Our Memorial Day weekend started on Saturday night with the illumination of the Fredericksburg National Cemetary. It had over 15,000 luminaries in memory of those who lost their lives in war for our country.
Our Sunday started at 7am when we met up with a group from the Fredericksburg area. We met on Princess Anne Street and had police escorts all the way to Washington D.C. We went to where the group has always parked, in a grassy, shaded area on Constitution Ave. just east of the Washington Monument. Well, as we started to make the 6? block walk to Thunder Alley and The Vietnam Wall, we were told that we would not be allowed to park there. This was all from the Dept. of Agriculture, not the police, as the police assured us.
This shot and the shot above are in front of us and behind us as we were waiting to head out for our ride up to D.C. I think our total was in between 200-250 bikes again this year. It was really neat to start the morning with a moment of silence for all those who have fought, died, are still fighting, and are POWs/MIAs--and then to see the overpasses with people on them cheering us on. They had flags hanging over the bridges and waving high. It is a memorable event. There really are no words that I can write to describe the whole day.
Here we are with our bike.(helmet head on me) If you zoom in, the White House is just over Tracy's left shoulder. George W. landed on the lawn in his helicopter while we were there parked on the Ellipse.
This truck had banners and family, I assume, rallying for the return of their beloved missing soldiers. Their faces are pictured on the banner on the side of the truck. This is part of the parade that started at 12pm and continued on for 2-3 hours (we were told). I'm sure we'll do this every Memorial Day. It's better than lounging on our butts at the pool. (We actually did the pool and cookout when we got home.:)