Sunday

Sunday morning those of us who drove out on Saturday left our hotel in Gaithersburg and drove over to Washington DC and the Iwo Jima Marines memorial.

We spent some time there - mostly taking pictures!




After spending a brief time together there, we attempted a driving tour of DC. Yes, that's right. We "attempted" a driving tour. We encountered two challenges. First, due to more recent security measures, certain roads have been blocked off. Secondly, a number of roads that are open for vehicles are closed to "trucks" which includes our suburban and trailer. So, after a round about tour of DC where we did get to see a number of things, we headed out for our next stop: Richmond, Virginia.

St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia

It was at this church back in 1775 that Patrick Henry arose and gave his famous "Liberty or Death" speech. We arrived in time to get seats and watch the weekly reenactment of the 2nd Virginia Convention that they hold at the church.

Of course, pictures aren't allowed during the reenactment, so we made sure to take some beforehand....

...and afterwards!

How about those curls!?!? The reenactors were kind enough to spend some time afterwards talking with us.



Our next stop in Richmond, was the lovely and historic Hollywood Cemetery - named Hollywood after the trees, not because of the numerous famous men buried there.

Situated right on the James River the cemetery is BEAUTIFUL and quiet.

I talked to many of our group who agreed that we could easily spend a full day just roaming around the grounds. Many of the gravestones are very ornate, and the epitaphs are beautiful, touching, comforting, and inspiring.

Scripture verses were prominently displayed on many of the grave markers - all sorts of passages from all parts of the Scriptures.



The grave of our 10th President John Tyler is there. President Tyler's grandson, Harrison Tyler, will be the Grand Marshall of the celebration in Jamestown this weekend.

President James Monroe is also buried at Hollywood.

Among other sites, many stopped to admire the stump of what must have been an enormous tree!

Another President - Jefferson Davis, and family.

This memorial to the Davis family erected by "Little Boys and Girls."

Many grateful children erected monuments honoring their mothers with this verse.

The monument to the Confederate soldiers. There are 18,000 Confederate soldiers buried in Hollywood Cemetery. Many of them unknown, and there were a number of plaques with epitaphs reading "So-and-so is likely buried somewhere in this area...." In the Confederate section we also visited the grave of General Pickett of the famed Pickett's Charge.

Many of the soldiers buried here are from among the Southern Gettysburg casualties. After the battle, most soldiers were buried on site, and then moved to Hollywood later.


Amen!