This past Friday, my husband and I took advantage of an offered bus trip with a group of folks that we know. The main point of the trip was to go to the Marine base in Washington and view the silent drill team, but there was one other short sightseeing stop on the way.
My only complaint with the stop to see the World War II monument was that we didn’t have more time to walk around the plaza and see some of the other monuments. Having only an hour limited our straying, but it also put a return trip on our must do list. (http://www.wwiimemorial.com/)
Our group ages ranged from 45 to 95. Some of the men with us had deep feelings about the war and the men lost there. We all felt the reverence and where in awe of the huge fountain and for me the wall of gold stars (4000 of them, each depicting 10,000 men lost to that fight).
A gentleman that I know very well was especially effected. He and his wife found the block engraved with The Battle of the Bulge. He fought there, was wounded, and lost many friends. His daughter was born days before he arrived at the England hospital. Together the couple mourned lost comrades and the recent lost of that daughter.
This stop at the Washington Plaza was the highlight of the trip. We had a delicious and generous dinner at The Crystal Mall, and went on to the Marine Base, arriving at seven PM as instructed. The tickets are free to this event which takes place every Friday, but you must call ahead as they are often booked, and you must get a ticket.
After being taken to our seats by one of the crew of handsome and very impressive Marines, we were told that the program wouldn’t start till 8:45 or after dark. We were seated in bleachers in the furthest corner (end zone area) of the field with a line of trees directly in front of us running parallel to the field. With only two areas set up for the bleachers, you could say that we had the worst seats in the house.
We were treated to a talk by a Marine who gave us some background on marines in general and the history of the base. The temperatures were in the high 80′ies (and did I say we were sitting out side without overhead shelter?) Though they had water available it wasn’t convenient to climb down the packed bleachers to get it, so we waited.
The program started with the Marine Band (either two bands or two parts of the same band preformed at various times) and they were great. Then there were introductions, and finally after a half hour the drill team appeared. Because the marched past us to reach the field (and back the same way an hour later) we did see them. But the only viewers who actually saw the performance were those sitting in the seats horizontalto the field with the spot lights behind them and on the troops. I suspect these were the families and dignitaries invited to the base.
To sum up. We were disappointed that we didn’t see the drill team ( one of our group passed out from 
dehydration and was taken to the hospital which also put a damper on the evening) but the visit to Washington Plaza, and the supper, and of course the conversation with friends was worth the trip. (http://www.mbw.usmc.mil/sdpdefault.asp)
If you get the chance to go to this program, be sure you’re getting good seats (they don’t allow you to wander around the field) and take a lot of water.
Tags: monument, Washington DC, World War II
