Food Trucks on the National Mall

Some of the fixtures on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. are the food trucks. They are usually parked along one of the streets that run through the Mall such as these along 7th Street NW. They also park along Independence Avenue just west of 7th Street NW. There are a number of websites that track these food trucks around the entire D.C. area just in case you take a fancy to one or another of these mobile meals. We visited the Mall in November and the crowds of people were almost just as heavy as they were during the summer months. It is interesting that all of the movies and TV series that show scenes from Washington, D.C. seldom show even a glimpse of the food trucks.

Farewell to Annapolis

During the past year, we have been living in Annapolis, Maryland serving as Document Preservation Specialists for FamilySearch and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Maryland State Archives. We have enjoyed discovering the lovely city of Annapolis and watching the seasons change while living here. We arrived in the middle of the ice and snow of Winter and then watched the millions of trees with flowers and new leaves. We endured the humidity and rain and the Summer and now are near the end of the Fall season and the beginning of another Winter. It is now time for us to return home. The domed building in the background is the Chapel on the grounds of the Naval Academy.

Reflections on Vietnam

I seldom post a photo of myself or any identifiable people, but this is an exception. I served on active duty during the Vietnam War but I served in Panama rather than Vietnam. My feelings about the war are complicated and any commentary on my perceptions, understanding, and current knowledge about the war would run into volumes. Had I known what I know today, I am quite certain some of the perceptions I had at the time would have been entirely different.

The Ravages of War

I am quite sure that there is little more that I can say that is not said by the Korean War Memorial. I am constantly thankful for the lives of those who suffered so much in the service of their country. You only have to look at the contrast between North and South Korea today to see a small part of what they were fighting for. Whatever we think about the politics of the time and the politics today, we must still support and remember the soldiers who served on the ground in our nation's wars.

Korean War Memorial in the Fall

Every time I visit this memorable site I am overwhelmed with the memories of those of fought in the "Forgotten War." For several years, I gathered stories from Korean War Veterans and talked with some personally at length. We even helped edit a book written by a former POW in Korea. The Korean War is a story that has yet to end.

Walking the Wall: Veterans Day 2018

For Veterans Day, one of our last days in Maryland, we decided to visit the Memorials in Washington, D.C. It was an overcast day with the threat of rain and quite chilly. We walked from the Jefferson Memorial by each of the memorials ending up at the World War II Memorial. During this Memorial week, I will be posting images from each of the memorials.

Although I did not end up going to Vietnam, many of my friends did. The Vietnam War Memorial or "The Wall" is the most emotionally overpowering place in all of Washington, D.C. We stopped to look at each of the offerings that we placed by the friends, the relatives, and the families of those who names are enshrined on this wall.

Annapolis Main Street in the Rain

Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland is usually bustling with pedestrians but on a rainy day, it looks quite deserted. It is really one city where you can walk around. In Provo, Utah, we also have a walkable downtown area, but the difference here is that there are actually a lot of things to see. We have enjoyed our year living in this lovely city.