Air Force Memorial- It’s Time To Indulge My Photography Habit
September 10th, 2007 Categories: Around Arlington County, Columbia Pike, The Native Tourist, The Road Less Taken
Tomorrow is September 11.
An anniversary of sorts. One that is special here in Washington, DC and especially in Arlington. I’m going to have a special post for tomorrow. As I was going around the county this past Saturday to take pictures for that post, I stopped by the Air Force Memorial.
I had worked all day with this real estate thing and didn’t start to take pictures until late in the day. Just in time to catch the light hitting this wonderful memorial. It’s new since September 11, 2001. I watched it being built and thought– man this thing is ugly! You can see it from almost anywhere now that it is built. I must pass it a few times a day- but never stopped, parked and walked through the park surrounding it. I often remind myself to take the time to be a tourist in my own town. Something my father taught me growing up in New York City.
The Air Force Memorial sits on a hill next to the Navy Annex. Weird that a Air Force memorial is next to the Navy– but hey- this is DC, you take your memorial space where you can get it…and, well, the Air Force doesn’t have it’s own annex. This hill overlooks the Pentagon towards the east and north and the rest of DC everywhere else. I never realized what a beautiful view there is from this hill. Beautiful except for September 11th.
But the Air Force Memorial is there now– it’s powerful to walk through it. Three strong metal structures shooting up toward the sky like the Blue Angels. Ten feet tall bronze honor guard. It feels like it’s protecting the Pentagon somehow. Standing tall and strong. Sending the message– never again.
This memorial is one of those places here in DC where every picture you take looks like a postcard. It gives you the false impression that you just may know what you’re doing with a camera. So I hope you like my little indulgence today- because it was an honor to walk through this memorial– remembering all those people that get up every morning and go to work to protect us all. Because it’s their job.
Thank you.
Hi, Mary… Great post and looking forward to tomorrow’s…on a lighter note…
Are you sure the spires aren’t cellphone towers in disguise? Check this out…
http://www.ericsson.com/campaign/towertube/whatisit.shtml
Nice camera work. Glad to see you took the time to find new and different perspectives on your subject. Sometimes that is all it takes to turn a “C” grade photo into a stunning “A+” photo. Just as important is the lighting. Sunrise or sunset tend to have the best results as the rising/setting sun brings out the richest, vivid detail in your subjects as well as vibrant colors. Looking forward to tomorrow’s post.
Keep up the great work. And how are you liking your blog? Hope it’s suiting you well.
- Andrew
Andrew- thanks for stopping by. I love my blog and your great design work.
Mary- we’ll always have some telecom blood in us.
They can’t be cell phone towers because cell phone service aroung the pentagon still sucks. They just may be some jamming device for any radio even thinking of coming near the Pentagon. 
Love the photos. Your site has a great visual appeal to it.
Thanks.
[…] to do with Homeland Security and not big brother. I’m still convinced that the Air Force Memorial is there to protect the […]