Memorial Day 2008
The WWII Memorial opened four years ago on Memorial Day and has quickly become the most popular Memorial in Washington. It is airy, open, refreshing and easy on the eyes. I photographed all over the Mall yesterday but this was the first photo of the day and my major interest and obsession.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet and appreciate some really fine people beginning with my favorite general, I am inspired by BG. Evelyn “Pat” Foote (GoGurl!) who was on the original site selection committee for the Memorial and is a co-founder of the “Friends of the WWII Memorial” group.
She is an enthusiastic advocate for women’s rights, integrity in military service and general good will to the community. She is also one of the few people I chose to put in my book along with Toby Felker, a pioneering woman delivery pilot during WWII. She passed last year but thoughts of tiny Toby behind the controls of a B-52 and her adventures as she delivered planes around the country will be much missed.
They held a small ceremony yesterday AM. Naturally, no day in Washington is complete without Senator Bob Dole . He is everywhere and if there is an example of the “greatest generation”, he’s it. I see him on Wednesdays and Saturdays as he visits the Memorial whenever an Honor Flight comes in. And speaking of new friends,let me mention Earl Morse, Jeff Miller, Susan Barr, Al Bailey, Dave Bauer, Jim McLaughlin, Mom and Dad Morse and the countless volunteers with Honor Flight who give their time and energy so enthusiastically to our WWII Veterans. Images from Memorial Day at Arlington Cemetary, the Korean Memorial, and the DC National Memorial Day parade can be seen here.