RaeLene, Haliaka, Nataly, Becky, Jenna, Cristina at Mt. Vernon on a perfectly clear, sunny day in Alexandria.On Sunday night we stayed at Becky's and Monday started early. In the morning we went to Harpers Ferry, a small, fairly unknown town in US history, although it had a large influence on African-American history. It was the location of the US armory which was raided by John Brown in 1859 in an attempt to arm slaves and cause a nation-wide insurrection. It raised tensions over the slave conflict and more sharply divided the country on the issue of slavery. The city is nestled between the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers in West Virginia and is preserved now as a historical site.
This is the point in Harpers Ferry where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers converge and become the Potomac. The weather was perfect so we sat and listened to the river for a while. RaeLene and I hiked up to a spot a little ways up from this point where Thomas Jefferson said he saw the most beautiful view in all of the world. It basically overlooked these rivers and an endless span of trees.It was fitting that after visiting Harpers Ferry we went to Gettysburg, which I was surprisingly interested in. We took a 3 hour car audio tour that was a fascinating review of the events of the Civil War. We ate dinner at a home that served as a hideout for the Underground Railroad. The entire day was a reminder of the gratitude we should have for our freedoms and equality.
Abe Lincoln and I chillin' outside the Gettysburg Visitor Center in Pennsylvania.
