Our Life in Alaska and Beyond

After walking through Alexandria we decided to stop at Arlington National Cemetery. It made for a perfect Sunday afternoon. The size of the cemetery is a bit overwhelming; it's just over 600 acres. There are over 400,000 interments of active duty service members, veterans, and their families from every major conflict from the Revolution to the present. I'm so grateful to them and the sacrifices they made so that I can live here in this beautiful country of the United States of America!

There are many beautiful and old trees (including cherry trees!) throughout the cemetery.

This tree had some green leaves starting to come through. The cherry blossom season is so short!

A beautiful tulip magnolia tree

I went out exploring with Robyn during the day on Friday. (Thanks again to Katie for the lillebaby carrier!) I didn't take the big camera with me, but I think I did every other day, haha. We went to see the Netherlands Carillon - a 127 foot high bell tower gifted to the US from the Netherlands as a token of gratitude for aid provided during and after WWII. It was dedicated in 1960, and the bells really ring! It's in a beautiful park surrounded by tulips, overlooking the US Capital and Washington Monument. It's also right by Arlington Cemetery (though I didn't actually go in the cemetery this day) and near the US Marine Corps War Memorial (or the Iwo Jima Memorial). The weather was beautiful this day, and probably the only day I felt hot, haha.

The US Marine Corps War Memorial

The Netherlands Carillon

Arlington Cemetery

We also did a little shopping and got donuts! These were creme brulee (cream filled) and cherry blossom (cherry filled). So good!