After Mike taught his Tuesday day class, we drove to Manning, South Carolina. It was dark when we got there, but the next morning when we stepped out, there was a beautiful cotton field that had been harvested with only two bales left, wrapped in pink. We saw many cotton fields, large and small as we traveled through the Carolinas ..the round bales are wrapped in a pink plastic type material, the rectangular bales in more of a cloth whitish material.
Even a fun reading couch
Wednesday we drove the rest of the way to Newport News, Virginia, where Fort Eustis is located and picked up Michael at the base Thursday morning. He had an overnight pass so we were able to take him with us. Before you can go on base, you have to stop at a check point and open every car door, the trunk and the hood and they go through it. Registration, insurance and driver's licenses are required. We had been forewarned, so all suitcases, etc. were at the hotel.
Michael has to have a "battle buddy" anytime he checked out or in, and his grandad was more than happy to fill that role.
Their company name is the Alpha Gators, which was fun because of our University of Florida Gators. The company slogan is incorporated into a heavy throw rug and is where you walk in. The unwritten rule is that you don't step on it. The soldiers step over the corners automatically so it is hardly noticeable. Aaron reminded me of the rule several times .. and that should tell my rug story --
A Thanksgiving movie was next on the list -- the new Grinch movie, which was fun, maybe more for kids, and not a repeat go-to like the first Grinch.
Next to Belk to get Michael a pair of jeans which we found at a good sale price in less than 30 minutes. The store was full of sales, but Mike and Michael couldn't have been less interested. So our next adventure was the famous annual Newport News two-mile light show. The photos are live, but the movement doesn't pick up on the blog. Here are a few to give you an idea of the work that is put into those two miles. Some were on water, some in the air, Very impressive.
Friday morning we went back to the base because Michael had formation at 9:00 a.m. Going through the gate was much easier because all he had to do was show his ID.
Formation-a new experience for me, and very enjoyable to watch - also stirs those patriotic feelings. Mike knew what it was because he has been there, done that.
Friday we visited the Historic Triangle - Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg.
Yorktown, where Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington, has a beautiful monument that is 84 feet tall plus the 14 feet added by the Liberty Statue. There is a lot of detailed sculpting on it. Then we drove the two miles to "Surrender Valley" along the path the southern soldiers marched to turn in their weapons. Two miles is a long march for a defeated soldier. Many didn't just lay down their weapons but threw them on the pile hoping to damage them so the Union couldn't use them.
After a short drive through Jamestown (the first permanent English settlement in the Americas). Then we finally made it to Blaze pizza.
William & Mary College, established in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the US. Three of our first ten presidents graduated from there: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler. Interesting side note - this year, 2018, they hired their first woman president. She is the twenty-eighth president.
The Capitol building: Our guide told us this was the 5th Capitol building, the first two and this one on the same spot. All five, except this one have been destroyed by fire. This was reconstructed after the manner of the first one, but no fireplaces. So not in this building but on this same spot Patrick Henry gave his - Give me liberty or give me death - speech. He was the first governor, Thomas Jefferson the third. There is certainly a spirit of patriotism there. We are grateful for all the sacrifices made at that time to make this a free county.
The one 300 year old furniture piece that survived the fires is the speakers chair.
We visited the jail which has been restored to its former state, the walls are thick and the bars and lock are made of thick heavy metal. In the reconstruction they also added a a mock-up of the "facilities." Kind of interesting to say the least.
Always nice to know that no matter where we go, someone is trying to save our souls.
On the way back the visitors center we walked under some of the old brick bridges and past the windmill which was used for grinding corn.
Our last glimpse as Michael walked back to the barracks - it was more than wonderful and a very tender mercy for us to be able to spend time with him and together visit the the historical places.
Just for interest - you can't go there because they are on a private farm now. Amazing just to know about them - 20 foot busts of 43 presidents, sculpted by Houston artist David Adickes, who said his inspiration came after driving past Mount Rushmore. They were once located in what they called President's Park in Williamsburg.
When a company bought the park in 2010 and they had to be moved. Howard Hankins who had helped design the park didn't want them destroyed, so he had them taken to his private farm. They weigh about 22,000 lbs apiece so it was quite an undertaking. There is a funding campaign going on for a place to relocate them so everyone can enjoy them. We hope to visit them another time..
Not a surprise that some were damaged in the moving.
We are grateful for so many things - our 2011 Highlander for one - that took the 1638 mile trip without a complaint, for places to stay and food to eat and family and friends who we love to send pictures and texts to, for the ward in Sumpter South Carolina where we stopped for church - pretty much the same wherever you go. We also met a sister missionary from St. George who knew Evan and Darlene Wilson, and was related to Justin Teerlink's wife Kylie.
Every city has a tall water tank personalized to that city ..
And there are occasional confederate flags that are cool to see. That is a part of history and we wish some wouldn't be so anxious to be rid of it.
This scripture strengthens you, touches your heart and brings to mind the great love our Father in Heaven has for us, as he is rightfully called "the faithful God who keepeth covenant." We know that he will do as he promised, if we keep our side of the covenant.
The Lord has a special respect for the covenants he has made to the fathers. Moses told the children of Israel as they were about to enter Canaan:
“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people …“But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, that the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” (Deut.7:7-0-9)
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