LORD 1

Daniel Lord
Professor C. Summers
ENG 102
30JUN2015
Fourth of July in Washington D.C.
Every American has a patriotic duty to make the pilgrimage to Washington D.C. for one
fourth of July. Being such an important patriotic mission, here are the objectives an American
must complete for mission success. First objective is to have a pleasant ride on a public
transportation system that should be the basis of all other transportation systems in America,
because it is always on time, pleasant, can get you anywhere in D.C., and costs almost nothing.
After viewing how public transportation should be, it is time to walk the National Mall. "For
more than 200 years, the National Mall has symbolized our nation and its democratic values,
which have inspired the world. The National Mall - the great swath of green in the middle of our
capital city and stretching from the foot of the United States Capitol to the Potomac River - is the
premiere civic and symbolic space in our nation" (NPS). Conveniently, the Metro has three stops
just for the National Mall. It is imperative that you follow this objective to full completion, too.
If you have not seen the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Capital of the
United States of America, and the White House, then you are not done with your mission yet
American! Next objective, see your favorite museum, conveniently located on the National
Mall. Now finish the mission and feel proud to call yourself an American as you watch the best
firework show in the world under the feet of Abraham Lincoln and reflect on your patriotic
thoughts with the Reflecting Pool stretching all the way to the Washington Monument in front of
you. Thank you for being what has made this country great.
Public Transportation has always been a nightmare for me. I've had problems from buses
being late and unpredictable, to buses plain missing me at the bus stop. Growing up in a midsize
city like Springfield, Illinois I just always assumed public transportation was horrible
everywhere, but this is not the case. Even on one of the busiest days of the year for Washington
D.C., their transportation system is on time and reliable. At the heart of the city, the Metrorail
system is comprised of six lines that easily take you anywhere in the heart of D.C., even the
highly secure Pentagon! A Metro pass can be purchased at any metro stop for the cost of a

LORD 2

dollar, and can be used and recharged throughout your entire visit. Not that you will need to
charge your Metro card anytime soon; a mere $20 will last you the entire weekend. Try renting a
car or finding a taxi driver that will give you that kind of deal. Public transportation even works
for those Americans that want to venture off the beaten path of downtown. Buses pick up from
every metro stop and extend the range of this public transportation system to any corner of D.C.
that you would like to explore. D.C. buses are always on time, too, just make sure you get out of
their way if you happen to be driving in D.C., they take pride in not being late.

Hopefully by now you have decided to park your car on the outskirts of D.C. and are
wondering what your first stop off of the Metro should be. Well, if you planned enough in
advance, you can start your trip off by visiting the President of the United States of America, or
at least where he lives. Make sure to make your reservations well in advance though. The Secret
Service takes their job seriously and require tour reservations be made at least 21 days in
advance, to ensure the safety of the guy running this great country. This tour is very informative
and helps give you a perspective of the leaders of our country. If you are lucky you might hear a

LORD 3

parade of police sirens driving by. This means you might have actually caught a glimpse of the
President.

Now the President is not the only guy in charge here in the United States of America.
Our Federal Republic has more big wigs running this country in the United States Capitol
Building and the Supreme Court of the United States. These buildings also happen to be located
in the National Mall, and are only a 43 minute walk from the White House. I say only 43
minutes, because every building, sculpture, tree and fountain on this walk is breathtaking. This
walk also helps you burn off the calories from that hot dog you ate at one of the several vendors
in the National Mall set up to celebrate this nations independence from England. The visit to the
Capitol Building and Supreme Court should fill you in on the rest of the big wigs that have
played an essential role in the shaping of America. Now is the hardest part of the trip, deciding
what you want to see next. With the Library of Congress and the Russel Senate Office building
on either side of you and so much more of the National Mall still yet unexplored, this is a very
difficult and important decision.

LORD 4

The correct decision is to pick your favorite part of our history and visit that museum.
Don't worry, either, there is a museum for whatever you pick. With over 200 museums in our
Nation's great capital, there is no worry of not finding one that you are interested it. Many are
located on the National Mall as well. The museums located on the National Mall include the
National Museum of: the American Indian, Renowned Collections, Celebrated US heritage,
African Art, Caribbean and Latino Art, National Archives, US Department of the Interior,
Woodrow Wilson, Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Castle, Holocaust Memorial, Hirshhorn, and last,
but definitely not least, the National Air and Space. If you can't decide between these museums,
this is the point where you need to call work and tell them you are not coming back for a week or
two, because you are fulfilling your patriotic duty by learning about our great country.
After ducking in the National Archives and Records Administration to see the Declaration
of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the United States of America... okay,
there is no ducking into this museum. It is incredibly awesome and hours seem to disappear
when stepping into this treasure trove of American history. Now, after spending several hours

LORD 5

there and picking up a souvenir Declaration of Independence, it really is time to visit your
favorite museum.
My head has always been in the clouds, so the Smithsonian National Air and Space
Museum was my favorite museum. It has the history of us beating the rest of the world on a race
to the moon. It depicts the whole race between Russia and the United States, where we lagged
behind in getting satellites and men in space, but where we pulled ahead by orbiting the first man
around the Moon and finally touching down onto the Moon. "That was one small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind"(Armstrong). The pride of my nation surging through me, I
accomplished one of my life long dreams next, by stepping into a space station. The Skylab was
America's first space station and it is now located at this museum. With attractions like the
Lunar Module #2, the space shuttle Discovery, and an array of different rockets, I had to be
dragged unwillingly out of the building.

LORD 6

Now that you are nearing the end of your patriotic quest, start making your way to the
other side of the National Mall to get a good seat for the best firework show of your life. Do not
skimp on your pilgrimage, ensure you stop and see every monument in the National Mall. These
monuments will step you back through America's history, starting with the Washington
Monument. "Built to honor George Washington, the United States' first president, the 555-foot
marble obelisk towers over Washington D.C."(NPS). This monument can be seen from all four
corners of the National Mall and will guide you on your journey, just as Washington guided us as
a fledgling country. Take the elevator to the 500' level observation deck and get a glimpse of the
National Mall from the sky (NPS). The next President to visit is Thomas Jefferson, take your
souvenir Declaration of Independence and recite it back to our American Founding Father. Next,
it is time to pay tribute to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the man who served our country
as president for over twelve years, the longest term any U.S. president has ever served.
Celebrate our nation's steps for equality at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Pay tribute to
those who have sacrificed for this country at the Korean, Vietnam, and World War Two
memorials, all unique and breath-taking.

LORD 7

You have now finally arrived at the end of your patriotic pilgrimage through the history
and culture of this great country we call the United States of America. Now join President
Abraham Lincoln in looking out on the Reflecting Pool, and reflect on why you are proud to be
called an American. Think of all the people and things it took to make this country what it is
today. Here are the words one such hero spoke across these fields, "And so, my fellow
Americans: ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can
do for the freedom of man" (Kennedy). Celebrate all of it with the greatest firework spectacular
you have ever laid eyes on. Now go home proud and do your duty to make America proud to
call you an American.

LORD 8

Works Cited

Armstrong, Neil. "First Words on the Moon." First Walk on the Moon. Apollo 11, Moon. 20 July
1969. Speech.
Kennedy, John. "Inaugural Address." John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address. , Was. 20 Jan. 1961.
Address.
United States. National Park Service. "Plan Your Visit." National Parks Service. U.S.
Department of the Interior, 26 June 2015. Web. 6 July 2015.
Figure 1. Angeles, Pino La Casa Blanca. Digital image. El Universal, 2013. Web. 20 July 2015.
Figure 2. Digital Image. Advocacy Updates. National Council for History Education, 2015. Web.
20 July 2015.
Figure 3. Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C. Digital Image. Classroom Clipart. 12 May 2011.
Web. 20 July 20, 2015.
-stopped hereFigure 4. "National Mall , Downtown Washington, D.C., the Capital of the United States | HD
Wallpapers." National Mall , Downtown Washington, D.C., the Capital of the United States | HD
Wallpapers. Web. 5 July 2015.
Figure 5. Pan, Angela. "Vietnam Memorial This Morning." Angela B. Pan Photography. 6 Jan.
2006. Web. 5 July 2015.
Figure 6. McGrory, James. "Free for All: Letting Freedom Ring." Vox Populi. 1 July 2009. Web.
5 July 2015.