Experiencing the Spirit of America, 10 Years Ago

It was 10 years ago today, Friday, July 17, 2009, that my parents and I departed for a trip to Williamsburg, VA.  This trip was a true highlight during that summer, and probably in the course of my whole life.  In the midst of challenges I faced at that time, not the least of which was my transition to college, it was so wonderful to spend a few days doing something I truly enjoyed, namely in seeing history come alive.  I knew much from my own studying about the history in places like Jamestown and Williamsburg, which made it all the more thrilling to see it.

As I reflect back on that experience, I share from a reflection in the day-by-day account I wrote of that trip:

I like to think that vacations are life-changing experiences, and this one was certainly no exception, for it offered me some much needed refreshment and a new perspective on America.

This trip, however, may have just stayed an idea in my mind.  Originally, Mom was planning a family trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.  But then, prompted by a change in circumstances, so Mom asked me where I wanted to go.

After much consideration of various locations along the East Coast, I settled upon Williamsburg, VA.  For a long time, I had wanted to go see this preserved colonial-era city, among many other places that suit an American Revolutionary Era buff like me.

One of the first things I looked forward to particularly about this trip was that we were to travel to Virginia by car.  I very much looked forward to a road trip, because I feel that going by car allows a person to really see America while passing through it, right outside the window, not to mention the opportunity to stop and visit a place.  We didn’t stop at too many places, but there were two places we stopped that I had been awaited visiting for a long time.

Last time we were vacationing on the East Coast, I had hoped to stop and visit St. John’s Church in Richmond, VA, the place where Patrick Henry declared, “Give me Liberty or give me death!”  As it turned out, that day we were in Richmond, we first visited the Virginia State Capitol, and by the time we got to the church, it was 4 o’clock, and the site was closed for the day.  So I waited for six years, and finally, this trip afforded me the opportunity to see this place.

Mentioning St. John’s Church reminds me of one aspect of our trip that I was glad to encounter: so many friendly people.  We met them as servers in restaurants, at the check-in process at the resort, at the Food Lion grocery store, and at St. John’s Church.  These people were all so helpful, and I was glad we had the opportunity to have a friendly chat with them, so we could interact as friends before moving on.  (I was particularly impressed that as we walked into Food Lion, a woman greeted us, and I couldn’t recall having been greeted upon entering a grocery store.)

We also got to relive another wonderful place from our 2003 trip: Michie Tavern, near Charlottesville.  This place has some great food, which we thoroughly enjoyed last time, and enjoyed again this time, in a setting that evokes the 18^th-century colonial era.

Another place I finally got to see was the West Virginia State Capitol.  I had hoped to see it on the way back during our 2003 trip, but while we passed through West Virginia, it was raining, and I guess I didn’t feel inclined to request stopping, even though I could see the dome from the interstate.  But once again, we passed by the same route, and I got my chance to see this building, which has some well-landscaped grounds.

It’s interesting to note that during our trip, we visited four former or current capital cities, all within an area that was once within the borders of Virginia: Jamestown, Williamsburg, Richmond, and Charleston.  The whole string of these capital cities represents a good slice of American history.  And the best part of this trip was actually seeing the history I had heard so much about before come alive and real before me.  Sure, I may know a lot already about the events that occurred in these places, but it all becomes so much more when I actually get to see it myself.  I was enthralled to walk among the ruins of Jamestown buildings, and see the restored and preserved Williamsburg buildings.

And being in Williamsburg offered me a life-changing experience indeed, for it offered me a refreshingly new perspective on what it means to live in America, the country whose creation was shaped, in part, by events that occurred in Williamsburg.

One of the things I learned was about the relationship of religion and government.  Back in the 18^th century, under British rule, the government controlled the church.  Thus, a person was required to attend the Church of England, which was the only officially recognized church in Britain and its colonies.  A person could be fined for not going to attend services at the Church of England often enough.  And the government was wary of other religious groups.  It allowed them to have meetinghouses, but to keep an eye on these groups, required them to keep their doors unlocked at all times.  The government was especially wary of Roman Catholics, who regarded the Pope as higher than the King, and to regard anyone higher than the King was considered treason.  (In fact, it was a felony to build a Roman Catholic Church in the British colony of Virginia.)

Clearly, the founders of America did not want a nation in which the government regulated how people practiced religion.  They wanted that decision to be left to individuals themselves.  So they gave Americans freedom of religion.  Being in Williamsburg convinced me that this is the purpose of religious freedom.  And it is why I consider it so unfortunate that people today misinterpret “freedom of religion” as an excuse to suck every single drop of religion out of public life, when references to religion in public life are definitely not unconstitutional.

One of the most enjoyable parts of Historic Williamsburg was seeing history come alive in the Revolutionary City presentation, an outdoor theater presentation, portraying scenes related to a particular theme or larger event that took place in Williamsburg while it was the capital of Virginia.  On the day I was there, the scenes were about the collapse of the royal government in Virginia, from the years 1774-1776.  In the introduction, one of the costumed interpreters discussed the situation: the British government was imposing more control over the colonies, mainly in levying more taxes.  Some citizens were outraged about what Britain was doing, and desired to revolt.  But it wasn’t such a black-and-white issue to simply side with the patriots against the British.  To join the patriot cause was treason.  Furthermore, the patriots were turning against a nation that had controlled their land for over a century, and had provided them with a government, commercial regulation, a church, and a way of life.  Turning against Britain would mean the end of all that they had known.

Hearing this made me realize something: The people who supported the patriot cause must have had a compelling reason to side with the revolt against Britain.  They obviously had much to lose.  Something must have compelled the desire in them to break away from Britain, and form a new nation: a spirit must have compelled them.  And I’m convinced that this same spirit still compels the existence of this nation today.  We must follow this spirit to keep our nation strong and free.

Indeed, I received a new perspective on America during my visit to Williamsburg, one that everyone should experience.  I am certainly convinced that Williamsburg is one place that should be put on the list of places that all Americans should visit.  It makes our very American identity more meaningful to see this place.

A series of plaques on a footbridge leading from the visitors’ center to the Historic Town area of Williamsburg take visitors back in time, and then bring them back to the present America, step by step.  The last plaque on the side leading to the present asked us, citizens and Williamsburg visitors, what difference we’ll make.  I know what difference I’ll make:  I will stand up and be a patriot.  I will stand up to make this great nation of America even better.  And I will stand up for freedom of religion, knowing that the Constitution gives me the freedom to practice religion as I choose.  I will uphold that freedom that the founders determined to be for all Americans.

I hope all Americans will join me.

Illinois Bicentennial Follow-up, in Vandalia

Today is the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Because of that anniversary, July 4 is also the day that the star of a newly-admitted state is added to the US flag.  And it was 200 years ago today that the 21-star flag debuted, as the 21st star for Illinois was added to the US flag, after it was admitted as a state on December 3, 1818.

So today's occasion seems an appropriate follow-up to the Illinois Bicentennial of December 3, 2018.

As another appropriate follow-up to the Illinois Bicentennial, I participated in the festivities for the Bicentennial of Vandalia, IL, the 2nd state capital city.

Kaskaskia was the first state capital city of Illinois when it became the 21^st State in 1818.  To avoid having a city with such an important role in a place vulnerable to Mississippi River flooding, the powers that be decided to move the capital to a different location, the city of Vandalia, in 1819, which was established on March 30, 1819.

And so I headed down south in Illinois once again on Flag Day, Friday, June 14, 2019, to partake of Vandalia's Bicentennial celebration.

Just like I did last year for my weekend excursion that included visits to all the Illinois capital cities, I drove along I-57 closely paralleling the eastern border of Illinois.  Near Mattoon, I exited and went east to Charleston, IL, to the Coles County Fairgrounds (#25 on my secondary Illinois 200 list), the site of the 4^th Lincoln-Douglas debate and the 4^th debate site I’ve visited.  On the eastern edge of the fairgrounds is a small museum (#26) and statues of the two figures.  

Some people helping out at a tractor pull event were kind enough to get photos of me and then we got chatting, one of which appears above.  (Mr. Douglas is to the left and Mr. Lincoln is to the right.)  I remarked how this was my first visit to Charleston, and something I knew about the city is that it’s the hometown of former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar (#27).  Mr. Lincoln's parents also lived nearby.

(Please note, all photos in this post are mine, except where noted.)

I then drove back west to Mattoon where I got dinner, and then drove about an hour on I-57 to Effingham, and then westward on I-70 to Vandalia.  I exited at US 51 and then drove west along Veterans Drive to stop and admire the fiery breath of the Kaskaskia Dragon (#28) against the dark night sky, which you can see in the photo below.  There was a brilliant moon to the south, and lightning in a thunderstorm to the north.

The next day, Friday, June 15, I waited out a downpour before heading to downtown Vandalia.  I wasn’t clear how the festivities would be held with the rain that had been falling that morning.  I figured a good place to start would be the Old Statehouse building, which you can see all decked out in patriotically festive decor in the photo below.  

The various historical displays with costumed individuals sharing about them were moved inside, which was a good chance to go inside the various rooms of the statehouse, normally cordoned off and viewed from outside in the hallways.

Here's a display for a 19th Century medical professional.

Brian Ellis, a history presenter, invited people to come upstairs to hear about indigenous American perspectives on Illinois history, in the old House of Representatives chamber.  He shared some traditional songs and told stories about tribes like the Sauk and Fox, interweaving stories about creation and going all the way to the time of Blackhawk (#29).  Some of the stories were heartbreaking about what the government did to indigenous peoples.  But it was also awe-inspiring how he concluded, saying his presentation was about sharing stories with us, and he invited us to share stories with him, a kind of sharing of “the light” with each other.

Following this presentation was a musical presenter who shared various songs from 19^th Century Illinois history.  Abraham Lincoln walked in as his presentation began, and sat in the area of the room where he likely would have sat while serving as a state legislator, as you can see in the photo directly below.

There was a great variety of songs, like the Illinois state song (including an alternate final verse written in the 1960's), the Shawnee town song, a song used by people steering flatboats on the rivers, and a Lincoln campaign song, "Lincoln and Liberty".  Mr. Lincoln even joined in on a number playing a small harp instrument, which you can see in the photo directly above.

I stepped out after the songs ended and went outside to find lunch.  I was back in the old House chamber by 1 PM for Brian Ellis’s next presentation, in which he portrayed William “Billy” Herndon (#30), Mr. Lincoln's longtime law partner in Springfield, as seen in the photo below.  Mr. Herndon shared his perspective on Abraham Lincoln, particularly related to his lawyer career.  He framed it with 5 different questions that people consider about how Mr. Lincoln learned to be a lawyer, and whether he was more politician or lawyer, and used many stories to shed light on these questions.

There were intriguing stories about cases he tried, like the Illinois Central railroad, a woman going through a divorce (which resulted in a stride toward rights for women), and a woman in her Golden Years accused of murdering her husband.  When that accused woman said she was thirsty, Mr. Lincoln said she could get water in Tennessee.  Mr. Herndon offered us plenty of food for thought, especially toward the conclusion of the presentation, when he spoke about how Mr. Lincoln mastered the art of storytelling, which has a kind of power.  Certainly Mr. Ellis is a master storyteller in the way he brought history alive to give us plenty to ponder from the new perspectives we encounter in those stories.

When he finished his William Herndon presentation, it was almost 2 PM, and the rain had stopped and the sun was starting to shine through the clouds, just in time for the parade on Gallatin Street.

The parade started with a fife and drum group.  There were plenty of other historical characters, like a group of youths dressed up as characters including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the Statue of Liberty.  There were some businesses that compared windows and heating units then and now.  There was one marching band with youths, but I couldn’t read their shirts and tell of what school or group they were part.  There were also cars that had toured the national road in various years throughout the 20^th Century up to 2019.  The parade finished with a bubble bus.

Fife and drum group

Costumed figures

Some of the cars that toured the National Road

A cannon rolling along

Climate controls then (a fire) and now, HVAC systems

Window units then and now

Bubble bus

Fredbird, the St. Louis Cardinals mascot

Then, the crowd gathered a block west on Gallatin where there was a photo shoot, and remarks from people like Vandalia Mayor Ricky Gottman.

Once that finished, I went inside Lya’s and Friends, a boutique store, to eat some birthday cake, in the photo directly below, and then buy a commemorative souvenir tote bag to conclude my time at the Vandalia Bicentennial festivities, along with taking a few more photos in the downtown area.

Outside a display across Gallatin Street from the Old Statehouse Site

Looking eastward towards the grounds of the Old Statehouse Site

Sign celebrating Vandalia, beside the grounds of the Old Statehouse

Flag for the Vandalia Bicentennial celebration on a post beside the Old Statehouse Site grounds

Model of the Old Statehouse at Gallatin and 5th, a block west of the Old Statehouse

Also while there, I went to see the sites of the first two capitol buildings in Vandalia that were used before the third, which is preserved as a historical site.

The site of second state capitol building of Illinois (#31) is at 5th Street right at the intersection of Johnson Street, the location of The Leader-Union building, Vandalia's local newspaper.

Above is a plaque on the wall of The Leader-Union building, and below is a view of the front of the building.

The site of Illinois's third state capitol building (#32) is directly across 4th Street from the Old Statehouse Site.

Above is a display for the 3rd Illinois state capitol building on the wall outside the building currently on the site, a commercial property, the front of which is in the photo below.

I have to say, it was a really nice commemorative celebration, probably the best I can ever recall attending.  They had plenty of activities, presentation, displays, and a really nice parade that incorporated so much history, especially in the way of costumed characters.

It was also great to continue celebrating Illinois by engaging with its history, learning more about what has made Illinois what it is.

And everyone made the best of rainy conditions to have a great celebration.  While I was uncertain about what I could do, I ended up having a fantastic time inside the statehouse with the various presentations.

Indeed, it was a sight to behold when I was sitting in the Old House of Representatives room, where Illinois State Representatives did the work of governing that shaped Illinois years ago, and to see history come alive there in the celebration that took place when I visited on June 15.

That's truly the power of telling the stories of history as we take the time to be present to it again, and then join with it as we continue shaping history while doing the work of our lives in the present.

US Representative John Shimkus, R-IL District 15, took this photo of me posing with Abraham Lincoln.

Patriotic Greetings 2019: the Idea of the United States

Patriotic Greetings!

These High Patriot Days marking the annual commemoration of the independence of the United States signal a fitting time to ponder the idea of the United States.  This idea contains many individual components, and in each of them, in their own way, we recognize the United States.  And these patriotic days are based in the story of US independence that is one expression of this idea.

Following the conclusion of war between Britain and France in 1763, tensions grew between Britain and the 13 British North American colonies.  After more than a decade, American and British soldiers clashed at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, sparking the American Revolution, which gave increased momentum toward the independence of the colonies.

On Friday, June 7, 1776, in a session of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee offered 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."

About three weeks later, the Congress took up debate on the resolution on July 1.  On Tuesday, July 2, 1776, the independence resolution passed unanimously, with a "yea" from each voting colony.  Congress then turned its attention to the draft of a document that Thomas Jefferson composed that explained the reasoning for independence.  The Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on Thursday, July 4.  (Note that these days fell on the same day of the week in 1776 as they do in this year 2019, which for me, brings me more in tune with the events of those momentous and historic days in 1776.)

The American Revolutionary War continued until a decisive American victory at Yorktown, Virginia, led to peace negotiations.  The war concluded with Britain's recognition of US independence with the Treaty of Paris 1783 on September 3 of that year.

One significant aspect of the independence story of the United States, and an important component of the idea of the US, is how this country came into existence based on a set of principles, distinguishing it among the other nations of the world when the Congress voted for independence and approved the Declaration of Independence.  And these principles have continued to shape and be shaped throughout our history and in our present civil discourse, continuing to give expression to the idea of the United States, which we hold in our land, and also present to the broader world.  Indeed, those principles have great power.

It's amazing to think of what this country has become in the years since 1776, and how our understanding of what this country is and what it means to be a US citizen has come to encompass so much, just as those founding principles have taken on expanded implications.  Certainly my celebration of Illinois's bicentennial in 2018 was a way to recognize what the United States has become since 1776, as new states, like Illinois, joined the original 13, and expanded the land and people the US includes, offering unique contributions.

Indeed, these patriotic days are a great time to think about what makes this country unique in and of itself, and furthermore, how it presents itself to the world at large.

I often think back to my World Youth Day pilgrimage last January in Panama, a 6-day trip that is the longest amount of time I've spent outside of the United States.  I figure that I had probably spent about 48 hours outside the US when my family was traveling through Ontario to the Niagara Falls area, and during our stay in the Niagara area, we bounced back and forth across the US-Canada border.  In traveling to Panama, I was thousands of miles from the United States.  Yet I could instantly recognize the presence of the United States while there, in the many expression of the USA I encountered.  While out and about for the various WYD festivities, I often encountered fellow pilgrims from the United States, with the US flag as one of the most common symbols identifying them, along with anything else they had on them that would suggest being from the US like a shirt for a group from a particular city or diocese, or even other flags like for states or the distinct red “N” University of Nebraska flag.

As I packed, I felt it appropriate while joining with fellow pilgrims from all over the world to bring tokens expressing who I am:  So I brought my own two small flags, one for the US and another for Illinois.  Flags often serve as a powerful symbol that expresses our national identity, especially in consideration of the flag's design.  I waved my two flags with great cheer as a way to express who I am while joining with pilgrims from all over the world who waved their national flags to express who they are, which is a major custom of WYD.  It was a wondrous scene to see us as US citizens join with people all over the world as many nations united in celebrating our one faith in God.

Here I am walking along Avenida Guillermo E. Quijano on the way to Metro Park, on January 26, 2019, with my two flags in hand.  Photo is courtesy of the Diocese of Gary.

Even my passport served as a strong expression of the presence of the United States, with so many scenes, images, and symbols that demonstrate the experience of the United States throughout history and in our present time.  The stamp I got upon passing through immigration at the Servicio Nacional de Migracion (National Migration Service) checkpoint at Tocumen International Airport was the first stamp ever in my passport.  As I admire that stamp, reflecting on the amazing experience it represents, I see that it was affixed right over an image of the top of the Declaration of Independence, which you can see in the photo below.  It's an amazing juxtaposition to see an important expression of the US present upon entering another country.

While ambling around in Panama, whenever I saw people from the US, I often would start spontaneously cheering, “USA! USA! USA! USA!” and there was such an electric energy as they joined in the chant and we celebrated the idea of the United States.  Even thousands of miles from the United States, I could recognize the presence of the US in my fellow citizens and instantly feel a sense of connection with them.  Even beyond our shared symbols, we share an experience of living in the same country, in all its vastness.  That is the power of the idea of the United States.

Having celebrated the idea of the United States in such ways while in Panama, it stirred something in me upon our arrival at O'Hare International Airport, especially when I saw a digital display sign mounted from the ceiling in the hallway leading to the immigration and customs checkpoint, which read, "Welcome to the United States" and embedded with a US flag image.  The scene makes the words come alive from Neil Diamond's "America" song, as we came "traveling far", "on the planes...coming to America".  It was special to return to my country with a renewed sense of patriotic pride from celebrating it while abroad.

(Similarly, as I was returning from my day trip to Vancouver, BC, Canada back in May 2017, it stirred me deep within to see the US flag upon crossing the border as the bus I rode on drove toward the stop for the immigration and customs checkpoint.  Seeing that flag powerfully spoke to me that I was back in my beloved country.)

Months following my trip to Panama’s national capital, Mom and went I on an extended weekend trip to Washington, D.C., my first visit to the national capital city of the United States, since going to Panama City, the first national capital city of another country I've visited.  It is such an inspiring city, in large part because the places, building, and institutions there give expression to the idea of the United States, while that city has done much to influence how the idea has been manifested throughout the country, and beyond.  And it was special to go there for the first time after traveling to Panama, to engage with what made the idea of the US worth celebrating while abroad.

The National Archives houses thousands of documents telling our history, most prominently the Charters of Freedom that speak to how the United States and its idea began.  The Smithsonian museums house so many artifacts and have exhibits that speak to our experience as Americans, our history, our culture, and our identity, even as it continues to be shaped by what we make of the past and present.  The Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court, and other government buildings are places where the idea is acted out as the process of the people’s government continues, just like it is in polling places when people cast their ballots for government officials, as has happened a couple of times in the past year.

Being in Washington, D.C., stirs some sensations deep down in my soul, because being there makes me aware of who I am as a citizen of the United States.  It was like when my family went there during Spring Break 20 years ago in 1999.  One day, we visited the National Archives museum building, getting inside within half an hour of closing time, which gave us just enough time to see the Charters of Freedom.  I remember Dad hoisting me on his shoulders so I could gaze upon the documents.  I didn't know well the history of those documents as I do now, but even as an 8-year-old, I knew I was looking at something highly significant.

As I've learned the story of those documents, I've come to embrace the special experience of standing before them when I have visited the National Archives, doing so again and again as a sort of ritual experience during subsequent trips to Washington, D.C.

Mom took this photo of me in front of the National Archives building in Washington, D.C., during our visit to Washington, D.C., in May 2019.

And there's nothing like entering that city and being stirred by the sight of the monuments and other buildings.  What's most amazing is the realization that what's there is a reflection of who I am as a person, as I have a part in what those places represent, even as they have had some part in shaping how I live as a US citizen.

I also had these ideas on my mind when visiting Historic Colonial Williamsburg Virginia 10 years ago in July 2009, which was a true highlight of that summer for me.  Having read so much about the history expressed in that place, I was so delighted to finally have the chance to visit it, and see the history on display there.  Seeing it displayed helped provide context for me to understand that history further and its implications for what it means to be a US citizen today, and what we can make of being US citizens as we continue living out our citizenship, expressing the idea of the USA.

Indeed, places are an important expression of the USA.  So are artifacts and documents--even Thomas Jefferson said the Declaration of Independence is a "masterful expression of the American mind."

And that's what makes these days so powerful an expression of the idea of the USA, and, for me, so worth celebrating in grand style.  I celebrate not only because of these days, but because the history we celebrate is something that I am, and we all are, a part of, and can shape for the benefit of those living in this country, and to present something noble to the world at large.

So let us celebrate on these days, and continue the spirit of these celebrations as we give expression to the idea of the United States.

To the Spirit of God, under Whose Providence the United States was born, and the Spirit of the United States of America,

God Bless the United States of America,
Paul

P.S. This is my annual Patriotic Greetings note for 2019.

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

Like with any of my blog posts, please feel free to share this note with others.

While this note has been in electronic version since 2013, a paper copy is always available.  Please contact me if you would like one, and inform me where I should send it.

The Place of Our Values

Several years ago, I was in the Rayburn House Office Building, sitting in the office of US Representative Danny K. Davis, who serves the 7th Illinois Congressional District, which includes the vast majority of Oak Park along with other western suburbs and portions of Chicago.  We had just gone on a tour of the US capitol, led by members of his staff, and we were visiting with him briefly after our tour concluded.

I remarked to Representative Davis that it is inspiring to be in Washington, D.C.

Indeed, each time I'm there reinforces why it is such an inspiring place.  The institutions and other sights in that city speak immensely to who we are as people of the United States.

I was certainly aware of the grandeur of this city 20 years ago when my family took a trip there during Spring Break in 1999.  We covered a lot of ground during our stay there, seeing Smithsonian museums, monuments, and other buildings like the Capitol and the White House.  Even though I couldn't fully conceive it at that time, I knew there was something important about the places I was seeing during our time there.

Onboard Amtrak's Capitol Limited train, most likely on the way to Washington, D.C. during our family Spring 1999 trip.  This photo was likely taken by Mom or Dad.

From left to right are my brother Eric, my Mom, and me, in front of the Gettysburg Address at the Lincoln Memorial.  This photo was likely taken by Dad.

From left to right are me, Dad, and Eric, in front of the US Capitol in this photo likely taken by my Mom.

I am to the right of Eric on the steps of the National Archives museum building.  Probably Mom or Dad took this picture.

Here I am in the National Mall.  Mom or Dad likely took this picture, or Eric possibly, for that matter.

That trip 20 years ago was the first of many visits I've made to Washington, D.C.  In the years since 2011, I had made several brief, hourslong visits that fell during layovers between different Amtrak trains I was riding, and for which Washington, D.C., Union Station was a transfer location.

In the middle of May 2019, I had the opportunity to make Washington, D.C., a destination during an extended weekend excursion with my Mom.

To give our trip a special touch, we rode Amtrak's Capitol Limited train there, like we did the first time our family foursome traveled to Washington, D.C., and that anniversary certainly made it all the more meaningful to travel there again 20 years later.  On this 2019 trip, for the first time for both Mom and me, we rode in Amtrak Sleeper Class accommodations.

It added its special touch to our trip from the very start on Thursday, May 16, at the moment Dad pulled over on Canal Street by Union Station to drop us off and we saw an open door leading into the Metropolitan Lounge.  As sleeper class passengers, use of that lounge was included in our trainfare.

We bid farewell to Dad and went inside.  A woman stopped Mom to ascertain if she had privileges to be there.  I produced our travel ticket document on a sheet of paper, and the woman looked at it, and then marked it.  She then told us we were on the second level, which was designated the quiet zone, and there was another waiting lounge in the level below.  We headed downstairs.  There was a table with complimentary food of fresh fruit, banana chips, Chex mix, and candy.  There was a beverage fountain nearby with unlimited soft drinks available, along with hot beverages.  The lounge also had a bar serving alcoholic beverages.  With this swanky lounge and all its amenities, I knew we were in for something grand.

Above is the food selections in the Metropolitan Lounge, which is shown in the photo directly below.  All pictures in this post from here onward were taken by me, unless I appear in them, in which case my Mom took them, except where noted.

Here I am relaxing in the swanky digs of the Metropolitan Lounge.

We waited there about half an hour until the boarding call for our train.

We headed out to the south concourse and then onto the platform for our train.  As soon as I had booked our trainfare back in December, we were assigned a car number and a room number.  We settled into our roommette, which wasn't overly spacious, but gave us sufficient room in seats across from each other, as you can see in the photo below.

Right about 6:40 PM CDT, we felt a lurch, the movement that indicates our train had officially departed and we were on our way.  (Please note that unless otherwise noted, all times in this post are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), since the vast majority of this trip was spent in the Eastern Time Zone.  The only times in Central pertain to our Chicago departure and arrival.)

As we traveled through the south and southeast sides of Chicago, our wonderful sleeper car attendant Jamal came by to take our dinner orders and ask if we needed further assistance.  He offered us wonderful service throughout our journey.

The view of the Chicago Skyway Bridge over the Calumet River from our roomette as we travel on the train tracks parallel to the Skyway.

After we entered into northwest Indiana, we went to the dining car for our dinner, which also functioned as the sleeper class lounge.  Our dinners weren't quite ready yet, so we waited with other passengers until we were called by room number.  Unlike most other Amtrak routes that have sit-down restaurant-style meals, our dinner was already packaged and warmed, then handed to us in a cloth tote bag by the dining car attendant.  And while it lacked the same charm as the dining service on other trains, it was still a nice meal.

Mom and I both got a beef dish with mashed potatoes and gravy.  It also came with a small salad, a roll, a dessert bar, and a drink.  I enjoyed taking full advantage of complimentary nonalcoholic beverages throughout both train trips.

Around 10 PM, Jamal arrived to get our berths into place for sleeping.

Above and below are photos of the berths when in position for sleeping.  These photos were taken on the journey westward in the morning before our arrival back into Chicago.

Before going to bed, I lingered in the sightseer lounge car, talking with a couple other passengers.  As the train traveled into northeast Indiana, we entered a thunderstorm, with pelting rain and frequent lightning.

I finally went to sleep around midnight after stepping off the train to stretch my legs at the stop in Toledo.

I slept solidly in my berth, since I was able to lie flat, rather than having to sleep in a reclining chair in coach class.

I was up a little after 7 AM on Friday, May 17.  After the train stopped in Connellsville, Mom and I went to the diner car for breakfast, which was a continental style breakfast buffet including cereals, breakfast bars, fruit, and some hot items.  As we traveled through the scenic Appalachian highlands, I lingered in the diner lounge car for a while.

The signs of the Washington, D.C., Metro Area started to build upon reaching Martinsburg, the western terminus of a MARC Commuter Rail line.  After stopping at Harper's Ferry, which is a particularly scenic spot, we crossed over the Potomac into Maryland--below is a photo of the Potomac, with the train tracks in the foreground and Maryland on the opposite shore.

We passed by commuter rail stations for many suburbs.  Then we reached Rockville, and passed by the terminus of the Metro Red Line at the Shady Grove station.

As we headed toward Union Station following the stop at Rockville, passing through suburbs like Silver Spring and then into the northeast side of Washington, D.C., there were spectacular views of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  Around 1:45 PM, we had arrived at Union Station.

Once we were off the train and into the station, we ate lunch from Roti.

Next, it was onto the Metro train, riding the Red Line and then Yellow Line to Alexandria, where we had Wyndham hotel accommodations very near the King Street station.  Once we checked in to our suite and settled in, we got back on the Metro and headed back into DC to visit the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.  We viewed an exhibit on the US response to the Holocaust, which did a good job going in-depth about attitudes in the United States in the 1930s, which complicated how the US responded, and actions by brave individuals who did what they could to save Jews.  We also viewed Daniel's Story, giving a child's story perspective of the Holocaust.  We also saw an exhibit that included footage recorded by US soldiers who liberated Nazi camps.

Above is the main hall of the Holocaust museum.  A sign on the wall has an Elie Wiesel quotation: "This museum is not an answer.  It is a question."  The content of the exhibits definitely poses questions to give us much to ponder.  Below is a display of the flags of the US army units that liberated Nazi camps toward the close of World War II.

We had finished there by 6:30, and made our return to Alexandria.

Here's a view of the sky scene by the Washington Monument, from Independence Avenue, near the USDA building.  Below is a view from the Yellow Line as we crossed the Potomac River.

When we transferred from the Blue/Orange/Silver Line corridor to the Yellow Line at L'Enfant Plaza, we saw huge numbers of fans boarding the Green Line to Nationals Stadium, where they were scheduled to play the Cubs.  Throughout the weekend, we saw people here and there wearing Cubs paraphernalia.

Once back in Alexandria, we shopped for groceries at Whole Foods, and then had dinner in our room suite.

I walked around outside in the neighborhood for a while before going to bed.

The next day, Saturday, May 18, came something we had been anticipating for a while: a visit to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture--the exterior is in the photo below.  We were fortunate that Mom was able to secure advance tickets for us to visit.

We got to the Smithsonian Metro Station well ahead of our timed entry, so we walked around for a bit, and by 11 AM, we were inside.

First, we headed to the history galleries.

Hallway outside the entrance to the history galleries

Display at the entrance to the history galleries

We got in line, and then went in a group to an elevator, which took us down three floors and back to the year 1400, where we got historical context for the continent of Africa and also Europe in at just about the time when the Trans-Atlantic slave trade started.

At the beginning of the lowest level of the history galleries.

A woman standing in that area of the exhibit said she was going to lead a tour through the galleries on the lowest level, which was open to anyone who wanted to join.  Mom and I agreed to participate.

It was immediately clear that this museum, like the others in the Smithsonian, is chock full of content, and it would take a nearly inordinate amount of time to view it all.  Having a tour guide was a good way to take in various highlights.

The lowest level took us from the origins of the Transatlantic Slave Trade to slavery in the British North American colonies, and then to the American Revolution, and then up through the end of Reconstruction.  The exhibit included an actual slave cabin that was disassembled and then reassembled in the museum.  Other items on display included Harriet Tubman's shawl, Nat Turner's Bible, and the freedom papers of an individual.  Free African-Americans had to carry these papers with them to assert their status, and being found without them could mean being sent into slavery.  The museum didn't have much time to amass such a large collection of items, and so they relied heavily on donations from private individuals, and it's incredible to behold what they amassed in a span of just a few years before the museum's opening in 2016.

Freedom papers from the 19th Century

Nat Turner's Bible

Harriet Tubman's shawl is to the left and her hymnal to the right

South Carolina slave cabin

Once the tour finished, we went to the next level, which covered the years 1876 to 1968.  The focus was on the Jim Crow Era, and how African Americans banded together and started their own social organizations to provide for themselves in the midst of segregation, up until the Civil Rights Movement.  In this exhibit was a train car, arranged to show the segregated African-American and Caucasian areas.  There was also a dress Rosa Parks created, and Thurgood Marshall's glasses and watch.

Thurgood Marshall's glasses and watch appear mounted in the display case.

Rosa Parks dress

Above is the interior of a 20th Century train car, and below is the exterior.

Above is the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with a pen President John used to sign it, and below is the Voting Rights Act of 1965, also accompanied by a pen President Johnson used to sign it.

The uppermost level in the exhibit focused on the years 1968 to the present, which included content on African-American in popular culture and recent racial tensions.  I was particularly taken by a video showing images from the years 2001 to the present, with the song "Glory" playing in the background, which was featured in the movie Selma.

The following 4 photos contain thought-provocative quotations, which underscore how the museum's exhibits help visitors ponder the implications of the history therein presented.

It was after 1 PM by the time we finished viewing the historical galleries, and we decided to have lunch at the museum's Swee Home Cafe, despite the long line to get in.  There were different serving areas with regionally-focused foods.  We passed over the Southern foods like fried chicken, with the longest line, to get pulled pork sandwiches in the Western-themed area.  Directly below is a photo of the food on display there.

The dining area of the Sweet Home Cafe

Following lunch, we viewed a temporary exhibit on Oprah Winfrey.

Included in this case are a dress Oprah wore on a show and the effects from the show when she gave away a free car to all the audience members, like the big red bow on the car and the box with the key, which I believe is the small silver box.

Then we went to the exhibits on the upper floors of the museum, which focused on various aspects of African-American culture, including musicians, sports, military service, and artists.  Included in these galleries were Gabby Douglas's Olympics credentials badge, and Dr. Ben Carson's lab coat.  There were also statues of renowned African-American athletes.

For the 54th Massachusetts Regiment

Display for Dr. Ben Carson

Gabby Douglas's Olympics credentials badge

Jesse Owens statue

Michael Jordan dispaly, including his jersey and a Wheaties box bearing his image

Piano and bench from Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago

Above is the view of the Washington Monument from inside the museum, and below is the view of the monument by the museum outside.

It was after 4 PM by the time we left the museum.  We walked to see the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial.  Then we walked back to the Smithsonian Metro Station for our return to Alexandria.  When we transferred at L'Enfant Plaza, there were again huge crowds headed to the Nationals Stadium for another Nationals vs. Cubs game, which you can see in the photo below.

The next morning, after we had breakfast, we walked about a mile to St. Joseph Parish for 8:30 Mass.  While attending World Youth Day in Panama back in January, I met a few St. Joseph parishioners at the farewell reception at the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center, and when I heard they were from a parish in Alexandria, I set my sights on attending Mass at their Church.

Above is the exterior of St. Joseph, and below is the interior.

We quickly encountered a welcoming community.  The priest invited guests to stand, and then he brought a microphone to the guests so we could introduce ourselves.  Father gave a homily in the spirit of a true teaching homily, going through each reading thoroughly and drawing from it insights for our life of faith.  There was fine music and a lively crowd in a filled church.  Following Mass, a few people approached us to welcome us personally.

Afterward, I learned about some of the history of St. Joseph.  Because African-Americans faced discrimination at St. Mary's Parish in Alexandria, they sought to create their own parish.  They got a large amount of money from St. Katherine Drexel, who donated money from her enormous inheritance to found churches for African American and aboriginal Americans.  Being familiarly connected with St. Augustine Mission, which she founded in Nebraska, I was particularly pleased to discover that historical anecdote about St. Joseph.  Following Mass, we went to the church basement, where there was a display about the parish's history, including a document bearing the signature of St. Katherine Drexel.

St. Katharine Drexel statue near the back of the sanctuary

Display case of St. Joseph history, with a document bearing St. Katharine Drexel's signature on it in the center of the photo.  Below is a close-up of her signature, which she spelled with a "C".

We left St. Joseph and headed due west to the Braddock Road Station to board the Yellow Line.  We rode it to Gallery Place-Chinatown, which was right by the National Portrait Gallery, which I soon learned is the same building with the National Museum of American Art.

Here is a piece of art that spells out, phonetically, the entire preamble to the US Constitution.

We went on a guided tour with Elizabeth.  She did a fabulous job highlighting certain works in the gallery, and taking time to help us be aware of certain artistic details in paintings, of subjects like Elizabeth I and presidential portraits, especially George Washington and Barack Obama.  Her approach helped me notice details I wouldn't have considered otherwise, like a rainbow in the famous Gilbert Sullivan portrait of George Washington.  (The National Portrait Gallery has a complete collection of presidential portraits, with the White House having another.)

A portrait featuring inventors of the 19th Century

George Washington's portrait

Here I am posing by James Madison's portrait, whose birthday I share.

Here I am posing by President George H.W. Bush's portrait, who was president when I was born.

She also pointed out historical details of the building, like the spot where the original engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence was on display during the time when the building was the Patent office--I am posing by that spot in the photo directly below.

She also noted that President Lincoln held an inauguration reception in the building, and noted the staircase where he walked, which is in this photo:

One other resplendent part of the building was the indoor Kogod Courtyard, with a glass ceiling letting in all the sunlight but climate-controlled to make it a comfortable space to pass the time.  (Alas, I didn't take a photo, but you can go to that link to see a picture of it.)

By 1 PM, we got on the Red Line and went to the Brookland-CUA stop and then walked across Catholic University of America's campus to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception--I am posing in front of it in the photo below.

We had lunch in the cafeteria and then did some shopping.  I always find it meaningful to visit the Shrine when in Washington, D.C. as a deeply spiritual, prayerful place, especially with all the side chapels dedicated to various Mary personages, and awe-inspiring interior design.

Above, a view looking up into the new Trinity dome, and below is a close-up of detail in the Trinity dome.

Then we walked north to the National Shrine of Pope St. John Paul II, listening to the Basilica's carillon as we walked.

Above is the entrance to the shrine on Harewood Road, and below is a view of the front of the building from Harewood Road.

We got to the other shrine in time for the 3 PM praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet followed by Eucharistic adoration.  The Redemptor Hominis Chapel was so light-filled with all its bright coloring, a truly beautiful and prayerful place.

The Luminous Mysteries Chapel had a vial of John Paul II's blood, a first-class relic.

Above is the vial of his blood, which is embedded in the altar.  Below is a picture of the altar in the Luminous Mysteries Chapel.

Right before leaving, I signed a Knights of Columbus guest register, and then the person at the desk offered me some gifts.  The Knights contributed significantly to its construction, and so are specially recognized there.

In a city known for monuments and buildings that evoke a grand sense of earthly power and prestige, places like these two shrines have made Washington, D.C., as a notable spiritual destination for me, with sites bearing the names of saints that help draw us toward God, the Creator and Ruler of Heaven and Earth.  Indeed, among institutions that speak to our shared values as a nation are these special spiritual places that speak to our faith and our shared experience of it, especially as people of the Church in the United States, which touches something deep down inside of me.

Above is a statue of Pope St. John Paul II in the lower level, and below is me, posing by a statue of him outside the shrine.

We walked back about a mile to the Brookland-CUA station and made our way back to Alexandria.  After dinner, because the warm day put me in the mood for something cool and sweet to eat, we walked down King Street to a gelato place Mom found, La Casa Rosada, whose entrance is in the photo below, certainly evocative of the distinct Italian immigrant community in Argentina, of which Pope Francis's family was part.  I got mango sorbet, which I enjoyed.

Above is King Street in Old Town Alexandria, and below is a view of King Street near our hotel, lit up at night.

The view of the front of our Wyndham Hotel

I walked back down King Street the next morning to visit the Basilica of St. Mary's Parish, in the photo directly below, and spend some time in prayer there before going onward with the day.

We had checked out by 10 AM, and made our way to Union Station to store our luggage in the Club Acela.

The view of Alexandria from the platform of the King Street Metro Station

Here's the view after the Yellow Line train crossed the Potomac, but before going underground.  Two prominent landmarks are the Lincoln Memorial (near the center) and the Washington National Cathedral, near the right.  Below is a view of the Washington Monument and the very top of the Jefferson Memorial dome.

Then we walked to the National Archives Museum building to see the Charters of Freedom, a true highlight of any visit to Washington, D.C., to behold those documents that are at the heart of what the United States is.  Or, as I heard a student visiting with a school group say, these documents are the history of America's founding.  We were in company with many school groups there, just like at the Holocaust Museum.  It heartens me greatly that schools still go through so much effort to take students on trips to Washington, D.C., because it's so important that young people see what's there, and and become more strongly rooted in who they are as US citizens.  Indeed, it's wonderful to see our heritage passed on to the next generation.

Here I am, outside the National Archives building after our visit.

We then went back to Union Station via the Metro and then walked to the West Lawn of the US Capitol to see the set-up for the forthcoming National Memorial Day Concert, an important custom of mine on Memorial Day Weekend.  It was special to see the setting in person as context for seeing it days later.

In the center of this photo, you can see the topmost part of the stage set-up.

We returned to Union Station and got Chinese-style food for lunch.  Then we went to Club Acela to wait for boarding our train.  This lounge was much smaller than the Metropolitan Lounge.

A man sitting across us got this picture of Mom and me.  He was traveling with his wife out west from South Carolina.

The info board for our train.

We were on the train a few minutes before 4 PM, and the same car attendant crew that was on duty during our trip there was on the same train going back, though we had a different attendant, and I believe his name was Phil.  The train departed right about on time at 4:05 PM.  I took in the great views of Washington, D.C., and then the nearby suburbs and then the Appalachian highlands as we headed toward Chicago.  We had dinner at 6:30 PM, eating the same menu choice as on our way east.

The view from the station stop at Rockville, MD.

Harper's Ferry, WV

A view of a field as we travel along, likely somewhere in western Maryland

Just west of the station at Cumberland, MD

view of the Appalachian highlands west of Cumberland, MD

I stepped off the train at Cumberland to stretch my legs.  I was in bed around the time we stopped at Connellsville.

The next morning, we had breakfast around 7:30 AM, which was around the time the train stopped in Elkhart.  We took in the fine views of northern Indiana fields and towns as we headed west, and then the views of northwest Indiana and Chicago as we neared the end of our train journey.

Downtown LaPorte, IN, the hometown a very good friend of mine

View of Lake Michigan as we travel through the furthest extent of Northwest Indiana, shortly before entering Illinois and Chicago

Skyline of Chicago as the train crosses over the I-90/94 Dan Ryan Freeway near 63rd Street

We arrived at Chicago Union Station shortly after 9 AM.  We proceeded straight to Lou Mitchell's, in the photo below, for breakfast before going home.

Washington, D.C., is indeed such an inspiring place because there are so many sites there that speak to our values of the United States that comprise our US heritage.  It is a place where I can ponder more deeply what it means to be an American, and the implications of being an American.  We get a sense of the values upon which this country is founded, and have served as the basis for everything in our experience since.  It is certainly so breathtaking to gaze upon the monuments in Washington, D.C., not only for the illustrious individuals of history but also monuments like the World War II Memorial that are about the thousands of common individuals who had a significant part in shaping our history.

We realize that part of our experience in the United States is grappling and struggling to advance those values so they are more fully realized by all people in our society.  Certainly the African-American History and Culture Museum has many exhibits that help visitors ponder the path the African-Americans have trodden thus far, and where we as a society must head next for there to be true equality.  Even the Holocaust Museum gives visitors so much to ponder about how to make a better world that respects the dignity of all people.

The other museums in Washington, D.C. have such a treasure trove of items that reveal the vastness of who we are and who we have been as people of the United States.  It is truly amazing to see all that is contained in those museums.

I have to say how much I appreciate the tour guides who led tours in museums, helping us take a different pace to really savor certain parts of everything in these museums.  It's amazing to think of what they helped us uncover.

Indeed, it's amazing to see how one place speaks so much to the entire United States, but it's just as amazing to realize that the entire United States has influenced one place as it reflects the country as a whole.

It was fitting to travel by train to Washington, D.C., to travel at a different pace to really see the country I'm passing through, the country reflected in that city and that is part of that city.  This trip helped me embrace train travel even more as a way to go at a different pace and be mindful of what is there in this country.

It was nice traveling in sleeping class accommodations, to experience the enhanced amenities.  We also had good service from our car attendants.

I was glad to share this experience with my Mom, as train travel is something that I embrace deep down.  And I was glad to share the sightseeing in Washington, D.C., since there's so much there we could both appreciate equally.

Indeed, this trip in so many ways touched what is deep down inside of me, as I shared the experience with Mom, embraced the different pace of travel to really see the country onboard the train, and become deeply in tune with the values of the United States which make Washington, D.C., what it is, even as that one place has made the United States what it is.

The US flag flies high above the plaza outside the main entrance of Union Station in Washington, D.C., the terminus for a trip to a city that inspires me to take a different pace in life and ponder what it means to be an American.