Another View /  by Dave Hileman

We are looking back from the flight path of Flight 93 as it descended. One of the small details of the monument is that the concrete walls of the Memorial are impressed with the bark pattern of the hickory trees that we still standing near where the impact of the plane occurred.

LBJ Memorial Grove (NPS #317 -Two Lane Touring) /  by Dave Hileman

File the under the “really” category. That there exists a monument to Johnson and, just for one example, none for John Adams, is baffling. LBJ was a character, an adapt politician, a gruff and profane man who became president unexpectedly and did such a job he lasted one term, but there is in DC a memorial to him. Appropriately it is not in the main stream of DC nor is it an imposing edifice. There is a small marina and park along the George Washington Parkway near the Pentagon that honors Lady Bird Johnson - the marina and LBJ - small grove of trees with a stone. Not a statue and not even a plaque to tell you about the stone. The best thing about the grove is the view of DC from the lone picnic table. Doing all the parks brings serendipitous finds and, occasionally, some you wonder who thought this was a good idea.

That is the Old Post Office peeking out from the most well-known of DC’s monuments.

A Neat New Place /  by Dave Hileman

The city of Raleigh just opened the Wooten Meadow Park a short distance from my house. There are four small ponds, lots of greens and flowers, a large open grass space and a wooded area behind and between some housing. Still it has promise as a wildflower and birding spot. We shall watch.

Just missing a frog or an emergent prince.

Behind the Street /  by Dave Hileman

A lot of people travel to Colonial Williamsburg, buy their ticket and tour the main streets and open buildings. If you have time, or make some if you don’t, go behind the buildings on any of the streets and wonder among the garden paths. You will find flower, herb and formal gardens, small spaces to sit, nice views, architectural gems and cool(ish) green spaces. Follow an alley or walkway off the street tp discover CW.

One More Time /  by Dave Hileman

Another of the orchids from the Longwood Gardens near Chadd’s Ford, PA. One characteristic that all orchids share is that they are symmetrical. Hard to imagine given some of the elaborate shapes, but they are.

Dwight D. Eisenhower ( NPS #316 Two Lane Touring) /  by Dave Hileman

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial is one of the newer of the National Park units, established in 2000 it opened to the public in September of 2020. It is a large plaza with two statue groupings one as the Commander of the unified forces that defeated Germany and the other as President. There is a swath of grass diagonally along the block long plaza bordered by Kansas prairie grasses and flanked by two tall towers with his highest military rank and civilian achievements inscribed on them. The Memorial is located on Independence across the street from the Air and Space of the Smithsonian. Towering over the entire memorial is a 60 foot by 440 foot metal tapestry of the Pointe du Hoc cliffs at Normandy. It is illuminated at night - during the day is it difficult to view the whole scene. There is a small VC and audio tours are free.

Inspiring a new generation?

Memorial /  by Dave Hileman

This unique memorial is on the campus of William and Mary in Willimasburg, Virginia. The structure is just off Jamestown Road near the intersection of Richmond Road. It is near the original Indian school location. It has the names, if known, on raised bricks of the enslaved people who worked on the building of the campus from the late 1600’s. It is designed to resemble an open hearth where many enslaved worked and where they could congregate and talk. It is connected to a walk that leads to a small sculpture dedicated to the first black students who integrated W&M in 1967.

The students names are on the lower left side of the pillar and the bird represents an African proverb.

Honor /  by Dave Hileman

This morning we are attending the burial service at Arlington National Cemetery for our good friend, Tom Light. We arrived in Arlington yesterday to be here for the 8 am arrival time. In Philippians chapter two Paul commends a faithful believer who has worked hard with these words, “Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.” We do that for Tom even as his country honors him for his long service. When John Glenn lifted off in Friendship 7 he inspired a young man on a journey that led to military aviation and to this sacred place and so we echo the words to Glenn on that morning in 1962, Godspeed, Lt. Col. Thomas Light.

One of the many National Cemeteries.

"Just Like My Mom Had" /  by Dave Hileman

You do not often see a race car - or today nearly any car, with whitewall tires. I asked the owner/driver of this 60’s era A.H. Sprite about the tires. He replied that his mother bought a Sprite in 1962 and immediately changed the tires for whitewalls. So he does this as a remembrance of her.

"Take me home.... /  by Dave Hileman

…country roads” Thanks to John Denver. I find this setting a great delight and always feel more at ease and relaxed. Not to mention the food and ice cream helps. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Last Photo - Sort of... /  by Dave Hileman

This is a 1972 Porsche 914. The racing team is from Madison, VA, just a few miles from where we lived for 8 years. So I was rooting for Stray Cat Racing. Plus is was in Gulf colors, bonus points. It was well prepared and qualified near the front of the grid. During the race he was third but in a close battle with the car in second place. I focused on him as he accelerated after the chicane. A minute later we heard a loud thud from the other side of the trees where the course snaked down a hill into a sharp 180 left turn not visible from where we were. Number 32 went off. Accidents are not rare but most of these valuable cars are driven with preservation in mind so shunts are usually minor. Not this time. The next time we saw the car on the back of a truck there was nothing left past the drivers compartment. The whole rear of the car was gone. Fortunes of racing. I am sure they will be back racing in a short time.

Negotiate /  by Dave Hileman

This little Triumph came into the chicane a bit hot, locked his brakes and still flicked that car around the hay bales successfully. I was geared up for a lot of flying hay but the driver was too good.