Monday, January 10, 2005

More Statuary

So George W. Bush may be taking the Oath of Office behind Freedom's back, but he'll be facing down Peace when he does it. Peace, located in the traffic circle of Pennsylvania Avenue and First Street NW, across the lawn from the West Front of the Capitol, isn't as obvious as the 7 1/2-ton Freedom atop the Capitol dome. The Naval Monument, also known as the Peace Monument, depicts "Grief weeping on the shoulder of History, for her sailors lost at sea." Grief and History face away from the Capitol building, but on the base of the 44-foot monument, on the side of the base that faces the West Front of the Capitol is Peace.

Freedom may be looking away, but Peace is watching.

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