Memorial Day = Memorable

I know that this post is super overdue, being that it is now July, but I had to talk about how AMAZING my Memorial Day was this year. It was so cool to be living in the nation's capital amongst all the war memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, and all the political VIP's as we gathered together as a nation to remember, revere, and respect the thousands who have served our country and served to protect our freedom. I think the best way to catalog my experience is by showing some fun pics of the day’s events..... check it out! It all started Saturday night when we planned to go to the National Memorial Day Concert on "The Mall" Sunday night. So we woke up and went to church ready for a concert and then a day of work off. It was so awesome, because in our ward they introduced visitors and all of a sudden a "Brother Knight" stood up and introduced himself and his wife GLADYS! Gladys Knight was in town we found out to sing at the concert. I didn't get her pic, but here is a clip for the concert.

The National Memorial Day Concert in front of the U.S. Capitol Building

Cam, Jeff, Kasi, Marko, Suneeti, and Suzanne on the Capitol steps

A view from the Capitol steps at the concert - awesome sunset!

What else can one ask for? Washington Monument at sunset!

Cheesy pics with our patriotic pin-wheels! Lovin' it!

After the event --> Me and the Capitol by night!

After going home, hittin' the hay, and waking up we headed out to Arlington Cemetery to go see the National Memorial Day service and hear President Bush address us. The weather was SCORCHING hot and I swear I lost 10 lbs in water cause I was sweating so bad in the 146% humidity. haha. But it was really cool, we left SUPER early to get good seats, so we got to see the "Changing of the Guard" and then sat on these hard granite benches in the heat for like 2 hours, but I am glad we got good seats, because we were literally 200 yards away from the Prez. I took some video footage, but you can't hear him very well, but take a look.

A the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery

The "Changing of the Guard"

Lorraine, Me, Jeff, Cam, Diane, Maggie, Daisy, and Sally waiting for the program to begin

Can you see the Snipers on the roof, getting ready for Mr. Bush's entrance?

Video footage of President George Bush's Memorial Day Speech

President George W. Bush addressing the crowd

First Lady Laura Bush (on right) with some other important political figures

Yours truly among the many Armed Forces graves all decorated with an American flag.

Laney Zundel, Diane Johnson, Me, Stanley Lloyd, Nate Cannon, Daisy, and Rebecca Tingey in front of the Arlington Cemetery Amphitheater

After all the festivities, we headed home and decided we would all meet up as an entire group of Hinckley interns to have a Memorial Day BBQ --> trying to re-create family normalcy. It was tons of fun at our BYOB (Bring your own Beef) BBQ chill-axin' at the pool and soakin' in some rays. My roommate Marko can be seen below livin' life large at he soaks up some good ol' American rays!

Marko Mijic - our favorite Bosnian/Croatian American

The whole gang --> the famous Hinckley BYOB Memorial Day BBQ

Randy is Mr. Grill Meister extraordinaire

Our first "family pic" from the summer's adventures

Well, how else could one spend Memorial Day better? We had a great two days.....
--Randy