Netherlands Carillon and USMC War Memorial

Type of Exercise: Cycling/Biking
Biking Stats:
Distance: 29.62 mi
Duration: 2 hr 19 mins

This morning was another early one. I knew I’d have about 30 miles to cover in total, so I got out the door and got going up the trail. It was dark when I started out, and I chased the sunrise over the Potomac River as I made my way up the Mount Vernon Trail.

The traffic was heavy this morning as I crossed over the two forks of Washington Blvd in Ladybird Johnson Memorial Park, but I found that drivers were happy to slow and stop at the crosswalks to allow me to cross, which is quite refreshing!

As I passed by Arlington Cemetery, things had hummed to life. Folks were out recreating on the sidewalks along Memorial Avenue, the long avenue which leads into the cemetery. I passed a line of rental limousines and a number of very well-dressed people mulling about along the avenue near the metro station. I could not quite tell if they were there for a funeral, or if they were a foreign dignitary visiting the cemetery. I didn’t notice a security detail around them, so I think a funeral is the more likely reason for them to have been there.

To get to my destinations this morning, I had to bike as if I was going to the cemetery and then veer off on a small trail just before entering the grounds. The trail follows the Northeastern boundary of the cemetery, and the neatly arranged headstones gleamed in the morning sunlight as I passed by. Two marines were out for a ruck march on the trail in BDUs . The weather was absolutely perfect to be out and about.

I rounded the cemetery and found myself at the bottom of the hill, which led ultimately to my goals for the morning. In front of me sat the official National Park Service signage for both landmarks, and I took a quick picture. There was absolutely no traffic, so I could take my time.

From the bottom of the hill, the USMC War Memorial is an incredible sight. The well-kept grassy hill holds the memorial like a gently sloping green pedestal. The polished black granite base stands out against the park surroundings, with it’s inscriptions along the sides. On top, is a sculpture of 6 US Marines, who were captured in a photograph by an Associated Press photographer. They were raising the flag of the United States on Mt. Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima during battle in the second world war. Three of the six marines, who are depicted in the sculpture were killed during that battle. This image has become so iconic that many call this memorial the Iwo Jima Memorial. In fact, this memorial is dedicated to all Marines, who gave their lives defending their country, since the inception of the USMC in 1775.

The memorial was dedicated in 1954 and given to the National Park Service about a year later, which I found strange. Around the memorial are various waysides, describing the USMC and the sculpture. Unfortunately I didn’t have much time to check them out, as I was waaaaaay out in range for a work day with very limited time to accomplish any picture taking. Of note, the memorial has been recently rehabilitated, having finished only just this year. New engravings were added, the sculpture was re-braised, and all the lettering was re-gilded. Additionally, the whole monument received a wax treatment. I have to say it looks REALLY nice!

Moving on, I biked over to the Netherlands Carillon, just a short distance away, passing two people doing dance aerobics on the plaza behind the memorial on the way. I imagine they were wondering the same thing that I was wondering “what are they doing out here so early?!”

Arriving at the carillon, my heart sank. It is currently being rehabilitated, and it is completely covered in a brown cloth. Construction workers were walking around at the base, organizing their equipment and prepping for the day’s work. I was so bummed! I’ll have to come back when this project has been completed and take pictures of the restored carillon and the tulip gardens when they are finished!

What is a carillon you might ask? Isn’t that where the 1980’s cartoon Care Bears lived? Is it a GIANT musical instrument?

YES! It’s a giant musical instrument! A carillon, generally speaking is a tower of bells, all of which can be played by a central apparatus. The apparatus looks like a set of pegs, which the musician presses or strikes while wearing gloves. These pegs impart mechanical force to one or more of the bells in the tower, causing it to ring. I call it a “bell piano,” but I’m sure that real carillon musicians would probably frown upon that.

While my wife and I were in the Netherlands on our 2017 bike trip, we were graced with the opportunity to see many of these large instruments in cathedral towers all over the country. We were serenaded by a carillon from the cathedral tower in Enkhuizen, and we also toured a carillon in Amersfoort. Fun fact: Amersfoort houses one of the ONLY schools in the world where one can learn to play the carillon, and the students of this school often practice on carillons in churches and cathedrals nearby and throughout the country to ensure they are tuned and kept up with. Their exams are conducted on these ancient instruments!

OK back to this piece of the Netherlands that is sitting here in Arlington, VA next to the USMC War Memorial…

The Netherlands Carillon contains 50 bronze alloy cast bells in the tower. The bells themselves weigh about 30 tons. Imagine telling someone that you play a 30 ton instrument. Now, imagine that you are playing that 30 ton instrument by hitting pegs to SHAKE the weights of the pieces of that instrument, which is mounted in a tower. Oh yeah, and also you are SITTING UNDERNEATH or ON TOP of that 30 ton instrument as you are shaking all those things! If you’re doing this in the Netherlands, up the weight of those old bells and add onto that: you’re playing this instrument high up in an old stone tower. Carillon playing is not for the feint of heart!

This gargantuan instrument was a gift to the United States from the Netherlands in recognition for the US’s contributions to the Netherlands during and after the second world war. It is an enduring symbol of friendship between the Dutch and the Americans. The first piece of that instrument was brought by the Dutch Queen Juliana, who presented a tiny bell to President Truman on her visit to the US. The rest of the bells arrived sometime later and they were installed into a temporary carillon until the current one was built. Each of the bells in the carillon is cast with an emblem that describes a part of Dutch society and there are quotes from a famous Dutch poet on them as well. The whole tower is 127 feet tall. You can’t miss it. When the carillon is NOT being restored, there are gorgeous gardens surrounding it, which contain many different flowers, including tulips (of course).

The carillon used to give concerts on a set schedule. I remember that my wife and I wanted to go to a few of these concerts, but I don’t think that we ever made it to one.

You can read more about the Netherlands Carillon here, and you can even hear the bells of the carillon being played!

I snapped a few pictures of the recently risen sun over Washington DC from the hill that I was standing on, which overlooks the Potomac River and the National Mall. Then, I looked at my watch and my eyes bugged out of my head a bit. It was time to go…and go fast.

I wound my way all the way back down the trail and back home in time for work. My thighs ached!

I hope YOUR thighs don’t ache from this ride! If they do, I hope that they feel better soon, because I know how much that sucks! Thanks or coming along as always!

PS: I’ve also included some sunrise pictures that I captured over Orinoco Bay Park in Alexandria below.