Today we went to the Newseum, which promotes, explains, and defends free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. At the Newseum, we got our try at being a news anchor and reporting the news. We got to follow how the events of 9/11 were reported and even saw the remnants from a damaged elevator from one of the twin towers. We also got to see a wall of graffiti. It was a very interesting museum, with seven floors of interactive exhibitions, and an outstanding view of Washington, DC. Then we went to the Air and Space Museum, and we went into a room that teaches about air pressure, airplanes, and gravity. There was so much to learn there! In one interactive exhibit, there was a scale that showed your weight on earth, and you could choose another planet to see your weight on that planet. There was also this thing that you would spin, and if you put pressure when you spinned it, it would look like a tornado in the middle; if you didn't put pressure, it would just look like the ocean when it is rough. One of the major highlights of this day was visiting the Lincoln Memorial. It is a special place to be in the moment! There is a feeling that comes over you, as you stand there next to his statue, and you think about all the work this great man did for the United States of America. Having already visited Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House, this visit to the memorial made it much more special. At dusk, we found ourselves walking through the Korean War memorial, a very special one with life-size statues beside you as you walk. After dinner, we drove across the river to Virginia and took part in the Alexandria Colonial Ghost Tour. We walked through several blocks of Alexandria, stopping to hear stories of ghosts that were relevant to the buildings there. It was a perfect night for a ghost tour, as the full moon rose, temperatures dropped, cold winds blew, and the chill set in!
