The Mall and its Memorials

Page 2 of 3.

Click on images below to enlarge:
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The walls in the background are etched with eloquent expressions by him of his vision, including "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" and "I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits."	One entrance to the memorial goes through the hole in the mountain (the "mountain of despair").	Jefferson's Memorial, as seen from across the tidal basin at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.	Close-up. Ah, how I love my camera's lens.
The Washington Monument as seen from across the tidal basin. (I walked part of the walk around it after taking the previous picture.)	The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial consists of a series of giant granite block walls (etched with quotes), waterfalls, and occasional statues. It looks better than it sounds. Here's a sample view.	The FDR Memorial is the first memorial I've seen with an inscription written also in braille. Most inscriptions at this memorial, however, were not simultaneously written in braille.	Surprisingly, on this wall, these reliefs are only in braille.
Another sample shot, at another part of the FDR Memorial.	A pagoda from Japan, with the Washington Monument in the background.	A panoramic video of the tidal basin. The sky was quite nice this day.	The simple George Mason Memorial.
The Jefferson Memorial.	I think it's significant that the cornerstone of Jefferson Memorial was laid by someone who turned out to have such an impact on world affairs that a memorial was constructed in his honor.	The Jefferson Memorial has a museum/exhibit, "Light and Liberty," on Thomas Jefferson underneath it.	People even protested cutting down trees back in the 1930s. This plaque refers to the Jefferson Memorial.
The sun was setting over the Tidal Basin when I left the Jefferson Memorial.	Ditto (sunset over the tidal basin). This shot includes the Jefferson Memorial nicely lit on the left.	A third shot, with a better angle to the memorial but a worse angle to the sunset. I like how I got a plane flying overhead.	Another day, I stumbled on the Japanese-American Internment Memorial, just north-east of the Capitol. Just goes to show that even detailed maps of city skip some memorials.
The Ripley Garden, nestled between the Hirshhorn and the Museum of Arts & Industries (under renovation). Don't miss the red hanging lanterns. Farther down, the garden is windy and elegant.	John Marshall Park has a statue of two men playing chess. How cool!	The chessboard. Given that the pieces aren't colored, can you figure out what's going on? Incidentally, something like this might make a good Game clue.	One side of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The memorial lists on walls the names off officers killed in the line of duty. It's no Vietnam Veterans Memorial; it lacks the emotional impact. The memorial also has a reflecting pool and a gazebo.
At the tiny National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Visitors Center, I learned a bunch of interesting facts: It wasn't until 1858 that police departments began issuing officers uniforms. In 1863, the first department (Boston) issued pistols to its officers. I wonder if they weren't needed before then or if everyone already had one? Since 1998, more officers have died in traffic incidents than were killed by gunfire. Only 12% of law enforcement officers are women.
Kite Festival
One day Di Yin, I, and our visiting friend E headed down to the mall to see the Kite Festival (technically organized as part of the Cherry Blossom Festival).	Yup, there are many kites. I like the rainbow sail kite.	I laughed at the various Angry Birds kites.	View the full-size image to appreciate the swarm of kites flying around the Washington Monument.
More kites.	A close-up of the butterfly kite. I like it.	A panoramic video. It's neat watching the kites glide, zig-zag, or wiggle in the wind.	Many more kites, including a kite that looks like a plane.
This dragon kite was one of my favorites.	The flagship kite, a giant snorkeling woman, and the colorful row of fish- and reef- kites below. This was the official kite club display area.	A close-up of the vividly-colored sails and fish- and turtle- kites that are used to show everyone the way the wind blows.	Another atmospheric shot looking toward the World War II Memorial.