Washington DC: Why I Love America - Essay Sample

The United States of America can be perceived as an area of great men and women who played a crucial role in transforming the America to what it is today. It is a land where people get second chances of progressing themselves. I love Washington DC for it has the most significant monuments that depict the amazing history of America that include the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

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Abraham Lincoln is perceived to be one of the most influential presidents of America. His achievements are still being felt. The Gettysburg speech is among the famous addresses by Lincoln that has always been quoted by various politicians. A significant part of the speech that I highly regard is the statement, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth, (Lincoln). Therefore, one of the significant aspects that make me love America is the Lincoln Memorial that is found in Washington D.C. The memorial is perceived as a neoclassical depiction of the 16th president of the U.S., Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the west side of the National Mall. The designer of the monument was Henry Bacon who applied the features of Greek temples. The proposal to have the monument came up in the year 1867 after Lincoln had passed. However, it could not be built immediately due to a shortage of funds. In 1910, the bill to construct the monument was passed by Congress. It began to be constructed in 1914, and by 1922, it was opened to the public. The memorial is quite popular whereby millions of people visit it on an annual basis and is at times used for protests and also social gatherings. One of the historical events that took place in the monument was the famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr in 1963; the I have a dream speech. I find the monument to be appealing and also among the things that define America and its progress throughout history.

Another element that is significant in the American history is the Korean War Veterans Memorial. The memorial is located close to the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall. The memorial received its dedication on the 27th of July, 1995. Frank Gaylord of Barre was the one behind the nineteen stainless steel sculptures of soldiers and also the Tallix Foundries of Beacon from New York that did the casting. The main reason for putting up the memorial is to commemorate the millions of soldiers in the U.S Army who sacrificed themselves by providing their services for three years in the Korean War. Between the 25th of June in 1950 and the 27th of July ion 1953, a total of 54, 246 soldiers had perished while serving their country during the war. In the Honolulu Memorial, an approximate number of 8,200 were declared either lost, missing in action or buried in the waters. This was in 1966 during the missing dedication at the Korean War Courts. The number of injured individuals totaled up to 103, 284. The Korean War Honor Roll was put in place as an important part of the monument as a way of giving honor to the veterans from the U.S. who lost their lives in the way from a global perspective. The inscription, Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and people they never met, is clearly laid out at the Pool of Remembrance in memory of the soldiers who without selfishness took part in the war. The memorial exhibits the dedication of American citizens in serving their country such that they are willing to risk their lives on behalf of others and hence one of the reasons that I love America. From a personal perspective, such dedication is probably among the reasons why America is a strong country.

The Arlington National Cemetery, which is found in Washington DC, is also another significant part of America in regards to commemorating its fallen soldiers. The cemetery symbolizes the Americans appreciation of men and women who dedicated their lives because of their country. The first soldiers to be buried in the cemetery were those from the American civil war. The department in charge of the cemetery is the United States Department of the Army. The cemetery was developed in the land occupied by the Arlington House when the civil war was taking place. The land belonged to Mary Anna Lees family who was the wife of Robert E. Lee who was a Confederate general. Mary Anna Lee was the daughter of George Washington Parke Curtis and hence Martha Washingtons great daughter. Mary had inherited the land from her father in the form of a life inheritance and hence giving the choice of occupying the land and selling a portion of it if need be. The cemetery is well-maintained and orderly such that it depicts a good view. The ambiance indicates the dedication that the Americans have on their fallen soldiers. It shows appreciation and honor to the fallen men and women. From a personal perspective, I think that countries should emulate such an example of commemorating fallen soldiers for it symbolizes appreciation of risks that most people wouldnt have taken. The inaugural address by President Kennedy is among the speeches that illustrate the appreciation of the efforts of American citizens and hence including the efforts of the soldiers buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. Kennedy stated, And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is also another significant part of America in regards to commemorating one of its greatest presidents. Franklin Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the U.S. The memorial is located in Washington DC and situated between the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. He led America for four terms which are represented by the four rooms that are open-air. He is remembered for his outstanding leadership during the Second World War where America experienced victory and also getting America through the Great Depression. One interesting aspect of Roosevelt is that, despite being disabled, he was able to exhibit excellent leadership skills that most leaders, even till the present, havent yet exhibited. He is among the people in history that make me love America for he played a great role in making what America is today. In his inaugural address, among the significant statements that he asserted was, But here is the challenge to our democracy: In this nation I see tens of millions of its citizensa substantial part of its whole populationwho at this very moment are denied the greater part of what the very lowest standards of today call the necessities of life I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.