As I walked around the fountain and listened to the noise of
falling water I was drawn to a panel of many gold stars – each representing 100
lives lost. I read carved in granite quotes from past
Presidents and I looked at each column representing each state of the
Union. I thought about how young these
men and women would have been, giving their lives so that I could be in a safe
country, where I could worship freely and enjoy a standard of living that is
almost unparalleled among all nations. I
started to feel the familiar lump start to form. I looked to my left and saw the Washington Monument tall, straight, reaching up piercing through the sky as if looking for truth. And then I looked just past it and in the distance and saw the enormous stately
dome of the capital. I turned and looked
down the opposite direction across a very long peaceful span of water leading
to the Lincoln Memorial. The lump got bigger and started to rise in my throat.
We made the
long walk down along the reflecting pond of still water taking and arrived at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. We climbed the steps looking furtively for a glimpse of the man sitting up there, between the pillars… that noble and honorable man that gave his life believing in a set of principles that this country was founded on.
We walked in...and looked at the
enormous statue and the quiet powerful gaze from his eyes that pointed all the
way down across the mall. I read the Gettysburg address carved into the wall. I looked up at his face, wondering what he might be thinking...... We went out
and sat on the steps with hundreds of others from all over the world. I took it all in.The lump turned into water and I felt warmth
in my chest as I remembered what an amazing country this is that I live
in, that I belong to. What a wondrous site this capital
is, for all the world to see as a beacon.
I felt inspired and stirred to patriotism in a way that I haven’t
recalled for many years. I was grateful
for the men and women who enabled that feeling who had passed on. I looked around me and to my left were some Italians, behind me Arabs and to my right French.....I wondered what their experience might be. Was it wrong for me to hope that despite the current political climate that they too might be inspired? What would they say when they went home? McKenna and I lingered there on the steps, soaking in all the people around us, watching them enjoying the beautiful night. We didn't need to say much, because we both were having our own experience remembering. I remembered that while I felt like a global citizen and always will, at my core I was American. That meant something and I needed to be reminded of what that was. A set of principles and ideals that were grounded in belief of God, freedom and liberty. It was a poignant night filled with many emotions. I was glad McKenna was there. It made it all the sweeter.
The full orange moon rose in the sky next the Washington Monument as we walked back in the night.
It was like remembering who I was..... and it felt right.
