Happy Birthday Marines

On November 3^rd I had the pleasure of attending the “Marine Corps Birthday Cake Cutting Ceremony” in the Library of Congress.  I was invited by Mick Krieger.  Mick is the Chief of Staff of the Speaker’s Longworth office.  The Marine Corps Birthday is one of the more enjoyable experiences for Marines.  It is a time when officers and enlisted service members fraternize and celebrate our history and traditions.  Traditionally, the first piece of Birthday cake is presented to the oldest Marine present and the second piece to the youngest Marine present.

In 1921, Major General John A. Lejeune, Commandant of the Marine Corps ordered that the following message be read November, 10^th 1921 and every November 10^th in the future.

“On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by  a resolution of Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name "Marine". In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the

glories of its long and illustrious history.

The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home, generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas, that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.

In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps, Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term "Marine" has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.

This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.”

Semper Fidelis

AA

Where everybody knows your name....

My first Thursday in D.C. I was very disappointed when I received my bar tab.  I am not accustomed to paying $5.00 + for an adult beverage.  Being a member of a handful of social clubs back home, I made it my quest to locate one that was in close proximity to the Congressional.  Much to my enjoyment I found the Kenneth H. Nash American Legion Post #8 on the corner of 3^rd and D.  This Legion post has to be the most hospitable in the country. 

Most veterans’ clubs make my generation feel unwelcomed.   This has not been the case at the Kenneth H. Nash American Legion Post #8.  On the first day I showed up, all the vets at the bar wanted to know where I was from and what I was doing here.  The bartenders made it a point to remember my name.  It is always fun and sometimes humbling to share stories, and of course my generation has it way to easy.  Even though I was a visiting legionnaire, I was often times greeted with a smile as if they had known for years.  There was great camaraderie.  Everyone was quick to invite back for different events such as Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving.   In fact, every day I show up I am asked by Denny, “Where’ve you been?”

It has been a fun place to grab a beverage of choice after work, watch the World Series with Denny, and of course catch the Chicago Bears on MNF (because Perk would bring in food for all to enjoy).   Even if you are not a legionnaire, I highly recommend you show up because someone will more than likely sponsor you as their guest….just don’t play music during the World Series.

AA

DC in four hours: My walk from the Congressional Apartment Building to Arlington Cemetery

…That’s right. Seeing as how this is our last weekend in DC, I decided I would go for a walk to check out some of the sites since I’ll be in work for the rest of the week as saw this as my last opportunity. I figured I would walk at least to the Mall and the Washington Monument so I left with that plan in mind.

I made my way to the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and the Capitol Building before starting to walk on the Mall towards the Lincoln Memorial. I stopped in the Smithsonian Information Center in the Castle before heading out to the Washington Monument. Following this, I stopped off at the WWII Memorial in its glory. After the World War II Memorial, I decided that I would also see the newly renovated DC War Memorial, honoring those citizens of DC who served in the Great War. It recently reopened on the 10th and I must say that it turned out great! Having done work with the SurvivorQuest Foundation, I know that Frank Buckles (the last American WWI vet) would be proud of the current memorial, having campaigned and advocated in his later years for the renovation of the war memorial.

From the DC War Memorial, I made my way to the MLK Memorial. Having been to the memorial one other occasion earlier in the quarter, I took more time to stroll throughout, reading some of the quotations etched in stone which helped to define the Civil Rights cause. As I gazed across the Tidal Basin I saw the Jefferson Memorial in the distance and figured that I would make my way over there as well. I walked on the right side of the Basin and stopped by the FDR Memorial along the way. I crossed over the bridge and arrived at the Jefferson Memorial where I had a great view of the Basin. From there, I departed and began walking along a sidewalk next to the Potomac River, stretching from 395 to the Arlington Memorial Bridge. I had never been over this way before and it was a great view!

As I neared the Lincoln Memorial I could see that traffic was getting heavier close to the bridge. I made my way up, passed the Arlington Bridge Equestrian Statues, and decided “why not, let’s go to Arlington.” Crossing over the bridge, at least seven planes flew over ahead on their way to Reagan International Airport. Once I arrived on the other side, I decided to make my way on up to the cemetery. It was a little past 4pm, so I knew I had enough time to check out some of the sites before the place closed at 5. I made my up to Arlington House, the former home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee where I looked back at the city trying to figure out how I had walked all that way. I decided that I might be better off taking the Metro back…

Arlington House was open and I got to walk around in the home of the former Confederate general. Much of the displays were taken down as a result of the earthquake and not nearly as much was displayed as I remembered in my previous visits. Following this, I made my way to the Tomb of the Unknowns one last time to catch a changing of the guards. After this, I walked to the gravesite of Frank Buckles, and paid my respects for a final time. I was surprised to see that the wreaths from Veterans Day were still in great condition and displayed! It was now 5pm and the cemetery would be shutting down. I took the long route back, walking in dusk amongst some of the nation’s finest fighting soldiers – great way to end the day.

All in all, I stopped by the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Capitol Building, the Mall, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, DC WWI Memorial, MLK Memorial, FDR Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, scenic walkway along the Potomac River, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, Arlington House, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers – busy day! Didn’t think I’d be doing a marathon!

KN –

Thankful

This Thanksgiving, a good family friend of mine that I grew up with left for Iraq. He joined the Marines last year and has been preparing for his trip since. I also got a chance to exchange messages with a close friend from high school who is currently stationed in Afghanistan. My grandfather also told us more about the B-24 he flew in World War II and his experience serving our country. I am so proud of these men and all the others I'll never know as intimately. (The following pictures are some of favorite from the WWII memorial. The stars are a reminder of how many gave their lives, the latter is a quote that more eloquently says we cannot ever thank you enough for serving.)

I am not sure yet how to express gratitude I feel for men and women that willingly give years of their life to serve our country in that way. I don't think speech is necessarily the way I plan to show my thanks. Rather, I will continue to fight for freedom and human rights here and around the globe. I hope that all Americans, whether those who are committed to military service or civilians in America or abroad, will take seriously the freedom we have been given and continue to demand that all people experience freedom and basic human rights.

Thank you.

-GD

Mount Vernon

On the drive back to DC from Philadelphia, my parents and I stopped at Mount Vernon, the home of our first president and his wife for more than 40 years. During my quarter here in DC, I have always wanted to visit Mount Vernon, but have not had the chance. I knew that the estate was the home of George Washington but until I stepped foot on its grounds, I had no idea how prized a possession his estate was and what it means to many people--it even has been recreated in gingerbread form by a former White House Chef!

From his 1,000 volume library to the fine garments, antiques, and objects, George Washington was truly a man who left behind an important collection in the context of history. I was most shocked to learn, however, that in the period after his death, Mount Vernon fell into a state of disrepair, and its fate was uncertain until the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, a group of women who banded together to restore and locate his possessions, determined to rescue it. The estate reopened to the public in 1860, nearly a century after his death, and these brave women dedicated their lives to restoring Mount Vernon to its former appearance.

This Association has worked diligently to uphold the Washingtons' memory and in the past 150 years, pursued belongings and artifacts that can help piece together the puzzle of the Washingtons and their daily lives. Artifacts are returned to Mount Vernon frequently, and it has become a national effort to restore Mount Vernon. It was remarkable to see over 200 people visiting the ground so close to closing time and nearly all ages groups represented. And especially during this holiday season, I am thankful the Mount Vernon Ladies rescued the estate so that we may have the chance to see what life may have been like for our first president and his family and take a step back into the 18th century.

Regent Ann Pamela Cunningham 1874--
"Ladies, the home of Washington is in your charge. See to it that you keep it the Home of Washington...those who go to the home in which he lived and died wish to see in what he lived and died. Let one spot in this grand country of ours be saved from change."

-AMC

Business Law Event

On Wednesday, November 16, I had the unique opportunity to meet with some of the most influential business lawyers in the D.C. area. My mentor Keir Gumbs (thanks again to Dr. Kolson and Mike for setting me up with him) invited me to the event and I am very happy that he did.

The event was held at the Washington office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, which is one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. The American Lawyer named the firm the 2010 Litigation Department of the Year and it has dubbed the litigators at Gibson Dunn as "game changers." Clearly this firm carries some weight and I was lucky enough to even be able to make it in the building.

At the event, four well-respected business lawyers spoke to a group of current law students and myself. Safe to say it was a bit overwhelming being the only undergrad student there. The first person that spoke was my mentor, Keir Gumbs. Keir is a partner at Covington & Burling and he is one of the most knowledgable business lawyers on the block. Keir is from California and went to Ohio State for undergrad and then to UPenn for law school. He is one successful guy which is why, again, I thank Dr. Kolson and Mike for setting me up with him.

The next person that spoke was Brian T. Sumner who is an associate at Fried Frank currently. He was the youngest of the speakers at the event so it will be no surprise if he makes partner at some time in the near future. He attended Wake Forest for undergrad and then attended Duke Law School. Once again, a proven lawyer with great credentials.

Next, a woman named Meg Milroy spoke. Meg provided a very different perspective of business because she works in-house with Verizon. Currently, she is the Assistant General Counsel and just recently won the highest award that a Verizon employee can achieve. She attended the University of North Carolina for undergrad and law school. There was a little Duke-UNC rivalry between her and Brian which made the night interesting.

Finally, a man by the named of John Olson spoke. Mr. Olson is a partner at Gibson Dunn and is one of the most well-respected lawyers in the country. For the past three years, Directorship magazine has named him one of the "Directorship 100: The Most Influential People in the Boardroom." In addition to that, Mr. Olson is also a member of the faculty at Georgetown Law School. He serves as a Distinguished Visitor from Practice and serves as one of the most important features to the teaching of securities at the school. Mr. Olson attended the University of California-Berkeley for undergrad and then attended Harvard Law. I was very lucky to be able to make a connection with him.

This was probably the most beneficial event that I was able to attend during my time in Washington. I'm very happy with all the people I was able to meet at this event and I hope they're connections that will help me in the future.

-MM

Trip to Polish Embassy

Last week, I was able to visit the Polish Embassy and learn some more about the current state of my family's home land. You may be asking yourself, "How can a kid with the last name Moximchalk claim to be Polish?" Rightfully so. But, I can answer that question.

My maternal great-grandmother was born in Poland and came to the United States in the early 1900s. Her last name was Burdalski which is obviously of Polish origin. I never had the opportunity to meet my great-grandmother, but my grandmother has kept the Polish tradition alive in my family.

Today, at basically every family function my family will devour traditional Polish cuisine. Kielbasa, golabki, haluski, and pierogi just to name a few examples. In addition to that, my family still uses some basic Polish language. My grandmother is called babcia (bah-chee) by all of the grandchildren and my grandfather is called dziadek (zha-zhou). This has always been a neat aspect to my family and it gave me the desire to get in contact with the Polish Embassy and set up a meeting.

I got into contact with a woman named Sofia (a traditional Polish name, it was the first name of my great-grandmother and the middle name of my goddaughter). She was more than willing to set up a meeting with me to show me the embassy and give me some things to take home to my family. I was looking forward to talking about the most important issues currently in Poland but, unfortunately, that did not happen. However, everyone in the embassy was very generous and they all talked about their homes in Poland. It was very interesting to hear from people who actually live in the country that has played such an important role in my life.

When my tour had ended, the embassy gave me a huge bag of gifts to take home to my family which will make some great, cheap Christmas gifts. I would encourage everybody to visit an embassy like I did. It was definitely one of my highlights in D.C.

-MM

Gettysburg Getaway

I recently took a day trip to Gettysburg with the other intern in the office where I work. We made a list of things we wanted to do while we were on this side of the country and Gettysburg was definitely not a wrong choice.

I love history for one reason... it's all stories, stories about real people, real families, real men and women who made decisions that we remember today. Unfortunately for our planning, we didn't plan ahead for a walking tour or a battlefield tour that really do a great job of telling the story of Gettysburg.

But for whatever reason, we did schedule a ghost tour. And I learned so much from that ghost tour you wouldn't believe it. (The picture above is of the cemetery in Gettysburg where our ghost touring began) Our guide told us all about the battle line-up, who was involved and who can still be seen, heard and smelled around that town as they "haunt" it. We walked from the hill where armies sheltered themselves from the enemy, through a neighborhood and to Pickett's charge. We learned about the generals who can still be sighted pacing over battlefield decisions, and an old woman who stayed in the midst of the battle to bake bread to feed starving soldiers, people say they can still smell her bread at times, and of soldiers who have been known to "travel" with passersby on their journey home. The reality of the Civil War and the magnitude of people and families it affected really hit me on that ghost tour.

On our drive home we discussed the real reason why the South was fighting, mainly for their wealth, for their way of life. The South was very wealthy before South Carolina seceded from the Union and started down the path to Civil War, and it depended on slave labor to keep that wealth. Meanwhile, the North was a thriving and growing industrial center specializing in manufacturing of Southern materials like cotton. That is valuable information to consider when discussing the Civil War, and am sad to say that day was the first I had heard of it, my teachers never told me that. It adds humanity to the southern side that is completely stripped in most tales of the Civil War... not that their reasoning was justifiable, but it wasn't just about slavery. My friend and I spoke of how the effects of the war can still be seen in the South, where many parts of "the deep south" (and we know the difference, she's from Georgia and I went to Auburn) are still struggling in education, jobs, and the imminent racial divide. The South was demolished since most of the war was fought on Confederate soil, their way of life was completely taken away and after the war, things didn't simply fix themselves. We forget that our country is so young, that the Civil War happened just 150 years ago and it's no surprise that parts of our country are still recovering from that war let alone the others that have happened since.

-GD

On Friday November 18 the IRI interns were given the opportunity to have lunch with Congressman Kolbe. Congressman Kolbe was a Representative from Arizona and now currently lives in DC and is on the IRI board. Congressman Kolbe went to the Page School here in D.C. and worked for Barry Goldwater. This was particularly interesting to me given that Barry Goldwater played a big influence on my ideology. It was a great experience, he told us about his experiences and then we were open to ask questions on anything we wanted. A lot of the conversation was taken up with thoughts and comments on the Super Committee and Boarder Control. It was interesting to hear his takes on the boarder control situation after we had the policy salon with Eugene. Our lunch lasted around an hour and a half and it was great to hear his positions and ideas on some of the leading problems in the political world today. At the end he expressed his willingness to help us out in any way he could including letters of recommendation and potential job leads he may know of. It was very nice of him to take time to come visit with us and help all of the interns out.

-BS

Arlington Ceremony

On Saturday most of the gang went to the Arlington Cemetery to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This was one of the highlights of the trip. Thanks to Kyle for taking the initiative to set this up and and lay out a rudimentary schedule, (thankfully no one wore a profanity t-shirt). Everyone who went really appreciated it. After the ceremony we all went around to look at the Kennedy memorials. Although we had to rise quite early it was well worth it. It was cool to hear them announce the wreath on behalf of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. I think Mike deserves some credit for this, although not the most popular or desired method, Mike used the root method to go to the florist and order the wreath and ribbon with the school's name on it. Anyways it was a great experience and I am really glad we got to be a part of it.

-BS

Memorable experience at Arlington

Today I had an experience that I will never forget.  Thanks to the initative of Kyle Nappi, I had the honor of laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  This tomb represents missing and unknown fallen service members.  The anonymity is the aspect that I find most tragic.. The inscription on the tomb reads, "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD."

Losing a soldier, airmen, sailor, or Marine in combat is always a difficult reality to confront.  I have had the unfortunate experience of losing two brothers, Max Donahue and Dustin Lee. These two Marines were talented, bright, and couragous K-9 handlers.  When I was standing by watching the sentinel perform his duties, I thought of Max and Dustin, and how thankful I was that they were not missing in action.  Neither of their final resting places read "Known but to God." 

At the end of the ceremony a bugler plays taps.  Listening to him with my hand over my heart I had two thoughts.  First, that I hope it is the last time I ever hear it, and second, that I am thankful that I am not the one that it is being played for.

AA

A Conversation with Daniel Yergin

Last night I attended an event that my boss, Patricia, had invited me to go to in her place. It turned out to be a fascinating event that was intellectually stimulating and intriguing. The New Yorker sponsored the event. There was a three person panel there to discuss sustainability. Michael Specter is a staff writer for The New Yorker, and he led the conversation of the three panelists. He asked most of the questions, but at the end he took questions from the audience. I unfortunately did not get to ask my question.


The panel included Dan Barber who is an award-winning chef and co-owner of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Farms in New York City. He was there to speak about the sustainability of industrial farming in the United States and how it impacts the environment, climate change, food prices, food quality, and other aspects of our daily lives. His key point was that the food we buy from the supermarket has a cost that is beyond what we pay in the checkout line.

The event also featured the former EPA administrator under the Clinton Administration, Carol Browner, who is now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. She pointed out that the key to sustainability is the next generation. They need to become active in their communities. The problem of sustainability is impossible to accomplish by government policy alone. It requires grassroots movements and individual effort by the next generation, i.e. my generation.

The third, and most influential panelist in my opinion, was Daniel Yergin. Dr. Yergin is one of the most influential voices on energy in the world and a highly respected authority on international politics and economics. He received the Pulitzer Prize for his book The Prize, which became a number one best seller. He was also selling his book The Quest which is about energy, security and remaking the modern world.

Following the conversation with the panel there was a reception. I had the opportunity to buy Dr. Yergin's book and have him sign it. We even had a brief conversation about US energy policy, specifically renewable transportation fuels, which is the topic of my policy paper. I have a feeling his book will be a great source to use in my paper.

- JPG

A Lunch with Mr. Jay Aronowitz

Today, I was able to follow up on our initial trip to the Pentagon and visit with Mr. Jay Aronowitz to have a deeper conversation with him on his experiences and his advice for getting to the SES-level. Our meeting occurred at noon today at the Executive Officer Dining Room. First of all, I must say that the Dining Room is a special place, like a mini-restaurant within the Pentagon. And, the food was pretty good (I had a Caesar Salad and a Club Sandwich). Mr. Aronowitz, despite his pretty hectic day, was seemingly excited to speak with me, which helped put me at ease. I can tell that he is not jaded like some other Washington officials that I have encountered or met during my time here. He really seems to understand the reality of Washington, while working there.

Our discussion centered around his experience in the Presidential Management Fellowship program. He reiterated that this experience helped put him on the right path towards policy and public service work. It also helped him decide to go to the Defense department over the Justice Department. He emphasized that in order o advance, YOU MUST DISTINGUISH YOURSELF from the others. He recommended furthering your education and distinguishing yourself that way instead of entering a weary job market. Also, I asked him about race and how being an African-American in a high-level position adds more pressure and we shared similar experiences on trying to make race a non-issue in our experiences. We both believe that merit over time will overshadow race, but there is and always will be that initial pushback or weariness from others as to the merits of Blacks to attain a higher level of employment. I ended our conversation with my standard question of how do you know that you have reached a job that makes you happy , and he replied with not being happy, per se, with his current job but is glad to be able to help others and see generally positive results for the people that he serves. He is looking forward to retirement, where he can do volunteer work with children and animals that can make him happy.

Today's meeting was successful and enjoyable. I seem to relate a lot with him, because he has a similar standing in the Defense Department that I would like to achieve one day with the State Department. This Friday, we will have a follow up meeting at 2pm (along with my 12:30pm meeting with Mr. David Morgan). I hope the next meeting will be just as good as today's. I feel like I have laid foundations for a relationship and not just a connection, which to me is vital.

KAL

Veterans Day Ceremony

On Friday I had the pleasure of attending the Veterans Day ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery Amphitheater. It was truly a great ceremony and an opportunity to honor all those who served. It was good to commemorate the profound service and sacrifice our veterans have upheld in defense of our country. The weather could not have been much better. It was a great fall day with the sun shining.

The ceremony featured the United States Army Band, a presidential wreath ceremony, speeches by the President, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, the Commander-in-Chief of the Military Order of the World Wars, Mr. Russell Vowinkel, and much more. The presence of all of the veterans provided an awesome opportunity to pay tribute to them, the fallen, and their families. It was a great experience overall and well worth the time.

The Army Band started playing at 10:30 and the ceremony started at 11:00. The eleventh hour on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, of the eleventh year of the century. I got lucky when I arrived right at 10:30. I ended up getting great seats near the front. The first lady and some important military figures, including the Sergeant Major of the Army, were seated just to my left. I thought it was weird because I see these kind of events happening on TV all the time, but it was something special to actually be there in person. I could not think of a better way to honor all veterans than being at that ceremony at Arlington.

- JPG

Veterans Day 2011

I can honestly say that Veterans Day 2011 will be remembered as one of the best veterans’ events I’ve attended thus far.

of my many veteran associate contacts, who works for a national veterans association, invited me to the ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, specifically those held annually at the amphitheatre near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. My contact provided me with a ticket for the event, designated for the front section so I knew that I would have a great view.

I arrived at the amphitheatre a little after 9am and found a seat in the 5th row right next to “Pershing’s Own” U.S. Army band with a great view of the podium on stage roughly 40 ft away. I got a copy of the program which listed President Obama to be in attendance for the ceremonies to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and give a speech.

In the meantime, I talked with a few veterans and family members sitting around me, one of which was from, of all places, Ohio State. Howitzer fire could be heard in the distance, marking the President’s arrival to Arlington. Following this 21-gun salute, the “Pershing’s Own” band commenced, playing a series of military songs. At that time, numerous military leaders began pouring in to the surrounding box seats encompassing the amphitheatre.

 

As I glanced up to the box seats, I noticed quite a few familiar faces from the DoD: Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Air Force, Vice-Chief of the Army, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General, Vice Chief of the Air Force, Commandant of the Coast Guard, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major of the Army, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.

It was funny in a sense to see the some of the senior-most military leaders and counting how many I had one-on-one meetings, or lunches, with at the Pentagon. (This week I had met the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard on Wednesday and had lunch with the Vice Chief of the Army on Tuesday).

Once the military officials arrived, the First Lady and President arrived, waving to the crowd before taking a seat. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and retired four-star General and former Chief of the Army, Eric Shinseki first spoke then introduced the President. Being only ~40ft. away from the President, I had one of the best seats and thought he gave a good speech which lasted nearly 15-20 minutes.

Following the President’s speech, the crowd retired to observe the various veteran organizations each lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I met up with my vet contact and was introduced to the some of the leaders of his group, the BVA (Blinded Veterans Association). I found a good spot near the right of the Tomb and served as one of the photographers for the BVA, during the time they laid a wreath at the Tomb (having done photography work for some of their previous newsletters).

I must have made some sort of impression as I was invited to attend the National Veterans Day Reception in Crystal City, featuring the Presidents, Chairmen, and Directors of the various national veterans associations and as well as numerous veterans (both American and foreign). I gladly accepted and made my way to the reception, following the numerous wreath layings. I arrived at the reception to find a few hundred military personnel, both active and retired throughout the crowds as well as the leaders of all the national veteran organizations.

Later on, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and retired four-star General and former Chief of the Army, Eric Shinseki arrived and gave a speech to the audience before going around the room and meeting some of the vets, in which I managed to talk with Secretary Shinseki.

Once the reception was over, I decided to head back to Arlington to pay my respects to the last American WWI veteran and my good friend, Frank Buckles, who passed away this February at the age of 110. I knew that photographer David DeJonge would be present as he contacted me earlier in the week explaining there would be a small ceremony for Mr. Buckles later in the afternoon. I arrived at Arlington and made my way to Mr. Buckles plot off Pershing Drive and found DeJonege, Mr. Buckles’ daughter, and various military officers and photographers. I met up with DeJonge who has since founded SurvivorQuest, a non-profit organization aimed towards remembering the last WWI veterans and advocating for a national WWI memorial, in which I serve as a “WWI Consultant.”I spoke with DeJonge about my work at the DoD and some of my recent advances with WWI-affairs as I still assist him with various veteran projects. Likewise, I spoke with Mr. Buckles’ daughter who remembered me from the 2008 Pentagon ceremony. Following the brief meeting, DeJonge and the group took off to catch their evening flight. I decided to stick around in Arlington and made my way to the Tomb of the Unknowns to watch the last Changing of the Guard before the Arlington closed.

I arrived at the Tomb half expecting to see a sparse group due to the cold but found 200+ people gathered around, including a group of Honor Flight WWII veterans, some bundled up with American-flag blankets in their wheelchairs. I managed to see another wreath lying before the Changing of the Guard, presented by some of the WWII veterans. Following the last Changing of the Guard, the group made its way back to the buses on the opposite side of the amphitheatre. I saw the flag, which had been flown at half-staff, taken down for the evening. I boarded one of the buses which dropped us off at the Visitor Center.

All in all, superb ceremonies. By far the best Veterans Day event I’ve attended thus far. It always reminds me to appreciate the freedoms we have in this country, due to these veterans’ heroic selfless actions.

“All gave some, some gave all.”


KN

Capitol Hill Club

The other night I was privileged enough to have dinner with my Uncle at The National Republican Club of Capitol Hill, more commonly known as Capitol Hill Club. This is the place to be if you are a lobbyist. Republican congressmen spend some time here a few nights a week grabbing drinks with friends or having dinner with their wives or being lobbied by D.C.'s finest. I got to meet a lot of lobbyist and congressional staffers that my uncle was friends with. He just happens to be quite good friends with the Speaker of the House John Boehner. Luckily for me, he just so happened to be there down at the bar that night and I got to spend some time with him. My uncle ran into Boehner's Political Aide and they talked for a while before he invited us over to his table. We sat and chatted with the speaker over a glass of wine, he has an affinity for Cabarnet Sauvingnon, and this was quite an experience.

As my uncle and I left the bar and went to the Presidential Dining area to eat we saw a few members of congress eating with their wives, and getting lobbied over half off steak night. As the night wound down we discussed future plans for me and set-up a few lunches with fellow lobbyist and congressional staffers to help get my foot in the door. It was quite an experience, one that I won't forget.

-B.S.

The Best of the Beltway

In my time inside the Beltway so far, I have managed to see many monuments both day and night and have never been unimpressed with our Capitol. But this weekend when a friend from home came to visit, I saw the city from a whole new perspective--on wheels. My two friends and I began our journey from the Georgetown University and for $20 for three hours of biking I had one of my most memorable fall DC experiences to date.

We biked through the back roads of Georgetown and meandered our way down the National Mall, all the way up to Capitol Hill. We conveniently began our ride at sunset, and I have never witnessed the monuments in such splendor before. The experience was surreal, the photos resemble postcards, and the memories are ingrained forever. We paused to reflect on each monument and snap pictures by the Ohio section of the WWII Memorial, and a mother who agreed to take our picture asked where we were from and said "Enjoy college, and learn everything you can, you are our nation's future." Profound words from a tourist, yet utterly true. This mother's advice reiterates the potential that we have, as students.

Being in DC has made me realize the perpetual nature of learning. This internship, this experience is one chapter in our lives and will help shape us into the citizens we aim to be, but it is important to never stop learning. While DC, and our nation, both have rich histories, we must utilize our history to create our future. JFK once said in a speech at the University of Wyoming:

"I hope that all of you who are students here will recognize the great opportunity that lies before you in this decade, and in the decades to come, to be of service to our country. The Greeks once defined happiness as full use of your powers along lines of excellence, and I can assure you that there is no area of life where you will have an opportunity to use whatever powers you have, and to use them along more excellent lines, bringing ultimately, I think, happiness to you and those whom you serve."

In my opinion, there has never been a better time to be a student, and I hope that as we move on from the WAIP program we never forget our time in the Beltway and keep in touch as we move beyond it.

-AMC

The Other Side of History: Meeting a Former Hitler Youth

Every story has two sides – as does history. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet an interesting figure who saw the Second World War from the German perspective as a “Hitler-Jugend” or “Hitler Youth.”

Being an avid history buff, I find it imperative to examine both sides of history. Having contacted & conducted interviews with 200+ WWII German veterans, 78-year-old Lennie Cuje is one of many examples of the lesser-known sides of history. Today Cuje lives a modest life in a quiet residential neighborhood in Northern Virginia.

Born in January of 1933, Cuje was one of the first to have been born into what was going to be Hitler’s Thousand Year Reich – he was even presented with a medal from Hitler which he still has, inscribed “Under the Future of Adolf Hitler, In the Year of Germany’s Transformation, 1933.”

For every German boy, the Hitler Youth was mandatory and everyone was drafted as soon as they turned ten. It was a compulsory service ultimately aimed to indoctrinate the youth into the German military and to serve the Führer and the Third Reich.

Cuje recalls attending school throughout the week and having drills on the weekend, consisting of navigating with a compass, camping, backpacking, marching (which he insisted was no fun whatsoever), and even “war games” where they would create two sides to get into full-fledged fist fights with one another to toughen them up. “I saw no point in any of this” Cuje admits. “I would instead take my 10-12 man unit around the fighting, and try and capture their base.”

Cuje did not like the strict discipline that was practiced in the Hitler Youth. When I got in trouble at school (which of course was very rare), I was punished by missing out on recess. When Cuje got in trouble for speaking out against Germany winning the war he was punished by sounding the school’s rooftop air raid siren for a week. He recalls watching swarms of allied bombers overhead and their fighter escorts who would fly low to the ground, shooting at targets. He even remembers a particular instance where he observed from his rooftop post the aerial dogfights between P-51’s and ME-109’s.

Towards the very end of the war, the SS assumed control on Cuje’s unit, training them to fight against the approaching allied forces. Because Germany was running low on men to fill the ranks, the enlistment age was extended to include boys as young as 12 and men as old as 65 to fight. Called the “Volkssturm” or “People’s Army” this militia unit was trained with whatever was still left to combat a superior force for what already seemed lost.

It was now 1945. Cuje just turned 12 years old and was being trained as a MG-42 machine gunner, one of the most powerful automatic weapons of the time with a firing rate of 1,200+ rounds per minute. Nicknamed “Hitler’s buzzsaw” the MG-42 was notorious for cutting down troops as was the case with those on the Normandy beaches. Due to a lack of ammo in the late days of the war (remember that Germany would surrender in a matter of weeks), Cuje remembers being told to hold his fire until the enemy troops were closer to conserve their bullets and ensure that they would hit their targets. Cuje admits that this was total madness and he came up with a plan with his belt-feeder that, when the enemy was approaching, they would fire a quick burst then surrender. I can remember back when I was 12 and can’t imagine being trained to fight in a war.

On April 23, 1945, Cuje was captured by French soldiers who later released him, insisting he return home and find his family. He later reunited with his family in Frankfurt at a displacement camp, where he first heard American jazz on the radio for the first time. It was then that Cuje decided that he would go to the United States and become part of the jazz scene.

Cuje left Germany in 1950, Cuje arrived in the United States and was drafted into the U.S. Air Force two years later. He served with the Special Weapons Project, taking part in various nuclear tests in the Frenchman’s Flat in Nevada.

Today, he is a renowned Jazz musician, having personally played for President Clinton at the White House and throughout various clubs in New York, DC, and the East Coast. To this day, he continues musical engagements and keeps quite busy.

To learn more about Lennie and his life, please refer to this link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/interactives/jazz/

From Hitler Youth to American Jazz – what an interesting life!



KN