WASHINGTON Part 2

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We have now met up with John and Maxine after they arrived at Union Station. They came in on the Acela Express from Philadelphia having done much the same sights and sounds we had done last week. They are three weeks into their tour and have spent most of that time in Canada after stopovers in Hong Kong, Dubai and the UK. They endured a lengthy delay at the Canadian/ USA border due to a pre-booked taxi not showing up and much ‘red tape’, which meant they missed their flight from Niagara to Philly and had a US$150 taxi fare for the replacement driver. However, all of that was long forgotten after three most enjoyable days in the first capital of the USA. I could never tire of arriving at Washington’s Union Station. It is the most beautiful building and even with a lot of it shrouded in scaffolding and canvas due to another refurbishment it retains it sense of awe. It is regarded as a National Treasure and acts of Congress have ensured its on-going importance. I noticed that they used the Main Hall area for one of President Obama’s Inauguration Balls; with it high ceilings, ornate plaster work and marble planters it must have looked amazing.

The plan for the next few days is to take a rental car to areas of the Civil War and retrace some of the steps of John’s Great Grandfather Josephin Cresp, who fought in the war before settling in Australia. His life story is fascinating and needs expanding to get a feel of the man here are some facts: Josephin was born in France and travelled to America in the 1860s. He enlisted into the army at the all too young age of age 18 in Dennis Massachusetts on the 15^th January 1864. His enlisted name was Peter Martyn and he joined the 22^nd Massachusetts Regiment – their regimental insignia is a red Maltese Cross and they fought for the Union. He was a Private in Company B and served in the area of Beverly Ford until he returned to his mariner roots and joined the US Navy with another 25 of his regiment in May 1864. He remained in the Navy until his discharge – by this time he was known as Peter Martin as his next travels would see him relocate to Australia. It is not known exactly why he travelled to Australia but a common idea is that he may have been tempted by the Gold Rush. He settled in Ballarat, married an Irish girl and the rest as they say is history.

It is going to be an interesting few days as it is an area of American History that I have always wanted to know more about and it also gives me the chance to see many of the battlefields first-hand. I am sure it will also give me a better understanding of the war and the arguments from both sides. John’s knowledge of the Civil War has grown out of his desire to know more about his grandfather’s past – all those who know John will understand that this topic is more than a hobby and he is also quite the collector. However, before we started this trip we had one day to fill in Washington and with their hotel right next to the White House what better place to start. Neither John nor Maxine had been to Washington before so all was new to them – we guided them through Lafayette Square past the White House and the Eisenhower Building towards the south side gardens. Michelle Obama has developed a Kitchen Garden in the far corner of the grounds so you can look at that – there is also a beehive. It appears self-sufficiency may now go all the way to the top!

Amongst all the seriousness of the afternoon we found a long queue near Constitution Avenue and wondered what was going on. With Washington being Washington one always wonders if you are missing out on something; a fleeting visit by the President? A senator announcing their re-election? Mitt Romney speaking on his campaign? Free VIP tickets to the White House? So we asked and then started laughing – it was a recording of the game show ‘Jeopardy’. We declined the offer to join them.

I have already mentioned the disappointment of the lack of water in the Reflecting Pool but that did not mean that we could not take JD and Maxine down to see it. It is hard to miss anyway especially when you are at the WW2 Memorial, which dominates the land between the pool and the Washington Monument. The WW2 Memorial was opened in 2004 and honours the 16 million who served the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home. Senator Bob Dole, himself a war veteran led the fundraising campaign – a staggering US$197 million was raised privately with the Federal coffers adding another US$16 million. As with other memorials its underlying theme is to inspire future generations of Americans, expanding their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in obtaining freedom and democracy. I have always been impressed with the amount of schoolchildren in and around the sights of Washington – most carrying worksheets or the new accessory, the iPad. It is great that so many get to see the Capital and all the history and intrigue it brings. By late next year the construction will have been completed in this area and the pool refilled – it will look stunning and be a wonderful area of remembrance.

The imposing Lincoln Memorial is a stunning piece of architecture and a worthy monument to the revered 16^th President Abraham Lincoln; the president who was saddled with the responsibility of defending Washington from the Confederate troops and lives on with the title “The Great Emancipator”. Due to the bullets fired by John Wilkes Booth, Abe did not get to see out his term in office but his legacy is found in what he did to ensure Washington did not fall. What a very different country America would have been if the Union had been beaten by the breakaway states. The memorial took 8 years to build and was dedicated in 1922 with the names of each of the 36 States in the Union at the time of his death inscribed around the top. I really enjoy standing within this monument as there is nearly a feeling of safety. Lincoln sits looking out over his beloved Washington Mall all the way past the large Washington Monument down to the Capitol – a building he was desperate to finish to give an impression that all was safe in the city. The fact that he is sitting down seemingly deep in thought is perhaps why many people will just come and have a chat to him and offload some angst or thoughts or seek to be inspired by his deeds – it is a memorial that never closes and you can visit Abe 24/7. I am sure I would be right in saying he is a father figure to the nation. We all know the famous events that have taken place on the steps of the Memorial – Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech rang out from there and the “Million Man March” tried to replicate some of this in the 90s. In Hollywood land Forrest Gump made an impromptu entrance into the Reflecting Pool during MLKs speech. President Lincoln is a man we will be hearing a lot about in the next few days.

Just in front of the Lincoln Memorial on the Washington side are two areas that I knew would mean a lot to JD, namely the the Korean Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. The Korean Memorial is where the ANZAC Day Dawn Service will take place next Wednesday. It has changed a lot since we first saw it 10 years ago – much of the low undergrowth had grown up which makes the scene even more lifelike. The American soldiers represented are larger than life size sculptures in patrol formation in full battle dress; they fan out across the area. It is in sharp contrast to the Vietnam Memorial which is a series of highly polished walls that have the 58,195 names etched across them. The stone used is highly reflective, which in itself offers another point of observation. As you view the names you are looking back at yourself. As we walked along the wall we could read letters left by a group of school children who as part of their studies had researched a name from the wall. They had used the information they had found to write a letter to a living relative and then left a copy at the base of the corresponding wall. They were moving to read and a wonderful bit of teaching. I took great interest in listening to John as we made our way along the wall and also stood in front of the sculpture ‘Three Soldiers’ that nearly gives off an impression of them guarding their fallen mates. I did not press but I can only imagine that many memories were stirred for JD.

As for the rest of the day – well we needed to work out a route for this tour so we cooked a meal, opened some wine and sat around maps and diaries working out where we are headed. I am the driver so will just follow instructions.

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Comments

[Doreen Anderson]

A MOST ENJOYABLE ARTICLE
Congratulations, you presented an extremely interesting article. I believe my dear friend, Suzanne Helene Dickinson has a connection to Josephin. Thank you for sharing your experience in the USA Regards Doreen