train #99 arrived at 2:54.  I boarded for one final train segment to the Washington, D.C., Metro Area.

The train reached Washington, DC, Union Station around 4:30, and we stayed there a while to get a new engine and new passengers.  Upon departing, it traveled in a tunnel underneath the US Capitol and then emerged to the south of the National Mall with great views of the Mall and then the Potomac as it crossed into Virginia.  Around 5:30, I was at Alexandria Union Station, and it was a short walk to the hotel.  Mom, Dad, and I soon had dinner after my arrival.  Afterward, we shopped at Aldi and then returned to relax for the evening.

The next morning, on Sunday, May 25, we attended 8:30 Mass at St. Joseph's Parish.  Back at the hotel, we had breakfast.  I caught parts of the evening Mass live at St. John Lateran Cathedral Basilica with the installation of Pope Leo XIV as Bishop of Rome.

In the afternoon, I continued the spiritual nature of Sunday and headed to Brookland.  I first stopped inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception before heading to the Shrine of Pope St. John Paul II.  These places both offer such a prayerful experience.

I was back at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to attend 4 PM Vespers.  The video is still available on the YouTube channel, and at one point, you can see me wearing a blue shirt.

Once Vespers ended, I departed back to the Red Line and then onward on the Yellow Line to Alexandria.  Mom, Dad, and I had dinner.  Around 6:15, we boarded the Yellow Line for our evening outing.  We rode it to the Archives stop and then walked east to the US Capitol complex for the National Memorial Day Concert.  Eric arranged us access to the reserved patch of grass for National Symphony Orchestra guests.  We had a great view of the stage.  At certain points, the two hosts walked right past us.  The concert was a moving tribute to our fallen heroes.

The next morning, on Monday, May 26, I attended 9 AM Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary.  After it concluded, I went for my favorite bike ride in the area, over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to Maryland and back.  I returned to St. Mary's around 11 AM, just in time for a Memorial Day (Observed) ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution.  It was a dignified ceremony with a great collaboration of a local soldier unit in 18th Century dress, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, a local American Heritage Girls, the Presbyterian Meetinghouse, and St. Mary's.  There was food and drink afterwards.

I was back at the hotel shortly before 1 PM.  At 1:30, we three departed for downtown WDC to attend the National Memorial Day parade.  When we emerged from the Archives station, we saw a ceremony in progress at the Navy Memorial.  Then we walked south to Constitution Avenue for the parade.  It was a wonderful line-up offering tribute to various branches of the military and various parts of history.

Around 3 PM, Mom and Dad headed back, and I went to take in the views at the Old Post Office Tower.  Then I made a quick stop at the National Museum of American History to see the original Star-Spangled Banner, the display about the 1903 cross-country automobile trip, and a quick walk-through the exhibits on the presidency.

I arrived in Alexandria at just about 5 PM.  I met Mom and Dad in the lower level of the hotel building and then we three went to dinner in Arlington at True Food Kitchen, joining with Naomi and Eric to celebrate Mom's birthday.  It was a blessing to be together.  I was especially pleased with my turkey burger.

The next morning, on Tuesday, May 27, around 9 AM or so, we three departed for our day outing to Baltimore.  By 10:30, we had arrived at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.  First, we watched the video in the visitors' center.  At its conclusion, the screen lifted and showed teh Fort with the US flag flying exuberantly above while "The Star-Spangled Banner" played.  Fort McHenry is one of a select number of sites where the US flag flies 24/7/365. When the song concluded, a volunteer on duty offered some additional commentary.  After we looked around the museum, we went outside to hear a ranger talk about the context of the Battle of Fort McHenry.  And then we walked to visit the fort itself. The buildings in the fort featured exhibits that explained the functions of the fort when it was an active-duty military installation.

Around 1 PM, we decided to get lunch and we went over by the Inner Harbor to eat at Ms. Shirley's.  I had a turkey sandwich.  Following lunch, I asked Dad to drive over by a couple of important Catholic sites.  First was the Basilica of the Annunciation, the first Cathedral in the US.  It was across the street from the Enoch Pratt Free Library.  Then we went to the Mother Seton House, where St. Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton lived as she settled into life as a newly converted Catholic and into her path to religious life.

By 4 PM, we were on our way back to Alexandria, and arrived around 6 PM.  A little later, we had dinner, and then played Scrabble.

The next morning, on Wednesday, May 28, I was up between 7-8 AM.  After I had breakfast, I departed around 9:15 for sightseeing. I aimed to keep it as much indoors as possible because of the steady rain.  Upon emerging from the Archives Metro Station, I went to take a look inside the Navy Memorial Museum.  It was inspiring to see an Honor Flight group there from Utah, and I chatted with some of the veterans and companions in the group.

Next, I went across Pennsylvania Avenue to the National Archives Museum, especially to see the Charters of Freedom.  There were also special displays of American Revolution era documents and VE Day documents.

Subsequently, I got a taxi and had the driver take me to the National World War II Memorial where I did a quick walk in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the war's conclusion, and then on to the L'Enfant Metro Station.

I made my way to St. Mary's in Alexandria for 12:10 Mass.  Afterward, I walked a few blocks north on Royal Street to join Mom and Dad for lunch at Gadsby's Tavern, whose big claim to fame is that George Washington dined there.

We rode the King Street Trolley back to our hotel.  I spent the time packing and doing other tasks.  Between 4-5 PM, I had dinner.  Around 5:30, I departed and got on the Metro for the trip to Union Station.  Once there, I waited for a while before I heard the boarding call for train #40, bound for Chicago.  It departed around 8 PM.  As the daylight faded, the train traveled through some of the Maryland suburbs.

Daylight emerged in earnest around Cleveland, and because of the train's delay, I got great views of the Sandusky Bay.  When the train reached Toledo around 9 AM, I stepped off to walk around on the platform and bid farewell to the superfriendly conductor who had been on duty onboard since Pittsburgh--I think his name was Steven.

The morning cloudiness faded by the time the train got past South Bend, and after entering afternoon, I returned to morning a few minutes later when the train entered Central Time.  There were good views of the Indiana Dunes National Park, then Lake Michigan at Whiting, and then the Chicago Skyline.  The train arrived at Chicago Union Station around 12:15 PM CDT. A few minutes later, I got into Matt's car and he brought me back to homebase.