Today we went and saw all the monuments and memorials in D.C. Wow. I've only ever seen pictures, and they don't even come close. There's something amazing about actually being there and seeing these places yourself and experiencing the emotions that accompany each historical moment.For our day we had a tour guide to give us the history about each monument/memorial, but it was really neat because Tanya arranged to have ASL interpreters for the guide so that we could watch them and still be learning sign and experiencing ASL while visiting important historical places in D.C. I really liked that we had them because it was a super unique opportunity. Not only are we going to see all the amazing monuments, but we have a tour guide AND ASL interpreters!
There are Cherry Blossom trees all along the area with the monuments as well as in D.C. and I was told the Japanese people gave them to us in 1912 as a symbol of friendship. I thought that was really beautiful.
The first several monuments were in honor of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the work he did throughout his presidency and the Great Depression. I learned a lot of things from our tour guide I hadn't known or retained before. Franklin D. Roosevelt had polio and instead of always being in a wheelchair, he had a specific chair designed for him that, from the waist up, looked like a totally normal chair. He called it his, "Chair with wheels," the wheels being very well tucked under the chair out of sight.
Some famous quotes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt:
"The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Fear Itself."
"Unless the peace that follows recognizes that the whole world is one neighborhood and does justice to the whole human race, the germs of another world war will remain as a constant threat to mankind."
Some of the memorials have braille beneath the English words, however, our tour guide told us that the blind individuals she's brought that visit the area can't read the braille because it is printed much larger than normal and therefore doesn't feel the same. I thought that was sad, first of all that the people designing it were trying to be all-inclusive, but were unsuccessful, and secondly, that blind that visit the area can't fully experience the monument themselves.
The memorial for Eleanor Roosevelt is after the FDR ones, and our guide said, it was to show she was famous in and of her own accomplishments, I thought that was creative and powerful.
Visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was one of my favorite moments. An unfinished sculpture of King in rock, he appears to be cut out of a mountain several feet behind him. The quote on the rock reads, "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of Hope" Dr. King is emerging from the mountain, his sculpture is unfinished. Why? It symbolizes his early death with work still unfinished. He was the hope to those around him during his time.Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mortality, tied in a single garment of destiny, whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."
"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in."
This last quote really spoke to me, "make a career of humanity. . ." It'll make you a better person and create a finer world. I just think that's such a beautiful call to help people. It inspires me to choose a profession in which I can serve those around me, doing my best to show love, show Jesus, and in turn grow myself into a kinder, more loving person. I want to be an interpreter because I want to serve and help others, I want to be a communication bridge. I hope through that I can show love to the people I interact with.
The Korean War Memorial was quite moving. It consists of a sculpture group of military men of different occupations walking up a hill--symbolizing the terrain they faced in Korea. There is a 164-foot wall made of California black granite, on it are stone blasted faces. I was amazed by the details and accuracy of the faces. They were beautiful. Although there are only 19 statues in the green area, they reflect onto the wall creating an image of 38 figures. This symbolizes the 38 months that the war lasted as well as Korea being on the 38th parallel line.At the Korean War Memorial as well as others there were letters written by children and grandchildren of war participants, laminated and left at the sites. They were very moving to read. Part of me felt I was invading a personal conversation, but it also showed me how much these wars affected those at the time, and their families, spouses, children, parents, siblings, so many people were affected by the losses during these wars and they continue to feel that loss.
The Lincoln memorial was absolutely breathtaking. Our tour guide told us that there are 36 columns because at the time there were 36 states. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech from the Lincoln Memorial and there is now a plaque with his name in the spot where he stood. In the center of the memorial is a sculpture of Abe Lincoln and on either side are written famous speeches, by LIncoln, one is the Gettysburg Address and the other I do not know the name of.
There was a quote that really stood out to me while reading the second, written during the Civil War:
"Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. but. . .the prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes."
I thought this was really interesting because it is true. Many people who are doing wrong believe they are doing God's will. They are praying and then acting in what they think He wants them to do. It shows me how important it is to make sure the things we believe God is calling us to do and the things we are asking God to do for us align with the principles He lays out in the Bible because if we believe God is calling us to an action that is against the Bible's principles, we need to take a step back and reevaluate the action or request. Because it's not from God.
While the Tour guide was talking to us she mentioned that Daniel L. Chester was the architect behind the sculpture of Abe Lincoln. Now, before Chester created the Lincoln sculpture he created a sculpture for Gallaudet University of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and his neighbor Alice Cogswell who was deaf. The sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, done later, appears to have his hands loosely forming the ASL letters "A" and "L"---his initials. Some believe that Daniel L. Chester did this on purpose in memory of his history with Gallaudet. But others, our tour guide included, believe this is all false and merely coincidence because there is no proof that it is true. However, despite no proof there are many things that support the possibility of it, connections and coincidences that seem a little too good to be chance. But I shall not go into detail here. Although many doubt it, I like to believe that it is true.
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| Although the angle makes it harder to see. You can see the similarity. |
Across from the Lincoln Memorial is the Washington Memorial. Before it lies the reflecting pool: Not only does it reflect the images of those who pass by, but it serves as a place for people to think back--reflect--on their lives and the moments within them. Unfortunately for us, none of the monuments, memorials, or reflecting pool had any water in them as it is cleaning time, so that was unfortunate.
Down the way is the Jefferson Memorial, currently it is being cleaned and restored so there was a bunch of scaffolding around the outside. But it was a really beautiful monument. It makes sense, but somehow I never knew there was anything inside the Jefferson memorial. here is a statue of Jefferson along with many quotes inside that were really inspiring. One I especially liked is as follows:
"Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens. . .are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion. . .no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively."After the Jefferson Memorial, we went to a mall with some fast food places and got lunch. During lunch, Tanya and Jody were emphasizing again how important it is to ask for clarification if you don't understand what's being signed. The whole point of this trip is to learn and most people don't mind repeating or explaining things. I feel like this was a really good reminder for me as I sometimes I can just go along and try and figure it out good enough because I don't want to be a bother. But I'm glad they reminded me of this because it really helped me the rest of the week to remember not to be afraid to ask for something to be repeated or explained to make sure I truly understood.
This afternoon we went to Arlington Cemetery, which, although was quite sad and solemn, it also possessed an incredible beauty. Arlington Cemetry is the nation's most sacred cemetery with over 400,000 graves. The entire cemetery smelled like flowers, dotted around with different flowering trees. Members of the military and fall under several specific categories (that I forget) are eligible to be buried in the cemetery. All of the newer gravestones are the same style of gravestone--white marble, small, and thin. Some of the older ones are larger but most still stick to a similar color scheme.Although it was extremely saddening seeing the vast number of graves. There was something beautiful about looking out at the white marble stones for as far as I could see. There was a sense of peace and beauty about the place.
We were able to attend The Changing of the Guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a ceremony demanding great respect and solemnity. It was highly specific and complicated, I can't imagine how long they have to practice to be able to execute it perfectly. Definitely something amazing to witness. Reminded me of all the soldiers who were missing or unidentifiable and the families that never got closure with their loved one.
John F. Kennedy and his brothers are buried there. The brothers each have a white cross at their graves, and JFK has a flame that never goes out. Written in stone nearby is the famous quote:
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
It really makes one think: What can I do in my life, change in my life, pursue in my life, to make a change in the world?
During World War II the battle at Iwo Jima marked a crucial turning point in the war, 1 out of 10 men died--7,000 from the US. The Iwo Jima monument is based on a photo taken whilst U.S. soldiers planted the American flag on Mt. Suribachi. A beautiful moment: as we drove past the monument the way the road curved and because of the changing angle of the flag pole made it appear as if the flag was being raised, it blew my mind and was so neat. There was a story about the Iwo Jima battle that I listened to many times growing up and because of that, it sticks out to me from the war. The Iwo Jima Memorial was definitely one of my favorites, beautiful, patriotic, powerful, and moving. 
The last memorial we visited was the WWII memorial. There are 56 columns, one for each of the 48 states at the time, one for the District of Columbia, and 7 for the Territories of the time (including Alaska and Hawaii).
"The Freedom Wall" is a wall of gold stars, 4,048 in all, each representing 100 deaths. Below the stars reads the quote "Here We Mark the Price of Freedom." So many deaths😔
Lastly, we drove to a place where you could see the back of The White House from a pretty decent ways off, but it was still pretty neat: to be standing there so close to where the nation's leaders have lived and led, the country for the last 200 years.
For supper we went to the Gallaudet cafeteria again. I picked a table to ask if I could sit at, one of the girls talked with me for a little while, asked why I was interested in ASL and she thought it was really cool that I want to be an interpreter, she was super nice and friendly but had to leave shortly after I got there. Then it was weird because the other four students at the table did not talk to me. They were in the middle of a conversation and I didn't want to interrupt but they never even looked at me or said hi and so eventually once I'd finished my food I left and went and joined another table that a few people I knew were at. The Gallaudet students at that table were super nice and friendly and once again were great at explaining things or slowing down and repeating sentences if I missed something. My fellow ASL Students were also super helpful in explaining signs that I was unfamiliar with which I appreciated a lot. One of the students taught us the sign for "Corona Virus" Which I had not previously known before, that was a neat moment.
After a while, I started talking with Malachi (An ASL Student on the trip) and just through that one conversation I learned so much. We were discussing our faith and other random things but there were just so many signs he used that I didn't know and he patiently explained and repeated each one time again until I understood. Very thankful for everyone being so willing and positive in teaching me new signs and helping me to understand. After all, that is the goal of the trip. It's only day two and I've learned so much!
Funny Moment: at one point Malachi was asking me why I am a vegetarian and I had been trying to say that it was something I had grown up doing and something I believed in and what not. So I had thought the sign for husband and believe were the same, (apparently they are quite similar but indeed different), and Malachi was very confused because I was saying "It was something my husband did so I did it too." He told me, he hadn't realized I had a husband and I seemed kind of young and it was then I realized the full implications of what I was signing. Needless to say, I shall remember the difference between husband and believe from now on😂.
In our meeting tonight we went over different signs that people had learned--so many. And we also talked about the interpreters that had been with us through the day, discussing things that were great they did and things that our chaperones (who are interpreters themselves) thought would have been better if they had done differently. It taught me a lot. By this time I was very tired out, and my head and eyes hurt from so much deep focused watching of signing and trying to understand what was happening. It definitely is different than one might expect, not being able to just hear and process while looking around. You have to look at whats around you and then look at the person signing and you can't do both at the same time.Notes From Today:
1. So I am introvert and I very much enjoy my peace and quiet but I also really enjoy spending time with my friends, however, I tend to get burnt out in large groups of people and I think a part of that is how loud it can all get. Something I'm finding I really enjoy about signing is that, although there is a large group of us, it's never loud, hard to hear, or chaotic. But instead, it's quiet and peaceful all of the time, with a laugh every now and then. But it isn't quiet because there's an awkward silence, or because no one is talking. Everyone is still communicating and conversing but without chaotic noise. It is very nice.
2. I think the sign I've used the most so far is the sign for, "Excited." I just am so excited about everything happening right now!
I will be linking the vlog below as soon as I get it finished:)
I hope you enjoyed!
Gabriella
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