Whether you live in Arlington, Virginia or are thinking of moving here this site is for you. Presented by Elizabeth Bouchard, Arlington native and longtime real estate professional.
The US Air Force Band will be holding a concert at the Air Force Memorial with Music from Stage and Screen with a special D-Day 70th Anniversary Salute at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 30th, 2014. The Featured soloist is the winner of teh U.S. Air Force Band’s Young Artist Competition, Euphonium player Joe Broom. There will also be a pre-concert demonstration by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team at 7:40. The Memorial is located at 1 Air Force Memorial Drive in Arlington.
UPDATE: 07/17/21 The Tourmobile is no longer operating. Consider a Trolley Tour instead.
I thought it would be appropriate for the 365th post to be a tour of highlights of the area. Fortunately the government averted a shut down so this is still possible. Catch the Tourmobile at Arlington National Cemetery for the only riding tour of the cemetery, or take the American Heritage Tour which includes the cemetery as well as monuments, memorials and museums in DC, the Mount Vernon tour, or the Frederick Douglass tour to his newly restored home, Cedar Hill. That’s 365 – watch for an announcement on what’s next.
Author’s Note: while the Tourmobile seemed an appropriate finale for365 things to do, it unfortunately stopped running October 31, 2011 after 42 years in operation.
The daffodils are in bloom! It was a beautiful day today so I took a a drive past Lady Byrd Johnson Park today and a stroll to Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove, which I had never visited before. You can see the daffodils at Lady Byrd Johnson Park as you drive down the GW Parkway, but there is nowhere to park. But follow the signs to Lyndon Banes Johnson Memorial Grove and you can park your car and take a short walk across a bridge where you will find more daffodils and a flagstone walkway to a stone sculpture. Formerly known as Columbia Island, the park was renamed in honor of Lady Bird Johnson and her campaign to beautify Washington D.C. . From the grove there is a beautiful view of the river and the monuments in DC. This was apparently one of the Johnsons’ favorite spots to stop and admire the view.
Veteran’s Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a National Ceremony to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony begins at 11:00 am with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier followed by a parade of colors and remarks from dignitaries at the Memorial Amphitheatre. Arrive early as parking is limited and you need to take a shuttle bus to the tomb/amphitheater. There will be a prelude concert inside the amphitheatre at 10:30 by The United States Air Force Band. For more information, visit the Arlington National Cemetery website.
You can also honor America’s Veterans by visiting battlefields and military parks preserved in the National Park System and November 11th is an entrance fee free day to all National Parks. Due to the rich history in our area, there are many nearby. For more information, visit the link here.
Arlington will also be holding aWomen’s Memorial Veterans Day program on November 11th at 3 PM. The ceremony at the Memorial for Women in Military Service , is free and open to the public and will include formal military honors, a keynote address, veterans’ remarks, and a wreath laying.
November 11th is Veteran’s Day and our area offers many opportunities to honor those who have served our country. For a list of some of these events visit this post.
The annual Marine Corps Marathon is typically held the last Sunday in October. Come out and cheer them on as they run through Arlington and Washington, DC. There are five locations recommended for spectators.
Visit the Marine Corps Marathon website or download the free APP for the iPhone.
Opening ceremonies will be held at the MCM Start Line on Route 110 in Arlington accessible on Metro’s blue/orange line at the Rosslyn or Pentagon Station. Metro will open at 5 AM and the race begins at 7:55 AM. After the start you can cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial in DC where you’ll be able to see runners at mile 11 and mile 16. If you head east on Constitution Avenue, past the Washington Monument to the National Mall you will be in a good position to see the runners at miles 18 and 19. From there take the Metro via the Smithsonian station and head back into Virginia on the Blue or Yellow line to Crystal City where you can see the runners at miles 22 and 23. There will also be live music and family activities. At the finish line near the Marine Corps War Memorial there will be bleacher seating. Take Metro’s blue line to Rosslyn or the MCM shuttle from 23rd Street in Crystal City.
The Marine Corps Marathon Finish Festival is usually held in Rosslyn with a family link up area, music, food samplings and a beer garden.
