Good Night – Tuesday

Another great day!  After finding an elevator at the Lincoln Memorial, I got to go to the top – what a treasure!  He is so BIG and the view was awesome.  We then went to the Korean Memorial with its life size soldiers.  Then came our walk to the Wall.  We went to see Johnny O. Brooks and pay our respects.  I don’t think I will ever get over seeing the Wall.

We found a bench to sit and rest when about six Vietnam Veterans started to walk by.  Both Russ and I got up and shook their hands and said thank you.  The last one stopped and asked if I was a Vet.  I replied, “Yes”, and out of his pocket came this:

“I’m tattered, torn and worn, ready to be retired.  Now I am a treasure given to you by a grateful nation who honors you for your service and sacrifice.  Because of you I was able to fly over the land of the free.  Thank you for your service.  I have been saved from the fire by East Texas Patriot Guard Riders.”

It was part of a US Flag, blue with a white star on it.  Wish Lou would have been here for that.

We then went to the DAR Museum to look at the quilts.  The quilts are on big doors that pull out.  It was so cold in that building.  The lady said they were climate controlled.  I wanted to say, no joke, I’m freezing.

Then, as you can see from the photos, Quilts of Honor will be operating from the White House.

We ended our day going out with Jeanine and Carl and walked the riverbank and watched the sailboats racing, then to POPs for ice cream in Old Town.  Russ is ready for bed – me too – we have a big day tomorrow.  We will be filming at the Marine Memorial with the Pentagon Channel then off to Walter Reed and our wounded warriors.  Probably won’t have a chance to post tomorrow morning so will write tomorrow night and catch you up on the day’s adventures.

Thank you all for the nice comments.  The honor I will receive is an honor that goes to all of you for your support and dedication to our military and veterans.

God bless,
Gail

“Two days to home!”

Eight Foot House

DAR Museum

Executive Director

QOH Press Conference

Korean Memorial

Sailboats on the Potomac

 

Good Morning – Tuesday

We started this morning picking up my brother, Russ at the airport.  Jeanine then drove us to Arlington so Russ could see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Perfect timing – we saw the Lone Rider as a funeral was just ending.  So moving to see and honor above and beyond.  We also got to see the Changing of the Guard.

Now we are sitting below the Lincoln Memorial having coffee and getting ready for another great day.

Will post more later,
Gail

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Lincoln Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Good Night From DC

Marine Corp War Memorial

Well, we got the last two on their way today.  We had a great morning ride through DC.  Jeanie took us by the National Cathedral, the Marine Corps War Memorial, the White House, and Georgetown.  We stopped at the Marine Memorial and you know I’m not a Marine but there is something very special when you see it.  It takes your breath away.  When we got ready to head to the airport, the Valley Springs traveling curse hit Jeanie and SHE went the wrong way.  Lou was in the back seat saying, “oh no, here we go again.”  We dropped them off, said our goodbyes, and for the first time I didn’t have to drive around Dulles Airport again.

We headed home with a stop at the Armed Services YMCA to see Susan, our counterpart for Angels on the Battlefield.  They will be moving in June to a new office where Flo’s Angel Quilt will be displayed.  Had a quiet dinner with Jeanie and Carl, then we sat on the BIG front porch watching time go by.  Carl headed off to a Board meeting and Jeanie and I solved all our picture problems.  We did learn today that no one had ever seen those blue and red bugs before and were surprised that they lined up for me so I could take a picture.  I just said, fall in, and they did.  We can’t find the bugs now.  So the end to the bug story is we may never know what they were but they sure were cool bugs.

Tomorrow morning we pick up my brother, Russ and will tour again.  Jeanie made cookies for Lou and she didn’t even know it was his birthday.  Happy birthday to my brother in arms.

I will close tonight as it is an early call tomorrow.  God bless everyone.  Until tomorrow,

Gail

Good Morning

It has started raining today as we are sitting here having our coffee.  I’ve been chasing all the orange birds with my camera.  There’s also these little blue bugs.

Today we will take the Tourist route to the airport, with Jeanie guiding, so Toni can see the White House before they leave.

Have a great morning everyone – will post more later.

Gail

Little Blue Bigs

Wisteria

Calm Sunday in DC

Well, today has been a fairly calm day.  Toni did lock Lou in the back seat of the van when we got back from breakfast.  The breakfast in Old Town was the best.  We had this potato cake with green onions and I could have eaten a lot more.  My parfait and cream stuff was the best.

I’m kinda liking it back here.  Jeanie and Carl are the best.  Jeanie can take any kind of food and make it great.  I now have my own bedroom.  This has been one incredible trip but what has made it so good is staying with them.  They treat us like family and God Bless them for putting us country folk up.

We miss the rest of the gang especially Frankie – he could eat leftovers.  Today was more of a Sunday slow down.  Tomorrow we take Toni and Lou to the airport but Jeanie will be my navigator so I won’t circle the airport three times.

Pastor Michael is setting up our Walter Reed trip for this coming Wednesday and I’m looking forward to that.

I miss home, my dogs and cats, but this has been quite an experience and it’s not over yet.

I will close tonight hoping everyone stays well and has a good week.  Oh, Pauline – we saw a firefly tonight when were sitting out on the porch.

Gail

Good Afternoon from Mt. Vernon

Good afternoon from Mt. Vernon, home of our First Commander in Chief.  First thing we see is the Purple Heart Monument – it seems to always follow me.  We walked to George Washington’s Tomb and Lou and I honored him with a salute.

Kinda hot and overcast here.  My legs are worn out – everything is 20 miles to get to.  Will report more tonight.

Gail

Breakfast in Old Town

Origin of the Purple Heart

Mount Vernon

A Day To Remember

Today was more than anyone could have expected.  We started off the morning running late and, Belmont’s are NOT good at late!  So, I pulled my SSG rank and got everyone moving.  We are throwing stuff in the van and Lou is sitting waiting for the women to get it together.  Debbie and Toni are at the back of the van yelling at me to open up the back.  I get out of the van – now remember this a new van with a gear shift on the dash – and it starts going uphill by itself heading for Carl’s beautiful garage and Lou still in the van all by himself.  I run and jump in and stop the van before it crashes into the garage.  I can tell you all our hearts stopped then we all went crazy laughing.  They all decided I could save anything.

We arrived at Arlington in time to register and get lined up to play.  Just to see all those buglers in one place was awesome.  We did our practice run and I stood next to my Women’s Army Corp Sister and it was like we were still in the Army.  There were flags flying in the Arbor area and red roses by the stage.  When we started playing, I felt goose bumps.  I’ve played Taps hundreds of times but we played as one.  When we finished, we posed for photos then CNN interviewed me.  Boy was that embarrassing – that Pauline takes care of everything.

We then got to go to our sites to play.  There were three in hearing distance.  The rule was to start from the outside, so the first Bugler played then me and then the other.  I was nervous because I wanted to honor Jack in the right way.  I did crack a note but I know he knew I was there.  Considering my lip is still bruised and swollen, I pulled it off and still feel proud and honored to have played at Arlington.  I will never forget this day.

We returned to our Hosts home for lunch and once again it was so good.  I have never in my life met such gracious, giving people.  We then packed back into the van to return to Arlington to see our quilt.  She is so stunning and she is right at the Registration Desk.  The volunteer told us they get tons of compliments.  We then went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and were lucky to see the placing of wreaths on the Tomb.

Then it was time to drive Debbie, Frankie and Pauline to the airport and of course we got lost but did manage to get them to the plane in time.  We will miss them – such a great time we had together!  We got lost leaving the airport so circled around so we could wave at the gang again.  I know they were cracking up.  So now it’s Lou, Toni and me until Monday afternoon.  We will rest some tomorrow and then off again for another adventure.

We recruited a quilter from New York who had seen Debbie’s QOH shirt at Arlington – she wants to help us.  Amazing isn’t it?  Our name is growing.

To sum up the day – it is one that will be a special day I will remember for the rest of my life.

I want to thank my Mom and Dad for buying me my first and third trumpet.  It is a gift that has given me so much.

God Bless – talk to you soon,
Gail

Here at links to the videos from today’s ceremonies.  We uploaded them to YouTube so they are quicker to download:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ4RUGg0B98&feature=g-upl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DYUZN_ZXFQ&feature=g-upl

Practice

Gail getting ready to play Taps

Gail and Jeanie, Daughter of Jack Kuhl

Rick from Stockton – Article in Saturday’s Stockton Record

Gail and Debbie with the Women Warrior quilt

Women Warrior Quilt

Thank you SO MUCH Jeanie!

Thank you to our Hosts