We took a cavern tour deep into the ground.  Here is a "shield" that hangs from the ceiling in Grand Caverns at The Grottoes, VA.

A photo of another "shield".  According to the tour guide, shields are very rare formations.  In this particular cavern system, they have recorded over 200.  It is not known why they have formed here.

Stalactites and stalagmites take 100 years to grow 1".  The size of these pictured above are thousand of years old.  The caverns were very interesting and beautiful. 

Arriving at the Tidal Basin near the White House and all of the National Monuments.  It is the "Cherry Blossom Festival" and parking is a premium.  If you don't get there early, you may be driving for hours trying to find a place to park.  Even then, there is a 3 hour limit, but of course no one adheres to that rule.

This is the front of the Lincoln Memorial which looks across the reflection pool to the Washington Memorial and the Capitol.  It is hard to see, but look closely, Wisconsin is listed on the top row just above the far left opening.  Go Wisconsin!!!

Abraham Lincoln 

The war memorials are the most moving!  These 3 soldiers are at the Vietnam memorial.

This memorial honors all of the women who served in Vietnam.  There are 8 women's names engraved on the wall.

The "Wall" is sobering.  It is hard to imagine so many lives lost.  We heard so many different languages spoken at the wall.  It is with great respect, the people visit looking for friends and family and to just honor those who gave their lives for freedom. 

We researched the wall for our friend, Eileen Wadzinski's, cousin.  Frederick V. Suchomel from Sun Prairie, WI.  We found him Leener.

The "Reflecting Pool" looking from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Memorial and the Capitol of The United States.

The Korean Memorial is very interesting and unique.  These are the stainless steel soldiers that represent all of the 39 different countries involved in the conflict. The detail in the faces is incredible.

This is my favorite photo of all that I have taken so far.  It too is part of the Korean Memorial.  There are soldiers from all branches of service ghosted in the granite and it is highly polished, so that it reflects all of the stainless steel soldiers that doubles the size of the troops.  It is really emotional.

World War II Memorial.  Looking back across the Reflecting Pool towards the Lincoln Memorial.

Inside the World War II Memorial, looking at the Washington Memorial.  We actually had a WWII soldier traveling with us on one of our tour buses. We was visiting Washington for the 1st time.

A very nice passerby asked if he could take our picture.  Bob & I are along the Tidal Basin with all of the cherry blossoms.  It was so beautiful!!  

More blossoms at the Tidal Basin.

The Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal Basin.  They had outside performances scheduled from different countries in the world sharing their cultures.

The statue of Thomas Jefferson within the memorial.

Arlington Cemetery is located on the confiscated property of General Lee who left the Union to lead the Confederate Army during the Civil War.  This cemetery is still a full functioning cemetery and has approximately 25 funerals per day scheduled for all branches of the military old and young that are passing away.  It goes on for miles.  All of the soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are buried in Section 60.  

Arlington Cemetery used to allow individual personalized headstones at the gravesites, but due to the number of internees, they have limited all stones to the same small stone as seen in the lower portion of the this photo. 

The Kennedy plot.  President Kennedy, Jackie and two deceased children are laid to rest here.

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It is so impressive!!

South lawn of the White House.  After 911, it is no longer possible to take tours of the White House unless, you apply 6 months in advance through your State Representatives.  Once granted, you can't even take a purse, cell phone or anything on your body to the tour.  They have a Visitor's Center in the Commerce Building which you still have to go through a bag search and metal detectors just like at the airport.

The same holds true for the United States Capitol.  They have a new Visitors Center in the basement of the Capitol.  The building is impressive!  It is hard to see from this view, but if the United States Flag is flying above the House and the Senate, they are in session.  Both flags were flying today.