The White House

We scored a hard-to-get White House tour through Congressman Ackerman's office. We arrived bright and early Saturday morning. As we entered the White House, a significant presidential motorcade was forming up. The President departed while we were in his "Green Room." Or was it "Blue Room?" Secret Service agents did an admirable job doubling as tour guides; answering technical questions from wall paper to china serving dishes.

During our visit, White House staff were busily preparing for a "State Dinner" welcoming the Queen of England. She feasted in the same dining room where we had stood only two days earlier - don't worry mom, my Queen idolatry was short lived and I have since washed the soles of my shoes.


Unfortunately, security was tight and we were not allowed to bring cameras inside the White House.

Sean and Evan at the North Entrance of the White House.

Later, as we were driving across the Memorial Bridge from Arlington Cemetery, Marine One - the presidential helicopter, came roaring out of the Potomac River on a serpentine route to the White House. Apparently, the pilots had been skimming the surface of the river as a safety precaution for the President. Pretty quick. Fortunately, I had been looking a photos on my camera so it was in hand for this quick snap! Pretty cool.

The following day we were fortunate to be traveling in the opposite direction of the President's motorcade as he took the Queen to various locations around Washington. The eastbound freeway lanes were closed while the motorcaade passed, creating a 6 mile traffic jam!