Monday, May 25, 2009

America the Beautiful


O beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!

We have found a new Memorial Day tradition that we loved...DC at sunrise.  We arrived in DC about 6:00am, caught some gorgeous shots of the sunrise, and got to see the WWI, WWII, Vietnam, and Korean War Memorials all before 8:00 and well before all the crowds arrived.   It was probably the most meaningful Memorial Day we've ever had. 


Thank you to all the men and women who have fought to protect our freedoms over the years.   
We honor you this day.

Happy Memorial Day!


Make sure you check out I [Heart] Faces this week for lots more silhouettes.

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46 comments:

  1. Steve-RosannaMay 25, 2009 at 7:29 AM

    Wow! Stunning picture.

    How appropriate on Memorial Day.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Love, Dad-Mom

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  2. The GilesMay 25, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    What a beautiful picture!

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  3. AndreaMay 25, 2009 at 12:30 PM

    What a cool tradition!!

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  4. LolliMay 25, 2009 at 1:32 PM

    I LOVE that silhouette picture, especially with the Monument in the background! Are you going to enter that in I heart faces??

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  5. KMay 25, 2009 at 1:39 PM

    I LOVE the picture! Hope we can join you in that tradition next year! (o:

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  6. burpandslurpMay 25, 2009 at 4:53 PM

    great tribute to our heroes!! have a great memorial day!

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  7. AndieMay 25, 2009 at 4:59 PM

    Wowie, wow, wow!!!! AWESOME.

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  8. Jenny PlumbMay 25, 2009 at 8:56 PM

    I absolutely love this photo. Stunning, and it stirs something in me.

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  9. AnnetteMay 25, 2009 at 8:58 PM

    So last night Jaremie and I were thinking of what we were going to do today (Memorial Day), and I thought to myself, "I bet Lara and her family is going to do something cool in DC". Sure enough!

    I must say this is one of your best photos. I really like the compositions of it. I also have a thing for flags, love them. So nice work in getting the flag. Nice sky, too.

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  10. the monkeys' mamaMay 25, 2009 at 8:58 PM

    love this post, love this picture! great work!

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  11. TiarasMay 25, 2009 at 8:58 PM

    THIS is beautiful

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  12. Life with KaishonMay 25, 2009 at 9:07 PM

    What a wonderful tradition! Such a special way to remember the men and woman who have fought and died for our country! Very beautiful!

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  13. TaylorMay 25, 2009 at 9:12 PM

    Perfect tribute to Memorial Day! Beautiful.

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  14. Karyn KuniyukiMay 25, 2009 at 9:12 PM

    Though there will be many images incorporating the Flag on Memorial Day, your effort to achieve sunrise in DC is superlative; the Washington Monument and Capitol Building in the background really cements your composition. Definitely a favorite!

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  15. Boybarian DadMay 25, 2009 at 9:15 PM

    Great pic and great post.

    B Dad

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  16. CarrieMay 25, 2009 at 9:34 PM

    What an awesome shot and wonderful tribute! A great tradition!

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  17. ☼¨`*•.♥Rocío♥.•*¨`☼May 25, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    Wow, It is a Beautiful Picture!
    You have a Lovely Blog...
    Thanks for sharing!

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  18. A Family Completed...May 25, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    What a wonderful way to celebrate Memorial day. The tranqulity of the sunrise and visiting all the memorial's before all the crowds. I love it. Love this shot also.

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  19. tiff(threeringcircus)May 25, 2009 at 10:14 PM

    Just stunning.

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  20. Corey~living and lovingMay 25, 2009 at 10:43 PM

    WOW! what a wonderful morning you had. stunning shot. perfect in every way. wonderful framing.

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  21. American in NorwayMay 26, 2009 at 12:12 AM

    THis is my FAVORITE! Everything in the shot is PERFECT, super job.. hope you hang this one up!

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  22. MemeMay 26, 2009 at 12:22 AM

    This photo is amazing. Truly an inspirational memory and message. Thanks so much for sharing, and may God continue to bless our Troops.

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  23. DeanneMay 26, 2009 at 2:38 AM

    What a great idea. If we ever do end up back there, that might be a tradition we adopt!

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  24. hip-chickMay 26, 2009 at 3:29 AM

    Beautiful photo. And, what a great idea.

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  25. MichelleMay 26, 2009 at 4:08 AM

    great shot! Love the memorial in the background

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  26. CarmenMay 26, 2009 at 4:33 AM

    Great shot! beautiful picture and nice story to go with it....

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  27. Karen@THPhotographyMay 26, 2009 at 6:47 AM

    I am in LOVE with this picture. Can I post a link to it on my site?

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  28. AJMay 26, 2009 at 7:03 AM

    Wow. I love your picture and the idea of seeing those fantastic memorials at sunrise. Thank you for sharing!

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  29. Angie - The Arthur ClanMay 26, 2009 at 10:52 AM

    What a beautiful way to commemorate this important day. Wonderful!

    ~Angie
    co-founder of I ♥ Faces

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  30. JenJMay 26, 2009 at 12:50 PM

    GREAT idea!

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  31. MelanieMay 26, 2009 at 1:18 PM

    I enjoy the composition of this photograph.

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  32. FoursonsMay 26, 2009 at 2:08 PM

    That is beautiful, gave me chills.

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  33. AnissaMay 26, 2009 at 2:28 PM

    That is a gorgeous shot! TFS

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  34. MandiMay 26, 2009 at 4:18 PM

    What a special shot. I really like this one!

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  35. PunaMay 26, 2009 at 5:00 PM

    This is beautiful.

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  36. Through My Own LensMay 26, 2009 at 6:19 PM

    WOW!!! Def one of my favs so far! Great job and perfect for this weekend...what a fun new tradition!

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  37. homemakerchroniclesMay 26, 2009 at 8:25 PM

    Breathtaking! What a wonderful capture...that's like a once in a blue moon kind of photo!!

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  38. BillykiddMay 26, 2009 at 8:29 PM

    what a neat tradition and so smart of you to leave nice and early!!

    LOVE your entry. It's breathtaking and definately one of my favorites! Great job!!!!
    ~Becca

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  39. PenelopeMay 26, 2009 at 9:37 PM

    What an amazing post! I love the picture, and how appropriately it goes along with Memorial Day!

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  40. SarahMay 27, 2009 at 7:24 AM

    Hmmm...wow. I really like that it's in DC and you can see the memorial in the background. Beautiful shot...beautiful moment!

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  41. julieMay 27, 2009 at 12:19 PM

    Wow - how incredible, beautiful, and moving! That should be on a DC visitor's guide or something - though maybe you don't want to give away your secret of visiting at sunrise?! Thanks for checking out my photo too! :)

    julie @ mom by faith

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  42. RosettaMay 27, 2009 at 10:37 PM

    Sweet setting. Love this shot.

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  43. StefanMay 27, 2009 at 10:40 PM

    DC on Memorial Day is a marvelous venue at any time, but the idea of capturing it at sunrise is special.

    Amazing composition. Thank you for sharing.

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  44. KelownaMay 29, 2009 at 6:38 PM

    A winner. Good post.

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  45. KMay 30, 2009 at 9:28 AM

    I'm feeling kind of mad right now. Is it possible for a professional photographer not to win???? Seriously?!

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  46. MatthewMay 30, 2009 at 12:44 PM

    I honestly think that the judge must have skipped this one or didn't realize that was the Washington Monument and the Capitol in the background or something. This is an AMAZING shot!!! AMAZING!!!!

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