Earlier today prior to going to Arlington we stopped at Roosevelt Island to see the Teddy Roosevelt Memorial. The island preserve would be a great area to spend a day hiking and picnicking. The short walk to the memorial was quite pleasant. However for Katherine, whom was getting over the fabulous stomach flu, the walk was a bit much. As we approached the memorial we were all a little saddened. Teddy is placed toward the back of a large circle created by four long and thin pools of water and water fountains. There were also four large 15 foot tall or so rectangular blocks that have quotes from Theodore Roosevelt sitting just behind and to the sides of Teddy. If there had been water in the pools and the fountains and the weeds had been properly removed and general upkeep been maintained it would have be a very grand memorial, however it looked as if it had been abandoned and forgotten. It was kind of depressing. We got pictures of Mike with one of his presidential idols and we moved on to Arlington Cemetery.

Once it was dark we made our way to the Potomac side of the mall and got a night view of the mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. It's amazing to me how much more poignant seeing something at night can make it. As I had not seen either the MLK or FDR memorials I must say I was impressed with both of them. The symbolism just in the construction of the memorials was moving and when topped with the quotes I was thoroughly impressed. I appreciated greatly the simplicity of the memorial for FDR. As with all the memorials, they are all must sees! - Carrie