Arlington National Cemetery - To Honor, Remember & Explore

Arlington National Cemetery - To Honor, Remember & Explore, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

“To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen… to be forgotten is the worst.” -Pierre Claeyssens (1909-2003)

I had the great opportunity to partake in a moving and patriotic experience last year while I was in Washington, DC. Every December an organization called Wreaths Across America coordinates a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. It is a wonderful way to remember, honor and teach our youth about our fallen veterans.

Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for about 400,000 military service members and their families. It is a wonderful tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served.

Here in the United States the final Monday in May is a federal holiday known as Memorial Day. It is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Honor the Fallen!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
Sam's Travel Photography Gallery

Congress is Crooked or the Blue Hour Tilt?

Congress is Crooked or the Blue Hour Tilt?, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

I can’t decide which title is better so I will leave it up to you guys. Which title do you prefer?

======================================

Mark Twain once opined, “Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” Those are the culprits that lollygag in the Capitol Building so there is no need to waste my time talking about them. So let’s talk about the geometric “H” shaped building you see on the top right hand side of the frame.

The East Building of the National Gallery of Art was designed by famed architect I.M. Pei. Inside is one of my favorite paintings, Salvador Dali’s “Sacrament of the Last Supper.” Dali was an eccentric guy so I thought of him when I composed this photograph. No, I was not on drugs when I composed this shot. To quote Salvador Dali, “I don’t do drugs. I am drugs.”

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery

A City of Monuments, Memorials and Criminals

A City of Monuments, Memorials and Criminals, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

It’s been about two months since I returned from my amazing journey in Southeast Asia, but that does not mean I have stopped traveling. Since my return I have traveled to Chicago, Wisconsin and the nation’s capitol Washington, D.C. where I was all last week.

So let me give you a warm welcome to Washington, D.C. otherwise known as the District of Criminals!

I have a confession...I am a recovering political junkie. I use to eat, sleep and talk politics, but thankfully Washington, D.C. cured me of that. The crime, corruption, graft...and I'm just talking about the halls of Congress! Apart from that, Washington, D.C. is a wonderful city, especially if you can squeeze in a visit between its frigid winters and humid summers. Unfortunately, for me that seems like the only time I visit Washington, D.C.

For Washington, D.C. and its politicians it is all about access. Thankfully, for tourists you have free access to all the monuments, memorials, Smithsonian Museums and even the zoo! As a result, you may want to try to squeeze in as much as possible on your visit.

So here’s a photograph where I squeezed in three in one!

Three icons most people recognize of Washington, D.C.: The Lincoln Memorial, The Washington Monument and The United States Capitol. I took this shot in front of the Netherlands Carillon. What and where is that you may ask? It's right next to the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial which is across from D.C. in Arlington, Virginia.

If you take a trip to the nation's capitol just watch out for your wallets, not from the street thieves, but rather from the members of Congress who are full of bloated promises and quick with a phony smile.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
Sam's Travel Photography Gallery