National Mall #3 - World War II Memorial

I loved this memorial. Greg and my father's both served. There was a lot to see and read here, it was wonderful.

National Mall - Part 2

Korean War Memorial - Hauntingly Beautiful

Korean War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial - crowded

Vietnam War Memorial Wall

National Mall - Part 1

Washington Memorial

Washington Memorial from the other end

Washington Memorial from the Lincoln Memorial
Greg's favorite picture, he took all of these on his new camera.

Lincoln Memorial

Abraham Lincoln - It is amazing.

Happy Birthday, Wesley!

Saturday was this  young man's birthday.  Wesley is our oldest grandson, and a kind, helpful, funny, hip, and smart guy.  He received the Aaronic Priesthood today and we couldn't be prouder of him.

Happy Birthday, Wes!

Letter to Huler Grandkids, March 14, 2017

Hello, Grandkids,

Thank you so much for writing!  Grandpa and Grandma love to hear from you. Today we did not go into the office. It was going to snow as much as eight inches last night, but it only snowed two inches where we live. Traffic was gnarly this morning, so President Johnson closed the mission office and grounded the missionaries from driving until after lunch. It might be icy tomorrow, we'll see. Tomorrow is our staff meeting and I hope we go into the office because we get to spend the morning with President and  Sister Johnson and they are fabulous to be with. So, let's answer your questions.

Jarin, the tree of all the books written about Abraham Lincoln is built of shelves and the books are shoved in them randomly, so you can't see the shelves very much. Grandpa says it is four stories high, which is forty feet.  Ask your dad if that is higher than your house. The waffle house was crowded, dirty, and is what is called a landmark, so everyone goes there at least once.  I had a sausage and egg sandwich. Grandpa had sausage and eggs. It was okay, but Grandpa makes me a great bacon and egg breakfast regularly, so it's hard to find a breakfast as good as his.  His hip is almost all better. In fact, he gave his cane to  Elder Thompson, who we serve with in the mission office.  He has the same problem as Grandpa did, and his leg is not doing so good. So, Grandpa's cane is traveling. I wonder where it will go next. That would make a good story, "Grandpa's Traveling Cane".  The African American Museum is huge!  It has three stories underground and five stories above the ground. It covers five acres. Ask your dad how big that is. What is the name of the new song you learned about prophets?  I would like to look it up. My favorite song is "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus", and Grandpa's favorite is "A Child's Prayer".  Good luck with soccer!

Russ, we miss playing with you. My tablet is getting old.  Maybe when we see you next I will have a super duper new one.  Grandpa needs some exercise, so you should come and see us so he can chase you!  We didn't train any of the missionaries, we just watched to see how it was done, so we can do it next time. When someone is baptized there is a form that needs to be filled out and given to me. Then I go in the computer and enter the information into a church program. Then the convert is then listed on the records of the church, which is wonderful because that means she/he can start to get ready to go to the temple.  I really like doing that job.  Have fun with soccer!

Lucy,  the temple is beautiful. We are going to go inside this week. We are two hours ahead of you time wise.  So when you get up in the morning we have already been up for two hours. We did see the White House when we went to the museum. In the picture I took of the museum you can see the tall, white, Washington Memorial by it. Then  if you look the opposite direction, the White House is clear down at the other end. I didn't take a picture because it was too far away. Don't feel bad for the elder that got made fun of. He had a very successful mission. He bore his testimony of Jesus a lot, taught and baptized a lot of people, and his testimony grew even more than he ever thought it would.  Have fun playing soccer this season.

We love you all, and miss you. We have a big bulletin board with the all the Miller, Banks, and Huler families pictures on it. We see it everyday.

Love, Grandma Banks

Covered Bridges

We took a Saturday drive in Frederick County and looked up three covered bridges on the National Historical Registry.  They have in the past been shored up by more modern materials so vehicles could drive across them. They have all been vandalized, messed up by farm rigs, or eaten by termites, so all have been rebuilt with  as much of the original material as possible. One was even the victim of an insurance fraud scheme, where two brilliant fellows parked a truck in it and lit the truck on fire. They were caught. In order to qualify to be on the National Register of Historical Places, a certain amount of the original materials must be there. Repairs are often done with hand tools to maintain it's historical authenticity.

Utica Mills Covered Bridge

This bridge was part of the Devilbliss Covered Bridge built in 1843, that was destroyed in the Johnstown Flood in 1889. This piece of the bridge was moved to it's present spot over Fishing Creek.

Loys Station Covered Bridge

This bridge was built in 1848 and is ninety feet long. It is believed that on July 7, 1873, after the battle Gettysburg, General George Meade crossed this bridge while pursuing the Confederate Army.

Roddy Road Covered Bridge

This little bridge is only forty feet long and the smallest covered bridge in Maryland. It is also the only one with a single kingpost truss, used for smaller bridges. Date of construction not known, but believed to be around 1850.  It is common belief that Confederate  General Jeb Stuart and his cavalry crossed on July 5, 1863 during the Gettysburg Campaign of the Civil War. It is undergoing extensive repairs. 

Ford's Theater - Part 2

There are several floors of exhibits at the Ford Theatre and next to the Peterson House. This is a tree of books written about Abraham Lincoln. In the picture below, you can see the stairs.  There are four floors of exhibits.  It was pretty impressive.

                                      This is the Waffle Shop, famous for it's breakfasts.

It is a dive, full of people, dirty, and I can say I was there.