Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

These photos are from August 23, 2011, taken during my first visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Were he still alive, Dr. King would have celebrated his 86th birthday this week.

American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

DC's newest completed memorial is just south of the Capitol Building in Southwest DC. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial opened this week. As the name suggests it is meant to honor disabled American veterans of war, from the past and present. The memorial is located at 150 Washington Ave SW, at the corner of C and 2nd Streets. The closest Metro station is Federal Center SW and there is an adjacent Capital Bikeshare station at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building. Some photos: 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

More photos here.

via The 42

New York: National September 11 Memorial

Some of you may know that I ended up in DC as a consequence of having moved to New York only to have it not work out as planned. I relocated from Richmond to 133rd St on September 4, 2001. While working a temp job I had previously set up, I participated in the final interview for a great education non-profit the evening of September 10, 2001. The interview went well. I'll never know, but I like to think that in a parallel universe, I would have gotten the job and started a new life in the Apple.

That didn't happen. The education non-profit closed for a few days (their offices were in the financial district) and later decided not to fill any new positions, including the one I interviewed for. My lowly temp job for another non-profit soon ended as well. It's all fun and games until you can't get off of the island or have any visitors to the island and don't have a job on the island and can't get your new driver's license/ID after they took your old one and now they aren't handing out new ones and the National Guard is patrolling Madison Ave 24/7. Weird days.

I didn't end up going back to ground zero for a few years, well after I had already moved a few times and ended up in the District. I did visit the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial shortly after it opened and had wanted to see New York's memorial since it opened last year. I got the chance recently. The Museum is still under construction, but the memorial itself is complete.

Here are a few photos from the National September 11 Memorial in New York City.

 

National September 11 Memorial, New York from The 42 Bus on Vimeo.

District of Columbia War Memorial

The 499 people memorialized here were District residents who fought and died during World War I. It was dedicated in 1921 and recently underwent a cleaning and landscaping project. It is distinctly a DC memorial (built and paid for by the District), but city and federal officials have long discussed whether it makes sense to share custody, or relegate upkeep and maintenance to one entity entirely. The DC World War I Memorial (as it is more commonly known) is located on Independence Avenue NW, north of the Martin Luther King Jr National Memorial and just west of 17th Street NW.

Memorial Monday: Taras Shevchenko

Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko is memorialized near Rock Creek Park, just west of Dupont Circle. Shevchenko is largely considered to be the father of modern literature and language in the Ukraine. During his lifetime, what we now know as Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire. Their modern independence dates to 1991. Much of his writing was political in nature and is underwritten on this statue as "The Bard of Ukraine." Shevchenko was also known for his paintings and etchings. 

This memorial was authorized by Congress in 1960 and dedicated in 1964 on the 150th anniversary of his birth. The bronze statuette was sculpted by fellow Ukrainian artist Leo Mol. It is one of several representations of Shevchenko by Mol. The memorial is located near the corner of 22nd and P Streets NW.

Martin Luther King Jr Memorial: Photos

Yesterday, the National Park Service opened the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial one day ahead of schedule. The memorial is quite unique; it is the first major memorial on the National Mall to honor an African-American, one of the few that feature a non-President and at 30 feet, it's the tallest statuette on the Mall.

The layout is simple; two long, curving inscription walls, an "entrance way" made of two large mountain-like stones and the carved stone statue of King. Outside the footprint and landscaping of the memorial is the rangers' station and bookstore. From what I understand the memorial will be open to the public until 10pm each day until Thursday. It will close all day Friday and Saturday and reopen for the ticketed dedication on Sunday morning. After the festivities it will be open 24 hours/day like other monuments on the mall.

As far as DC residents getting a first look, well, that opportunity seems to have passed. The only mention I've heard since the announcement is that Mayor Gray is inviting DC residents down to the memorial today, August 23 from 8am-10pm. So, pretty much the same opportunity afforded everyone else, at this point. According to the city, the Mayor and other city leaders will be at the memorial to welcome visitors. At what time, I don't know. Sorry about that. Also, the MLK Jr DC Public Library is actively programming around the unveiling and a schedule can be found here.

FYI, getting there: I took the Metro to Smithsonian station and walked along Independence Ave to the memorial. I've seen all sorts of recommendations, from Farragut to Foggy Bottom to Arlington Cemetery stations. The Independence Ave walk is not suited for people in wheelchairs or large groups, but otherwise seems to be the fastest walking route from a Metro station.

Here are a few photos from yesterday:

Tweet

District Residents May Get First Look at King Memorial

Site map from: mlkmemorial.org

News broke yesterday that District residents will get a chance to tour the new Martin Luther King Jr memorial before most of the rest of the country does. The opening festivities and dedication are on August 28. But, the anticipated public opening of the grounds is August 22. Details are yet to be released, but some D.C. residents will supposedly get (through lottery?) a guided tour of the newest major memorial on the National Mall on the 23rd. That is fantastic news.

The King Memorial is located in quite the spot; directly in the line of sight between John Russell Pope's Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Henry Bacon's iconic Lincoln Memorial. (Also adjacent to F.D.R.'s expansive memorial) King's will be the first major memorial on the Mall to honor an African-American as well as a non-President. I'll update this post when and if I am made aware of the procedures for obtaining a D.C. resident tour.

Tweet

Memorial Wednesday: James Buchanan

Washington has one. Lincoln, yes. FDR has a one. Jefferson, too, of course. Wilson has a whole house dedicated to his presidency. And Eisenhower is getting his memorial soon. You may not have known, but Buchanan is on that list, too. James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, has a memorial in DC; just like some of the more well known and revered holders of the office. 

Buchanan is known mostly for1) presiding over the U.S. as the states slipped into the Civil War and 2) being the only President who never married. His bungling of the slavery issue and general reluctance to address tensions between the north and south tainted his presidency; arguably more than any other one-termer. 

His presidential statue is on what was supposed to be "The Avenue of Presidents." 16th Street NW has been envisioned as many things; the Prime Meridian, Embassy Row and the Avenue of Presidents among others. The Buchanan statue was finished in 1930, but was actually included in the original plans for Meridian Hill Park. The park's construction lasted from 1912 until 1936. It was donated by the President's niece and sculpted by Hans Schuler. It remains as the only presidential statue to grace 16th Street. The others are downtown on the National Mall. 

Buchanan's statue is located on the lower level of Meridian Hill-Malcolm X Park in the southeast corner, only steps from the 15th St entrance.

Memorial Tuesday: The Boy Scouts' Weird Memorial

Heck, let's just make this memorial week. As I said yesterday there are so many in the city, I could do this forever.  

Just south of the White House, on the 15th Street side of the Ellipse, is one of the weirdest monuments in DC. I can't call it ugly because, well, it's not ugly; but it is peculiar. 

I was never a scout (I went to one cub meeting as a child, but when I found out we weren't the ones eating, --errr, selling-- the cookies, I just left.). But, if I were a scout, and I was asked to design a scout memorial, I'd say include something like, I dunno, a scout building a fire, or helping an elderly person cross the street, or fording a river. You know, scout stuff.

The last imagery I would think to incorporate would be a mix of classic and modern sculptures including vague half naked representations of "American Manhood and Womanhood" along side the ideal scout. But that's what happened. Actually, the idealized American adults are behind the scout. They're supposedly delivering the best of human ideals, honed over the ages, to the new generation. The young scout, walking stick in hand, is "striding into the future" full of hope that all great things in America live on in perpetuity.

Some very idealistic, allegorical images that you might guess came out of the Cold War era. And you'd be pretty close; the statue was built in 1964. There is an unkempt pool and limited seating as well. I've got to assume it'll look a little better this summer after a scrub down and when there is actually some water in it.

The site of the memorial is not accidental. It marks the location of the very first Boy Scout National Jamboree (a very, very large gathering held about every 4 years). There's also a World Jamboree, which will be held in the U.S. for the first time ever in 2019. Maybe they'll spruce up the memorial and pool by then. This is a fun series. I'l see if I can keep it going all week. Stay tuned.

Memorial Monday: Sonny Bono Memorial Park

There are sooooooo many smaller memorials in DC, I feel like I should highlight a few just for fun. Previously covered were the Marconi statue, the Victims of Communism Memorial and the McClellen statue.

Right off of the 42 bus, near Dupont Circle is a small park dedicated to the late Sonny Bono. The former entertainer was elected to Congress out of California in 1994 only die a tragic, accidental death in 1998.

Sonny Bono Memorial Park is not much more than a plaque attached to a traffic island on New Hampshire Ave NW at 20th St. It is walking distance from a 42 bus stop and relatively unnoticed by most tourists and residents, at least while I observed. There is one Japanese maple tree, planted to honor his service to California (from a nursery in his district) and a few small benches. The park is supposedly kept up over time by a close friend to Mr. Bono; the same friend who lobbied for and financed the park's creation.

Victims of Communism Memorial

At New Jersey and Massachusetts Avenues, NW. Erected by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

There is a virtual museum in the works to accompany the memorial, which has been on Mass Ave near Union Station since summer of 2007. The memorial was authorized by Congress in 1998.

And of course the obvious question: What about the Worldwide Victims of Capitalism Memorial? Maybe after the recession/depression is over. Maybe not. WTO, IMF, IADB, NAFTA, CAFTA, HMO, NYSE, IRBD; an alphabet soup of zero sum games. A few winners, lots of losers and many victims.

Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial