The Best Thing About Washington DC

When I was in college at American University, on this day I would ride my roommate's bike out to Arlington National Cemetery.

I never got close enough to see President Reagan laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but the chill of Taps rolling around the grounds of the cemetery overwhelmed me with both pride and sorrow.

From our rowhouse on 17th and U Street, NW, I would ride around the White House onto Constitution Avenue and through the grounds of the Vietnam War Memorial. There, I would stop for a moment at The Wall. Rough-looking, forty-something, BDU-wearing vets with their boonie hats would gather to march across Memorial Bridge, into the cemetery grounds; a fair amount of wheelchairs mixed in.

I also had to stop and look back over The Mall from the Lincoln Memorial. Just what is it about that one simple statement, I Have A Dream. I dare you to stand on the steps at Lincoln's feet, and not feel something larger than yourself.

As I crossed the river the tour buses were stacked in formation. Stepping-off those buses were white-haired guys wearing hats. Blue garrison caps. With gold piping. What the history books illustrated with black and white photos was now walking past me in full color.

License plates from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, South Carolina, every state, spoke to the greatness and sanctity of sacrifice. How America sent these now old men to fight in faraway places --Verdun, Anzio, Bastogne -- and here they were, back, living their lives, paying their taxes, walking their dogs.

Except for those that are not back.

We spend a lot of emotion honoring the dead soldiers. As we should. Those stark white headstones are the blocks that build the real life manifestations of concepts; concepts of freedom, liberty, dignity.

Today, I fly my flag to honor the living vets.

Living among the monuments of Washington, DC served as a daily reminder of our rights and freedom. But standing in front of those monuments were living, breathing witnesses to the cost of freedom.