After Halloween and before Thanksgiving is another American holiday that often gets overlooked before the holiday haze – Veterans’ Day. However, of course here in NYC we do things pretty big for this patriotic holiday.
Many of the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. honor service members, shedding light on the immense sacrifices that the U.S. military members have made to protect this country. On Veterans Day, as well as the days before and after, virtual and in-person commemorations make for ideal ways to celebrate and honor the holiday.
Here’s a full range of things to do and places to go this Veterans Day in Washington, DC. around your RESA apartment.
American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is a powerful reminder of the cost of war. Located just ten minutes away, just south of the Capitol buildings, this national memorial honors the sacrifice of those who were disabled in service to this country across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The centerpiece of the memorial is the star-shaped fountain with a ceremonial flame, while tributes and stories of servicemen and women are told through 48 etched glass panels and four bronze sculptures. Located near the U.S. Botanic Garden and in view of the U.S. Capitol, the best way to get to the memorial is by taking the Metro to either Federal Center SW or Capitol South on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines.
Smithsonian American Museum of National History – At the Smithsonian Institution’s cache of Americana displays, The Price of Freedom: Americans at War features a history of America’s military from the French and Indian Wars to the conflict in the Middle East, exploring the impact of conflict on citizen soldiers, their families and communities. At this museums you can see artifacts such as George Washington’s sword and scabbard in person, as well as the chairs used by generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War surrender ceremony at Appomattox in 1865.
