Annnnnd I'm back at it again! Metro Journeys 2014-2015! Did you miss me? Aww, shucks guys, stop it! For the first metro journey (MJ), we ventured to the most well known spots in DC, the National Mall! Unfortunately, we weren't supposed to walk the whole mall, but we accidentally did (whoops!), but, as usual, I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start from the beginning!
The day started off how it normally does. I woke up at 5am, but this time Victoria was with me! We road to the Fogg's house to then leave with the rest of the class at 7:50. We arrived at the Smithsonian metro station around 9:45ish. I know what you're thinking, ALMOST TWO HOURS TO THE SMITHSONIAN STATION!? WHAT?! It doesn't take two hours, no, we just took a pit stop.We arrived at the first stop on our itinerary, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. You can always call it what Eliza-Jane calls it, "The Factory that Makes the Money," but that would only be covering half of what they do. This building makes the security notes of the Unites States. For example, Presidential invitations, passports, military commissions, and a plethora of other special security documents for the US government.
There are seven major note bills circulating in the U.S, and they each have a portrait of a famous U.S. historical man on the front. George Washington, the first U.S. president, is on the $1 bill. Pictured on the $2 bill is Thomas Jefferson. The $2 bill is not as widely used because the BEP does not make them as frequently as the other notes. On the 5 is Abraham Lincoln, our 16th US president. Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the US, is printed on the $10 bill. Skipping the teens and going straight to the $20 bill, you'll find Andrew Jackson, our seventh president. Ulysses S. Grant, a famous U.S. war general as well as our 27th president, is pictured on the $50 bill, and last but certainly not the least, on the $100 bill is Benjamin Franklin, who without we would not have the Deceleration of Independence, the United States as he was also a founding father, and even the light bulb. Nobody truly knows the real reason these historical men were put on each bill because the people who first designed these bills didn't write their explanations down for record. There are definitely some pretty logical guesses for example, George Washington is on the $1 bill because he was the first president, but no one knows for sure. All U.S. bills are specially fashioned on machinery to avoid counterfeited money, which some people call "Fake McCoys." So how do you distinguished the real from the fake? Each bill has different security features such as codes, watercolors, the color in different lighting and many more. These security features change every so 5-7 years to make it more difficult for counterfeiters to fake the bills. Each bill is made from 75% cotton and 25% linen. Each bill also contains small red and blue fibers for visual identification. Starting in 1990, the paper for $10 bills and higher was made of two plies with polymer security thread woven between them, which can only be visible when held to the light and can not be duplicated with photocopiers and printers. The ink used is also a special ink, which is illegal to everyone except the factories who fashion money. Black ink is printed on the front while green ink is printed on the back. The most recent bill remodel happened to the $100 dollar bill. This newest change to US currency took effect October of 2013.
Did you know that 8.4 billion notes were printed in 2012? That sounds like a lot, I know, but keep in mind when new money goes into circulation, it just replaces the old worn money that it destroyed. In order to destroy money, banks as well as individuals will hand over their used money to special agencies. These agencies then examine the money to confirm it cannot be used any longer, and then they destroy it. The BEP gets 25,000 mutilated currency redemption claims yearly. In order to destroy money, the BEP shreds the old and worn money and sends it to waste energy facilities for disposal. Sometimes, they even send some of the shreds right downstairs to their gift shops where visitors can buy them!
With all that money circulating in and out of the system, you might wonder who keeps track of all this? The Federal Reserve of course! There are twelve of these privately held banking associations around the US. They are all about US money and nothing else! They also host tours, so if you want to visit them I would highly recommend it! According the Federal Reserve, there is about $1.29 trillion in circulation as of October 1, 2014. Wow! 
So much information, I know! SO let's take a break and head across the street the the left. We're going to the Wharf: Home of Seafood and jank vending machines! (They were out of Orange Soda. WHAT!? YOU CAN'T BE OUT OF THAT!) We asked 3 vendors how much a 1/2 bushel of crabs were, and we got 2 answers. From our first two vendors, we got $35, but from our last vendor, we got $50. Lol, guess we won't be going to that last vendor anytime soon! At the first vendor, we met two guys named Andrew and Sam! They were so funny! They let us each have 6 crabs for $5! They might've been attractive too! (maybe) If you do visit them one day, just tell them I sent you! (haha, jk, they probably don't remember me, but I remember them! Yes. I do. #neverforget) Andrew said he worked there because the hours were very flexible and also because of money. I don't blame him. Sam travels all the 2 almost 3 hours to work weekly! He only goes home on the weekends. According to Andrew, a lot of workers make that hike! Talk about dedication! If you ever go to the National Mall, stop by and visit them, and like I said before, say I sent you. (lol, just kidding!) .jpg)
Next stop,The Jefferson Memorial, but before we arrive there look up! The Cherry Trees were planted in 1912 as a gift of friendship from Japan. In Japan, they are actually called "Sakura." NO WAY, NO WAY! Sakura's my favorite restaurant! This plan symbolizes the beauty and memory of human life and also epitomizes the transformation of Japanese traditions throughout the ages.The Jefferson Memorial is a HUGE dome. It is dedicated, obviously, to a man named Thomas Jefferson. He was a founding father of the United States, the main writer and drafter of the Deceleration of Independence, as well as the third president of "this here" United States! He also founded the University of Virginia. This dome is located off the Potomac River. The building stated in 1939 and was completed in 1943. The bronze statue of Mr. Jefferson was later added in 1947. The most important words are the ones engraved frieze below the dome stating, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." This is a quote found in one of his letters to Dr. Benjamin Rush where he proclaims his constitutional refusal to recognize a state religion. He also writes,
"that Almighty God hath created the mind free, and manifested his supreme will that free it shall remain by making it altogether insusceptible of restraint; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments, or burthens,or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion..." I agree with his statement. I am a Christian. I believe that God created this world, and also that one day he is coming back to claim his creation. I also believe that God crea ted man with free will. The ability to make decisions we deem appropriate in any given situation. Forcing a religion on a multitude of people, even if you know what you believe is correct, will not only repel the people, but also the people will rebel. I believe that God wants us all to come to him for forgiveness not because we were forced, but because we chose to do so. We have the ability to choose, so the government should sometimes allow us to make our own decisions, especially about religion.
Past the Jefferson Memorial, we find the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. About 48 years following his "I Have a Dream" speech, Washington D.C. welcomed another great leader to the mall. The center piece of the memorial is a 30 ft statue of Dr. King carved into the "Stone of Hope," emerging from two boulders. The two boulders, which started as one, represent the mountain of despair and were broken into two, revealing the" Stone of Hope." This signifies African Americans' hope in their segregation struggle. On the visible side of the stone are the words from King's famed speech, "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." Every visitor enters through the stone of despair and exits in the open freedom of the plaza where they discover the Stone of Hope proudly displaying this Civil Rights leader gazing towards the horizon encouraging all citizens to strive for justice and equality. Although this is not the first African American memorial, Dr. King is honored by being only one of four non-Presidents with a memorial on or near the National Mall.
East of the Pool overlooks the Lincoln Memorial. Henry Bacon, (cool name, right?) the guy who designed the memorial, modeled it after the designs of a Greek temple known as Parthenon. He felt that a memorial to a man that defended the democracy should be based on a structure founded in what is known to be the birthplace of democracy although historians have proven that the idea of democracy has its origins in Africa.While distracted by myths about faces in hair and letter-signing hands, many visitors miss the true meaning of the memorial and the ubiquitous symbol that carries that meaning. Instead of being hidden somewhere inaccessible, the symbol is deceptively obvious, right there under Abraham Lincoln's hands. In fact, the symbol is that of fasces (FAS-eez), a bundle of rods bound by a leather thong. Repeated in the memorial, the fasces throughout reveal the higher meaning of the memorial and the man. In ancient times, fasces were a Roman symbol of power and authority. It displayed a bundle of wooden rods and an axe bound together by leather thongs. Fasces represented that a man held imperium, or executive authority. A Roman leader could expect his orders to be obeyed, could give punishment, and could even execute those who disobeyed. On its surface, the fasces imply power, strength, authority, and justice. Depicted throughout the Lincoln Memorial, the fasces meant all this and more.
In front of the monument sits the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which is the largest of many reflecting pools in D.C. Hosting about 24 million visitors a year, it is easily the most popular venue in Washington. Standing at the correct angle, it reflects the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall's trees, or the sky. It was constructed in 1922-1923 following the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. It is over a third of a mile long, 167 feet wide, and is 18 inches deep on the sides while 30" in the center. It holds approximately 6,750,000 of America's water and has been the site of many historical events including Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech as well as Marian Anderson's open concert held after she was denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. because she was African American.
Whoo! What a lot of walking! (and a lot of reading!) Hopefully, I didn't "sentence" you to sleep! HAHA get it!? Because writing has sentences! No? Is it just me? Okay. Well! Here's something that should make you smile! Metro Journeys are twice a month now! Whoo! Now you get to "coma" board my journeys with me twice a month now! HAHA, still no? Oh okay. See you, all my dedicated readers, in two weeks! 