The DC Traveler » marines http://www.thedctraveler.com A Washington DC insider's travel guide that's full of area information for both tourists and residents. Covers area attractions, activities, events, nightlife, memorials and monuments, historic sites, museums, the Smithsonian... Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:17:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Memorial Day Music at the Capital http://www.thedctraveler.com/2008/05/memorial-day-music-at-the-capital/ http://www.thedctraveler.com/2008/05/memorial-day-music-at-the-capital/#comments Sat, 17 May 2008 08:06:17 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/memorial-day-music-at-the-capital/ Post from: The DC Traveler

]]> Air Force Color Guard Join about 300,000 other patriotic music fans on the lawn of the Capitol as we honor America’s fallen heroes at the annual National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, DC.

This year’s list of musical entertainers include one of my favorite female vocalists, the always entertaining Grammy winner, Natalie Cole. I saw Natalie sing last summer at Wolftrap and she puts on a great show.

Also on the list of singers is Josh Turner, who has recently toured with George Strait and Carrie Underwood, jazz singer Jane Monheit and R&B vocalist CeCe Winans. 

Natalie Cole Rounding out the show will be the always popular National Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Chorale, the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters, the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants and the Choral Arts Society of Washington.

Expect much pomp and circumstance as the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff will also have a role in the show, as well as color guard teams from each branch of the U.S. armed services.

Plan on arriving early to get in line for the best spot for your blanket. 

And in case you have never seen the very moving Changing of the Guards at the Tombs of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery, here’s an interesting clip from Fox News about one of the soldiers who guards the famous tombs.

National Memorial Day Concert 2008
West lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, DC (map it) Army Herald Trumpets

Date and Time – Sunday, May 25, 2008 – 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., grounds open at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets – FREE, no tickets required. Checkpoints with metal detectors will be set up at entrance points. Entrance to the concert is at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds.

Nearest Metro subway station - Capitol South, Federal Center SW, Orange and Blue lines, and Union Station Red line.

Parking – Street parking will be very difficult that evening, so use Metro or arrive very early.

Images – Army Herald Trumpets, Natalie Cole,  AF Color Guard

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Post from: The DC Traveler

]]> http://www.thedctraveler.com/2008/05/memorial-day-music-at-the-capital/feed/ 0 Marathon of the Monuments – The Marine Corps Marathon -– Oct. 29th http://www.thedctraveler.com/2006/10/marathon-of-the-monuments-the-marine-corps-marathon-%e2%80%93-oct-29th/ http://www.thedctraveler.com/2006/10/marathon-of-the-monuments-the-marine-corps-marathon-%e2%80%93-oct-29th/#comments Fri, 20 Oct 2006 21:26:34 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/marathon-of-the-monuments-the-marine-corps-marathon-%e2%80%93-oct-29th/ Post from: The DC Traveler

]]> On October 29th, the 31st annual Marine Corps Marathon will again this year be a huge event in Washington, DC. Last year almost 28,000 participants from over 50 countries and 300,000 spectators attended.
 
Marine Coprs MArathon - Washington DC - Runners near Washingtom Monument Witnessing the mass wave of runners starting the race, even with the two main groups using a 15-minute staggered start, is truly a spectacle.  Starting near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, runners weave their way through suburban Arlington, VA and cross over the Key Bridge into Georgetown. 

 

During the 26.2 mile route, runners pass the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln, FDR, Korean, Vietnam and Jefferson memorials, the Washington Monument and The Capitol. The race winds through some of the most visually beautiful areas on both sides of the Potomac River, ultimately ending at the Marines Iwo Jima Memorial. 
 
There are numerous official and unofficial places to cheer on the runners or the five “Groundpounders” as they are affectionately called (participants that have run in all 30 previous marathons).  Check out the family-friendly fall festival at the Crystal City Street Spectacular along Crystal Drive from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm. Or watch from the Key Bridge connecting Georgetown to Virginia.  Grab an espresso and a pastry or a gourmet lunch at Dean & Deluca, located just a couple blocks from the Key Bridge at 3276 M Street, NW (opens at 10:00 am).

The marathon is actually a weekend event with music, non-race events, family fun and more. Three stages will be set up along the route with bands playing live music.

Wheelchair participants will begin racing at 8:15 am on Sunday, followed by two waves of nearly 16,000 runners each at 8:25 and 8:40 am.   The slower racers are expected to finish by around 3:00 pm.
 
Visitors to DC visitors should expect some aggravating traffic issues (see interactive map) including major street closures and traffic rerouting between 8:00 am and around 3:00 pm.  Parking in the Arlington Cemetery area and anywhere Marine Coprs Marathon, Washington DC - Finisher Medalaround the National Mall will be very challenging. It’s also probably not a great day to visit either Arlington Cemetery or the Iwo Jima Memorial, unless you enjoy being around thousands of exhausted and sweaty runners and their supporters.
 
A satellite marathon will also be run in Iraq where 22,000 marines are stationed – called the Marine Corps Marathon Forward. 
 
Marathon records: Men: 2 hours and 4 minutes. Women: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
 
Photo 1 credit: flickr, Photo 2: flickr  

Post from: The DC Traveler

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