Summertime

It's rumored that the British are paid extra "tropical" pay for working in DC and today, you might very well believe that. It was 96 degrees at 10AM and the haze was on the water in front of the Jefferson. The Plaza of the WWII Memorial was also "cooking" but as usual Senator Dole and Honor Flight were on time.

Memorial Day

The WWII Memorial opened four years ago on Memorial Day and has quickly become the most popular Memorial in Washington. It is airy, open, refreshing and easy on the eyes. I photographed all over the Mall yesterday but this was the first photo of the day and my major interest and obsession. I've had the opportunity to meet and appreciate some really fine people beginning with my favorite general,


I am inspired by BG. Evelyn "Pat" Foote (GoGurl!) who was on the original site selection committee for the Memorial and is a co-founder of the "Friends of the WWII Memorial" group. She is an enthusiastic advocate for women's rights, integrity in military service and general good will to the community. She is also one of the few people I chose to put in my book along with Toby Felker, a pioneering woman delivery pilot during WWII. She passed last year but thoughts of tiny Toby behind the controls of a B-52 and her adventures as she delivered planes around the country will be much missed.

Shown here with her are Jan Evans Houser, Ambassador F. Haydn Williams, Rolland Kidder and Peggy O'Dell of the Park Servicew. They are all founders of ""Friends of the WWII Memorial". Friends was started to make sure that the Memorial is taken care of. There are twenty million dollars left from the construction in a maintainence fund.

They held a small ceremony yesterday AM. Naturally, no day in Washington is complete without Senator Bob Dole . He is everywhere and if there is an example of the "greatest generation", he's it. I see him on Wednesdays and Saturdays as he visits the Memorial whenever an Honor Flight comes in. And speaking of new friends,let me mention Earl Morse, Jeff Miller, Susan Barr, Al Bailey, Dave Bauer, Jim McLaughlin, Mom and Dad Morse and the countless volunteers with Honor Flight who give their time and energy so enthusiastically to our WWII Veterans. Images from Memorial Day at Arlington Cemetary, the Korean Memorial, and the DC National Memorial Day parade can be seen here.

MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART

Chief Adjutant Joseph W. Palagyi of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, has joined Honor Flight in adopting "Jewel of the Mall" for his organization. The book will be distributed through their physical store in Northern Va and their website which is listed above. The Order of the Purple Heart works with veterans in the VA hospital helping them with their claims and the bureaucracy. The book is being sold to MOPH at cost enabling them to use it for mementos or to fund raise.

HONOR FLIGHT NETWORK

Honor Flight is an organization curently in 24 states that is sending WWII veterans to DC to see their Memorial. In 2007, Earl Morse and Jeff Miller sent 5000 vets for FREE to DC and this year are planning on getting 10000 vets to the Memorial. If you wish to make a donation or get involved, the link is above. Images from the various flights can be seen at www.jewelofthemall.com

The planes filled with Veterans are greeted by fire trucks as they arrive at the airport, crowds cheer as they deplane and the DC and National Park Police give them a motorcycle escort. On Saturdays, Senator Dole, the "unofficial greeter" is always there to shake hands, have photographs taken with him and say hello. When the veterans arrive home, they are given a copy of my book "Jewel of the Mall." As an author, I can say that I have found my audience and its gratifying. If you are a non-profit working with veterans and interested in significant discounts on the books, call the studio at 202-667-1965 or email me at srb@srbphoto.com