A Glorious 4th of July… at the US Capitol!
What a treat! Despite some continued periods of liquid sunshine, the remainder of the 4th of July, 2008 was just great – no it was
It had been several years since I made the pilgrimage to the National Mall to see the great fireworks display in concert with the ongoing Smithsonian Folklife Festival that is held every year the days surrounding the 4th of July.
Earlier in the day I had arrived on Fort Meyer VA to watch and then I photographed the 50 Gun Salute to the United States that was orchestrated and delivered by the Presidential Salute Battery – the BIG GUNS of the Old Guard – 3d Infantry Regiment of the US Army. After the tribute, the guns were then secured and attached once again to their respective trucks as part of the convoy that would head down to the National Mall.
As we waited in the convoy, two US Park Police cruisers arrived to then escort the “elite” convoy from Fort Meyer downtown Washington DC to the steps of the US Capitol bulding. It was an exciting trip as the cruiser pictured below ran constant interference with siren blaring and lights flashing (seems many try to ignore the movement of a special group, but the officer in the US Park Police cruiser did outstanding work that kept all on the bus focused on how expertly he “STOPPED TRAFFIC” and kept us moving!)
Arriving at the US Capitol, the soldiers immediately got to work setting up, positioning and cleaning their guns …. as nitefall approached, they donned their dress blue uniforms and prepared to accompany the Washington Symphony Orchestra with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. The firework show began simultaneously as the roar and flare of the cannons resounded on the Nation’s Mall …
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Tags: cannon, Guns Platoon, Presidential Salute Battery, The Old Guard, US Army, US Capitol, Washington DC
