The National Mall

Okay for those of you that dont know, the national mall isnt really a "mall". best word i can think of to describe it is, park. the national mall is ringed with museums.

DC has a pretty good subway system. (http://www.stationmasters.com/) was a very helpful and informative site for me.

The memorial is circular is shape. It is ringed by 56 columns and two arches. They represent each US state and/or territory. The two big arch ways indicate both major theatres of war. japan in the pacific. germany in the atlantic and europe.

Each state column is left empty in the middle. This represents how each is incomplete because of the huge losses during the war. The "rope" at the bottom connecting the columns stands for unity. Two wreaths (one on either side) are on each column. Oak (strength) and wheat (prosperioty).

The Vietnam Wall is roughly shaped like a wide letter "v". One end pointing to the Lincoln Memorial. The other end points to the Washington Monument.

There's a bronze statue of 3 soldiers facing the wall. Its suppose to be showing them coming out of the woods after battle. Some say they're returning from battle and shocked by all the dead (names on the wall). Others say they're returning from battle and are looking for their own names on the wall.

It was night time when I visited the FDR memorial. My camera didnt accurately capture its true beauty.