If you've been reading this blog for a while, you already know my obsession with history. Well there is no better place for me to live part-time than Washington DC. Over the years I have been here about a dozen times for various reasons and pride myself on having an advanced knowledge of the cultural institutions.
I could not have been more wrong. That all changed for me this morning.
Since I arrived in DC a week ago I have spent most of my time at home watching football or exploring the residential neighborhoods around me. I did not feel a need to explore the same museums that I've been to so many times before. I've seen all the monuments and memorials. What would be the point of going back?
However this morning I had an appointment downtown, and afterword I found myself with the itch to "nerd out." So I went for a walk along the National Mall. I stopped by the Lincoln Memorial (where Julie and I officially became engaged--at the exact spot where MLK gave his "I have a dream" speech). I stopped by the wall memorializing the 58,000 troops lost in Vietnam, and the memorials for Korea and World War II. I recounted to myself pieces of history that only an idiot like myself with too much time to read countless history books could know.
On my walk to catch the Metro (subway) home I decided to jump into one of my favorite buildings--the Museum of American History. Inside the front lobby the first attraction, and by far the most grand in the building, is that of THE Star Spangled Banner Flag--the actual flag that flew over Ft McHenry in Baltimore when the British bombarded the fort in 1814. It was as morning light rose on September 14, as he stared out his window while being held captive on a British Ship that Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that later became our national anthem. He was inspired by the very flag that I now stood face to face with.
I have seen this flag before. In fact this was my 4th time viewing it in person. However it struck me differently today. I think of war much differently since my experiences oversees. American soldiers have fought wars for 235 years, but in the last 40 years less than 1% of the American population has volunteered for military service (versus about 10% 70 years ago). I became choked up when I started to think about the truly awesome lineage that I am now a part of.
When I was in Afghanistan I wore the stars and stripes on my uniform, but never really gave much thought to those who served before me. I always respected the sacrifices of those who served before me, but until I actually served myself, I never knew just how awesome that privilege is.
Some say it is a privilege to live in America. That may be true. But for me the greatest privilege has been to serve America oversees and come home to honor those who did not make it back. As I sat in front of the Star Spangled Banner Flag I thought of family and friends that have been lost overseas. The school children and families that walked by probably don't know the guys I know that sacrificed their lives for that flag (or why some guy in jeans and a hoodie would stare at it for 20 minutes), but I hope their experiences in our nation's capital will help connect them in some way to our truly unique and remarkable past.
Until next time...
Chris
Chris--welcome home. Hey, if you ever get over to the new Walter Reed (or know someone who does on a regular basis) I would love to provide copies of my book to the injured soldiers. Let me know how many. They're just collecting dust in my garage waiting. I've been wanting to do this for a long time. I know the wounded get a lot of famous visitors and I am just a nobody, but at least they'll relate to my son in the story. I spent a lot of time at the old Walter Reed in DC then, while staying at the Marriott in nearby Silver Springs. I did get to the Mall once then, and the WWII memorial really brought out the emotions. My dad and my son served. All I've done is write. But I'm not done yet! Not hardly!
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