George and Joel Were in Washington For "I Have a Dream" Day Today

George and Joel on the Washington Mall Wednesday

George and Joel at the wedding in Bedford Springs taking photos from the sky box.

We had an experience today that was satisfying, frustrating, tiring and exciting.  It I was not so tired I am sure I could come up with other words to describe the day.

Joel was aware that we were going to be in DC on the 50th Anniversary of the "I have a dream" speech.  So we went.  We took by Metro to the mall and ran a gauntlet of t-shirt, badge, poster and food vendors.  Eventually getting in line about half way between the  Washington Monument and east end of the WW II memorial.  There the problems began.  There was a huge crowd standing patiently in line waiting in security but my first stop was a Port-O-Potty.  There were seven, all of which were out of
toilet paper and it was only 10:30 am.  It was clear that the park service was not prepared for the crowd.  As soon as we got in a huge triangle of people being squeezed into a funnel of 9 metal detectors.   We would stand for 20 minutes and then move two or three feet.  It was hot in the beginning and soon there was a call for a physician; someone had fainted.  At one point, after standing still for a long time, we moved forward less than three baby steps.  Soon the crowd began to chant "Let Us In, Let us in." One woman began to scream at some police offices about the problems getting in.  That the officials were trying to keep people out so that the crowds would be smaller and that would indicate a lack of interest by the people in the march.  The cynic in me was thinking the same thing but the benevolent side thought that it was just poor planning on the part of the Park Service or of the Police Department of DC.   I began to get concerned that some in the back would start to push or stamped the entrance but everyone was very calm and considerate of each other.  Most of the movement forward seemed to be limited to filling the space of those who decided to get out of line.  After and hour and a half, after being in line one BU (bladder unit) I was going to get out of line, take a rest  and sit under some trees and wait for Joel.  She lasted another hour before she joined me on the sidelines.   If we had gotten into the general public area we would have been two of those tiny specks at the far end of the reflecting pool back.  We might have been a couple of hundred yards closer if we had gotten thought security but still a quarter of a mile or so aware from the Lincoln Memorial where all the action was taking place.


The Lincoln Memorial, where the speakers were located.  The white tent just ahead of us is where the security check was located.  We had already been in line over and hour when this picture was taken and at the rate we were going we were not going to get in at all before the program was over.

It didn't really matter as it was good being part of the day.  Most interesting note from my point of view.  We did not see or smell a cigarette all the time we were in the line.

We will see some of  you soon.  We will be home Wednesday afternoon, September 4.

George