East Coast Tour Day 8

We left Fredericksburg and got to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with time to spare.  The first thing we saw was a deer peacefully walking the grounds.  The deer was seen again trying to visit patients.  We successfully made it through security and met the Lt Commander in charge of Child Psychology and base entertainment visits.  He made sure we knew what a healing effect music has on patients.  It helps them forget the bad times and remember the good.  The boys sang 10 or so songs.  “Tell My Father” was a particularly beautiful and poignant one and almost impossible to not hold back tears.  There was some excitement as well when we were told to evacuate due to a fire threat and we saw how quickly and professionally the fire crew jumps into action.  Ultimately there was no fire and the first responders packed up as quickly as they came.  We drove to the U.S. Capital building.  The dome is going through the first major restoration of the exterior in over 100 years.  They are removing oxidation and attempting to finish it by the time the 2016 elections get into full swing.  We met our tour guides there and drove around Washington.  We drove along the Mall, stopped at the Lincoln Memorial then Arlington National Cemetery.  There was a lot of traffic due to rush hour so we didn’t get the time we’d hoped to, but we did see the changing of the guard.  Those soldiers are precise in their marching and arms presentation.  You can see and sense the honor they feel being able to march back and forth in front of an unknown fallen comrade.  For Cantabile it was back to the hotel for pizza, cake and ice cream.  Allegro went on to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. They watched a brief concert, played some Frisbee outside, and then went up to the terrace.  On top of the terrace they sang and watched as President Obama returned to the White House on Marine 1 after delivering his eulogy in Charlotte. Allegro can now say they have sung at Kennedy Center. It was Allegro Night Out so they went to the Shake Shack near Dupont Circle.  They gorged themselves on all you can eat food and dessert.  It was a short walk back to the hotel and a rest well deserved.  Tomorrow the White House, the Smithsonian Museums and more.