Both places will give you that feeling.
The WWII MEMORIAL with it's life size gray colored statues walking up a hill is a very haunting place.
It makes you feel like they are looking straight at you and saying come on boys, we have a job to finish.
The granate laser etched wall depicts all the branches of the military.
They used actual photos of soldiers so you really get to see some of who were there.
The wall pic I posted is of the COMBAT ENGINEERS which my brother served in during his tour of NAM 65-67.
The IWO JIMA MEMORIAL or THE MARINE CORPS WAR MEMORIAL as it is called is so large that we were able to get my sons whole class in front of it.
I feel that everyone should get the chance to see our nations war memorials to better understand just what our brave young men & women went through to keep our country safe.
LONGTOM
That's the Korean War Memorial my friend.....I took my father there for Memorial Day several years after it opened (he is a Korean War veteran).
He said "my God....those statues, those guys all look like little kids".
I said, "you guys were kids dad....."
There was a huge ceremony on the Mall, and we walked over to see what was happening. There were chairs inside roped off areas, podiums etc...and Marines everywhere. I asked one what was happening, he said it was a dedication ceremony.
Dad has trouble walking, and mom was pretty tired by then too, so I said to the Marine "can anyone sit in there?" "No sir, VIP guests only, sorry sir." I said, "My dad is a veteran, Korea, 13 months on the front in fire direction and control, any chance you could scrounge up a chair for him to at least sit in out here, he's pooped." The Marine said "One moment sir."
A few minutes later, two Marines came and escorted my parents inside the VIP area and sat them down for the ceremonies, got them some water. I remember it like it was yesterday, I was so damn proud of those Marines taking care of the old man and ma!
We found a face on that wall that is a spot on ringer for him at that age...he says it cannot be him, but everyone in the family that looks at that image swears it's him. I don't know for sure, but it is a damn uncanny resemblance. (Dad has a very characteristic nose)
The WWII Memorial is breath taking, The Korean War Memorial reminds me of dad and the other "kids" fighting "the forgotten war", and the Vietnam Memorial is a somber sight as always, and when I am done visiting the memorials I always head up the Mall to sit on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Abe's shadow to think about it all....
I try to make The Mall and memorials my first stop after hitting D.C., then to the Maine Avenue Fish Market for some fresh Chesapeake crabs and some fried oysters....
