August 6, 2018 Happy Monday! This installment was expected to be, “On The Road with Victory & Valor.” Unfortunately, there has been a delay in the scheduled departure! All is not lost, though. While we will set out and visit some interesting places very soon, this installment can be salvaged, hopefully, by sharing with you some sites of one of my previous travels, several years ago, in Washington, D.C. Our capital city is rich with history and incredible architecture. The U.S. Capitol Building is the centerpiece. According to the Architect of the Capitol website, when French engineer Pierre Charles L’Enfant was commissioned to plan the city of Washington, D.C., he said the elevated site – the Capitol Hill – was “a pedestal waiting for a monument.” L’Enfant had a vision for the Capitol Building, but he refused to provide sketches or drawings. So, he was dismissed, and Dr. William Thornton’s plans were selected after his designs were reviewed. George Washington gave his formal approval of the plans on July 25, 1793. On the interior of the dome of the Capitol, the murals painted by Constantino Brumidi over a 25-year period from 1855-1880, capture our nation’s early history and celebrates our values. Gazing 180 feet upward from the visitor’s level in the Rotunda, the “Apotheosis of Washington” is directly under the dome; and the “Frieze of American History” contains 19 panels covering a 300-foot circumference, encircling the base of the dome, 58 feet above the floor. Washington, D.C. is a beautiful place to visit. It holds many treasures, and it belongs to all of us. It is worth a trip to visit the Capitol, and the many buildings of the Smithsonian to learn and explore. We will return here tomorrow with more sites and stories of history while “On The Road with Victory & Valor.” See you then!
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AuthorTom Davis is the owner of Mistletoe Enterprises LLC. He also publishes and distributes the Victory & Valor Flyer, it tells the stories of heroes from all walks of life. Archives
December 2018
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