Archive for May 2005

Memorial Day Letter

Hey Joe,

I’m glad I could be part of your experience during the Memorial Day weekend remembrance of our fallen soldiers, and especially those who are prisoners of war and missing in action. My dad gave me the helmet when he moved to NC last month (he was in Korea), and the inspiration to paint it up came in my sleep Saturday night. I woke up Sunday, mourning, and painted it black, then used an old stencil sheet my oldest son had from years ago for the lettering. The paint was still wet when I strapped the fifty-one year old relic on my forty-one year old head.

I think we are a lot alike when it comes to being there during these national events. We both think that it’s important to participate in some way in our democracy and the movements that define who we are as a nation. For whatever reasons, I felt very strongly to do what I did Sunday, and despite my erstwhile inhibitions, I rode hard and proud on my bicycle the 14 miles from my home in Fort Hunt to the Mall in DC, all the while carrying the heavy burden of freedom paid by the lives of others, and the steel brain-bucket to boot.

Not a veteran myself, I wasn’t sure if I would be cheered or jeered by the men and women who had served to keep our country free (or rich, or powerful, or some of us rich, and some of us powerful). After crossing Memorial Bridge, I pedaled slowly down 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue as the bikers roared with much approval down those hallowed halls. The crowds were enormous and I felt minimized and overwhelmed by the spectacle of Rolling Thunder. At 15th Street I decided to turn South back towards the river, content in the fact that my lone journey had given proof to some that I was honoring the captive and missing soldiers in my own way. When I reached Independence Avenue I realized that Rolling Thunder was again crossing my path, but this time without the fanfare and 10 deep audience that lined Constitution Avenue.

Only then did I realize that this was my chance to honor the riders directly and intimately. So I perched my pride on the Tidal Basin Bridge, and saluted the riders as they passed. The rush of mutual acknowledgment was extreme as thousands of riders passed me by, many nodding and waving their approval to my tribute to them and our lost boys. I stayed until the roaring engines had passed, and normal traffic had resumed, and the sky began weeping, to me small but significant tears of joy and sorrow about war, peace, love, hate, and the reconciliation that we all must face someday. It was only then that I straddled my machine and pedaled my way back home.

Fifty minutes later, I glided up my driveway to the welcome arms of my family, saddened by the fact that so many other families are still waiting for the return of their loved ones, still hoping for the warmth that I was fortunate to feel today. My love and thanks go out to all the soldiers past and present, to those who record their history, and to all who stand strong and proud in defense of freedom.

Thanks for being there,

Sean

Published May 31, 2005 in DC Life: The National Mall. Photography by (RSS).
Tagged: Rolling Thunder
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Rolling Thunder

Sean McClellan from Alexandria, Virginia, salutes the riders of Rolling Thunder “Ride for Freedom XVIII” with a peace sign Sunday May 29, 2005, on the Tidal Basin Bridge in Washington, DC.

Published May 29, 2005 in DC Life: The National Mall. Photography by (RSS).
Tagged: Rolling Thunder
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All That We Let In

Indigo Girls, shown above at the 9:30 Club on March 20, 2005, will be performing at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia, on June 8, 2005.

Published May 22, 2005 in Music. Photography by (RSS).
Tagged: Indigo Girls
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Static Cling

In one hour, over a half inch of rain was dumped on Washington, DC, Saturday night, May 14. Lightning pummelled the city, activating car alarms everywhere.

Published May 15, 2005 in DC Life: Shaw. Photography by Joe Tresh (RSS).

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DeLay’s Congressional Carnival

“What are the sex slaves all about, Tom?” said Scott Goodstein, above, referring to Tom DeLay’s support of the Northern Mariana Island’s slave economy that DeLay once called a “perfect petri dish of capitalism.”

Drivers caught in early evening traffic along Sixteenth Street NW watched and listened as the comically dressed activist in a plastic strawhat barked allegations into a microphone.

Roughly 60 protesters lined the sidewalk in front and opposite of the Capital Hilton entrance Thursday evening, May 12, to demand an independent investigation of the house majority leader. DeLay, under heavy fire for alleged ethics violations, was honored by the American Conservative Union at a $250-a-plate dinner held in the hotel.

Protesters took turns hammering the bell to “smash corruption” on a strong-man game decorated with red, white, and blue balloons. Others spun “Tom DeLay’s Wheel of Corruption” at the so-named “K Street Carnival O’ Corruption.”

Demonstrators also distributed bars of soap with labels reading, “Help Tom DeLay clean up his act.” Dinner organizers provided a 40-gallon tub at check-in for dinner participants to “donate your soap here for our brave men and women in uniform.” Nine bars of tiny soap sat at the bottom of the dirty tub, below.

The demonstration was peaceful and dissipated shortly after most dinner participants had entered the hotel.

Published May 13, 2005 in Protests. Photography by (RSS).

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