FDR Memorial...By Accident

Hello Everyone!

Today was quite the adventure in DC! My objective had been to visit the Jefferson Memorial by the Tidal Basin in downtown Washington. In the last few months, the Smithsonian Metro stop has been moved from the National Mall to 12th & Independence which is about four blocks from the original location. Thinking that access to Jefferson Memorial was near the Lincoln, I headed in that direction. This turned out to certainly be the way to the Jefferson, if you want to walk the roundabout way. However, this took me to the FDR Memorial which I have enjoyed many times before. Nevertheless, on a nice sunny day in Washington, it looked especially spectacular.

The Memorial serves as a reminder of the great things that FDR accomplished. Most of which, includes the Depression as depicted in the picture above. His words inspired America as he is the president who said, over 60 years ago, that he looked forward to a world based on four essentials freedoms. These include, Freedom of Speech, the Freedom to worship God in your own way, the Freedom from want and need, and finally, to be Free from Fear. I sat in the shade and wrote down some things that struck me as I looked around. I pondered what it must have been like to be alive during the Depression and how people faced each day. How many people thought the American government couldn't do anything for them or thought their government didn't care enough to help them? What was it like to be financially secure and then be reduced to an apple seller? The leadership that FDR showed the nation during these trying times, is truly inspiring. Needless to say, I quite enjoyed myself. Due to time constraints, I abandoned my quest for the Jefferson Memorial but walked by it to get to the Metro. Tomorrow, my plan is to head back to the Tidal Basin area and possibly swing by the Holocaust Museum. Mr. Jefferson, I am looking forward to meeting you tomorrow! I'll end with a quote from FDR which I found particularly moving.

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little"

Does anyone out there think America has lived by these immortal words of FDR since he spoke them?

AL