Walking the Washington DC USA Year-Round Walk

by Kevin Shaw
What better way to celebrate Veterans Day than to do the very popular Washington DC year-round event! My friend Marty and I were off for the day, and along with my faithful pooches India and Peaches, we thoroughly enjoyed walking this trail past all the monuments and mall area of downtown Washington DC on this noteworthy day to remember our heritage and honor our veterans. A good suggestion is to use the Metro Subway system if you possibly can.
Down the hill on 23rd Street to the Mall area, we crossed Constitution and headed past the Vietnam Memorial to our left and toward the Lincoln Monument. There were a lot of people out on this day paying tribute to our veterans, especially at the Vietnam Memorial, where a special ceremony was about to commence to mark its 15th anniversary. We ambled down to the Tidal Basin after passing by the Lincoln Memorial, and started around. We took a slight detour over to the new Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, a very impressive memorial to our 32nd President, with several monuments inscribed with famous quotes by our "New Deal" president. A bit further along and we hit the first checkpoint, the Jefferson Memorial. I waited outside with the pooches while Marty went inside to get our start cards stamped by a Park Ranger. There are a lot of steps up this monument, with great views of the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the entire Tidal Basin.
Continuing further around the Basin, we finally exited near the Holocaust Memorial on 14th Street, and walked toward the Mall. Passing the various Smithsonian Buildings, at Seventh Street we hit the second checkpoint, an information request off of a statue. The Washington Capitol Building was just a few short blocks before us but after writing down the second checkpoint information, we turned west away from the Capitol, heading back toward the start point. By this time the pooches were on "intense squirrel alert" as the mall area has plenty of trees supporting dozens of squirrels.
Passing still more Smithsonian Buildings, we walked on the Mall for about seven blocks to 14th Street, where we headed north up to the Commerce Building and the third checkpoint at the White House Visitors Center in the Commerce Building, once again an information request. This visitor center is a really nice one, and one I had not seen before.
We crossed 14th Street, and headed around the back of the White House to our right. No signs of Bill and Hillary, unfortunately. Out on the Ellipse to our left, workers were starting to construct the apparatus which will hold the National Christmas Tree. At the zero milestone marker, a TV reporter was preparing for a feature story. Further on, more doggie admirers asked to pet the pooches. Peaches, a nervous type, didn't enjoy it too much, but India, ever the engaging, outgoing one, enjoyed the affection and attention, and the break in the routine of walking.
After crossing Constitution, we turned and walked along it for a few yards, then headed toward the Vietnam Memorial. We turned to the left, and walked along the Reflecting Pool, allowing the pooches a brief dip to get a drink and cool off their feet. There are some really big fish in this body of water, and there were some fishermen out trying their luck. More and more people came upon us as we got closer to the Vietnam Memorial, and when we got there, the 15th anniversary program was well underway, with thousands gathered. Music and speakers entertained the masses. We managed to keep going along the perimeter, paying our respects to a few of the thousands of veterans. Many of the vets enjoyed talking and petting the pooches as well. It was good to see something brighten up their day.
After exiting the Vietnam Memorial, we crossed over Constitution once again, up the hill on 23rd Street, past the Department of State, and to the finish. We got our books stamped at the Pharmacy, and noted that we were walkers 510 and 511 for the year. In past years, I believe there have been quite a few more participants at this point in the year. We put our completed start cards and $4 in a self-addressed stamped envelope to mail in our necessary paperwork and fees. Many thanks to the Washington DC Area Volksmarching Club for sponsoring and supporting this top notch walk through our Nation's Capital. It truly was a memorably special walk on this cloudy, cool Veterans Day.

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