During my stay, I worked at the headquarters of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). I worked there while I continued my agonizing wait for a visa so I could fulfill my assignment to Islamabad, Pakistan.
On one of the clear weekends, I decided I would walk about the Washington, D.C. area. Since my profession deals with buildings, I thought it appropriate to travel to the National Building Museum. I clambered aboard the Metro, disembarking at the Gallery Place – Chinatown Station. Once I was back on the ground level, I opted to stop at a Starbucks for a coffee and blueberry muffin. After my coffee, I had to take a photo of the Friendship Archway that marks Chinatown.
A group of people at the Starbucks in Chinatown at H and 7th Streets NW in Washington, D.C.The Friendship Archway in Chinatown in Washington, D.C.
With the preliminaries out of the way, it was time to walk to the National Building Museum. Within a couple of blocks, I was at my destination.
From the outside, the building appears as an immense redbrick structure. There is not much ornamentation on the exterior. Once inside, the sheer scale of the interior space overpowers one. There are massive marble and gold painted columns throughout the atrium area. Apparently, in addition to being built for the United States Pension Bureau, the space lent itself to political gatherings.
Looking along the center of the atrium in the National Building Museum.A view of the seemingly endless columns in the atrium area of the National Building Museum.The fountain in the center of the atrium.Workers setting up for a holiday choir performance.A man and his family traversing a hallway on the upper level of the National Building Museum.A strange device in this day and age… This payphone was tucked away near the toilets in the National Building Museum.A sign commemorating the completion of the building to house the United States Pension Bureau. It is now home to the National Building Museum.
While the museum was nicely done, it was not one of my favorites. After buying my perquisite refrigerator magnet from the gift shop, I exited the museum to the south. I found myself facing the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. That was a bit of luck.
As an ex-cop, I have a special place in my heart for the police; especially those who have fallen on duty. I can still vividly recall sergeants reading accounts of fallen officers to us during squad meetings. That seems so far away now. Regardless, the memorial is understated but tastefully done. The names of the fallen are engraved on a curved marble knee-wall. Throughout the grounds are bronze statues of lions and lionesses watching over the names. Probably due to the time of year, there were many colorful wreaths placed throughout the memorial. The walls at the monument hold more than 21,000 names of fallen officers. It was a poignant reminder having a couple of police cars parked near the memorial.
A lion sculpture at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.The curved wall holds the names of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.The emblem in the center of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.Another lioness sculpture watches over the names of the fallen, while, appropriately, a police car is parked nearby.A lioness sculpture above the inscription, “In Valor There is Hope.”A view of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The National Building Museum is in the background.The memorial and the museum side by side.Looking back at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.A lioness sculpture and wreathes at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.Looking over the roof of patrol car 9510 to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Near the end of my visit, I noticed a sign for the National Law Enforcement Memorial Visitors Center and Store. The location of the store is 400 7th Street NW. That was about three blocks away. I walked there, collected some souvenirs, and continued on my way.
Perchance, I stumbled across the Navy Memorial. Since my son is now a sailor, that was a unique find. Across the street to the east is the memorial to the Great Army of the Republic.
As seen from across the street, the Navy Memorial is very unassuming.The bronze sculpture of a seaman at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.The compass rose at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.The memorial to the Grand Army of the Republic is at the Indiana Plaza in Washington, D.C.
Across the street to the south is the National Archives Museum. As I crossed the road, I saw a couple trying to entice a squirrel just a bit closer so they could get a photograph. I am not sure if they were successful or not because I continued to the front of the building. It was the first time I had ever visited the museum. I was awestruck by the founding documents of the United States. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are all on display. It was genuinely fascinating to see them in person. I liked this museum much more than the National Building Museum.
A couple trying to entice a squirrel into a photo op.A sculpture at the National Archives above the inscription, “Study the Past.”The pediment on the south side of the Archives of the United States of America.A sculpture at the south side of the Archives building. The inscription reads, “The Heritage of the Past is the Seed that Brings Forth the Harvest of the Future.”
The following weekend I was back in Washington, D.C. Following a stunning sunrise, I returned to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Leslie, Hillary, Tyler, and I visited the Basilica in 2009 while we were stationed in the area for training with the Department of State. I found it every bit as impressive on this visit. That may be due in part to the Christmas decorations.
The stunning sunrise from my apartment. One can see an airplane on final approach to Reagan National Airport.Stunning sunrise II.Stunning sunrise III.
For those who have not visited the Basilica, it is difficult to get a sincere feeling for the scale and grandeur by merely looking at photographs. It is by far the largest church in which I have ever been. I shall cease the narrative now and try to let the pictures of this magnificent structure tell the story. The narration shall resume after the Basilica photographs.
The front of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.The rosette over the main door to the Basilica.The southern face of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.A similar view of the Basilica.The main dome of the Basilica is visible just beyond the front rosette.The tomb of Bishop Thomas Joseph Shahan (1857 – 1932) in the Founder’s Chapel. His is the only burial in the Basilica.Dozens and dozens of donors to the Basilica are listed in Memorial Hall.The mosaic behind the altar in the Mary, Queen of Missions Chapel.Detail of the mosaic behind the altar in the Mary, Queen of Missions Chapel.Our Lady of La Vang.The Crypt Church on the lower level of the Basilica.Women placing poinsettias in the Crypt Church.Detail of the mosaic at Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.The stained glass door to the lower level sacristy.A mosaic depiction of Joseph in the North Apse of the lower level.The mosaic of Jesus in the North Apse is just behind the tabernacle.Our Lady of Vailankanni.The Schudi Organ in the Crypt Church on the lower level.A man cleaning the floor in front of the Nativity scene in the Crypt Church.Our Lady of Hope Chapel.Detail of the Our Lady of Hope Chapel.Pope John Paul II?The Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel.A painted crucifix.The Byzantine-Ruthenian Chapel.A mosaic in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel.Detail from behind the altar in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel.Our Lady of Pompeii.A sculpture of Mary and Jesus surrounded by Christmas trees.The Mother of Divine Providence sculpture on the lower level.Detail of the Mother of Divine Providence sculpture.The Holy Family at Rest bronze. Note the stained glass reflection.A sculpture of Saint Maria Goretti on the side of the pews in the upper church.Part of the tour group listening to the guide while in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel.Detail of the mosaic behind the altar in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel.The painting behind the altar in the Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel.The mosaic of Christ on the ceiling of the North Apse.Detail of Christ on the ceiling in the North Apse.Wider view of Christ on the ceiling of the North Apse.The tour group marveling at the West Apse.A small mosaic of fishes and loaves of bread.A mosaic of Joseph with Jesus on the ceiling of the East Apse.In the Founder’s Chapel with our tour guide.In the Memorial Hall.A sculpture of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in the Hall of American Saints.Our Mother of Africa.A bas relief in the Hall of Our Mother of Africa.The guide providing information in the Byzantine-Ruthenian Chapel.Stained glass detail of Jesus in the Byzantine-Ruthenian Chapel.Stained glass detail of Mary and Jesus in the Byzantine-Ruthenian Chapel.A sculpture of Pope Saint Pius X.The crucifix in the Founder’s Chapel.Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel.A mosaic of the Hail Mary prayer.The Miraculous Medal Chapel.Detail of a mosaic in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel.A man praying at the Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel.The Mother of Sorrows Chapel.The Pieta in the Mother of Sorrows Chapel.The Our Lady of Siluva Chapel.Mary, Queen of All Hearts Chapel.A woman at the Nativity scene on the upper level.The Assumption mosaic near the sacristy.The Immaculate Conception mosaic near the sacristy.A Christmas tree under a stained glass window.View into the sacristy.Jesus carrying the cross mosaic.Looking through the Baldachin Altar to the West Apse.The stained glass to the right of the Jesus mosaic in the North Apse.Looking through the Baldachin Altar to the organ at the rear of the upper church.The Holy Family is in the mosaic on the left.The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.The Triumph of the Lamb mosaic.Detail of the Triumph of the Lamb mosaic.The Blessed Sacrament Chapel.Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel.Looking to the East Transept.View to the rear of the upper church.The bas relief of the Universal Call to Holiness.The east side of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Back at work, since Tyler’s graduation from boot camp was finished, I began asking the OBO folks if they needed me to fulfill another TDY assignment for them. Initially, I did not get much traction. That said, I did hear talk in the bullpen area that an FM was needed in Sanaa, Yemen. I had zero desire to go there. I would have gone if I had been tasked; however, I had zero appetite for such a destination.
After a couple of days, I broached the question again. The answer I was given was, “What about Tallinn?”
“Where the hell is Tallinn,” I replied, “I have never heard of it.”
My OBO colleague shared with me that Tallinn is in Estonia. I was still not sure of the location, but I knew it was Eastern Europe. I said, “Sure, send me there!”
I discovered the embassy in Tallinn needed some assistance from an FM for several issues they faced. That embassy receives service from the FM in Helsinki, but they needed someone onsite. My colleague told them he would send me, but there was a caveat. I would only be in Tallinn until the issues were resolved or until I received my visa for Pakistan, whichever came first. The team in Tallinn agreed to that stipulation. So, I found that I would travel to Tallinn just after the New Year.
