Greatest Generation Japanese American WWII Veterans Receive Congressional Gold Medal
• November 7, 2011

The U.S. Congress held a ceremony on Capitol Hill on November 2, 2011 to award the Congressional Gold Medal, its highest civilian honor, to more than 1,000 Japanese-American veterans, now in their 80s and 90s, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. Japanese-American contributions to the war are even more remarkable since their families were rounded up and confined by their own government. Many Japanese-Americans who fought in World War 2 were “Nisei”, Japanese Americans born in the U.S. Many of them and their families were placed in internment camps after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and they were also exempt from the draft. Nonetheless, about 19,000 Japanese-American soldiers volunteered for service.
The award was presented collectively to the Army’s three Japanese-American units that fought in the Mediterranean and European theatres – the 100th Infantry Battalion, nicknamed the Purple Heart Battalion, the “Go for Broke” 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS).

Fighting their way through Italy, southern France and Germany, and finally sent to the Pacific Theater to serve as part of the occupation force in Japan, members of the 442nd made the unit the most highly decorated regiment in Army history. All told, the 13,000 soldiers serving in the regiment, received 21 Medals of Honor, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars and 9,486 Purple Hearts. One of those distinguished Medal of Honor winners, Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) took part in the ceremony.

The 100th Battalion was absorbed by the 442nd , but initially was a separate unit. It was composed of men from Hawaii who were part of the National Guard.
There were 3,000 Army trained linguists that served in the Asia-Pacific theater part of the MIS. These men had a numerous duties which included translating enemy documents, interrogating prisoners of war, and persuading enemies forces to surrender. Because of the nature of their work, MIS achievements have been classified and are just now coming to light.

In 2010 Congress approved a special gold medal for the unit. President Obama signed the bill into law authorizing the award a year ago. A replica of the gold medal is given out to veterans, family members of deceased veterans, next of kin of soldiers killed in action and family members of veterans who took part in the ceremony.

View our photos from the ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet)

View additional photos by clicking here.

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Arts on Foot Festival in Penn Quarter (photo gallery)
• November 3, 2011

Click below for our photo gallery from last weekend’s Penn Quarter Arts on Foot Festival. This annual event is a visual and performing arts festival featuring Washington DC theaters, museums, and arts at a variety of venues in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, DC. The festival became an art walking tour with area restaurants, theaters, galleries, museums, and more than 100 visual artists participating and dozens of Downtown attractions hosting visual art exhibits, performances, workshops, demonstrations, films, concerts and children’s activities. This year’s event also featured commemorative activities to honor the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 including The 9/11 Arts Project. (all photos by Jeff Malet). [gallery ids="99231,103634,103639,103644,103649,103654,103659,103664,103669,103674,103629,103624,103619,103594,103695,103691,103599,103687,103683,103604,103609,103614,103679" nav="thumbs"]

Navy SEALs Wreath Laying
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Rear Admiral Edward K. Walker, Jr., USN (Ret) and the staff of the US Navy Memorial place a wreath at the statue of the Lone Sailor in Washington DC on Tuesday August 9, 2011, in honor of Navy SEALs Team Six killed in action. More than 20 Navy SEALs from SEAL Team Six were among those killed the previous Friday in a helicopter crash flown by a crew of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. SEAL Team Six was the unit that carried out the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in his Pakistan hideout. [gallery ids="100257,106909,106913" nav="thumbs"]

Esperanza Spalding donates Nobel Prize dress to Smithsonian
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Acclaimed bassist, singer and composer Esperanza Spalding donated the dress she wore for her performance at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for President Obama to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History on Monday, October 17.

The donation continues the museum’s women in jazz initiative, which was launched in April as part of Jazz Appreciation Month. Spalding is widely acclaimed for her innovative blend of jazz, folk and world music with classical chamber music traditions, and was awarded the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2011 for her second album, Chamber Music Society. To earn the Grammy, she beat out an impressive field, including teen idol Justin Bieber.

Born in Portland, Oregon, Spalding studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., where she went on to become one of the youngest professors in the history of the college at the age of 20.
After signing the official deed that transferred ownership of the dress to the museum, Spalding expressed her gratitude to be honored by the Smithsonian by citing her own favorite quote of Duke Ellington with the following words. “He said, ‘Tomorrow is waiting in the wings for you to sound her entrance fanfare.’ And when I hear you speak of all these individuals who were beyond category, I think of the people who were in touch with that reality, that the world is of their making. When I think of making the future, I think of the value of understanding the past. I’m just so grateful and honored to be a part now of the history that generations can continue to look to for inspiration.”

(Click on the icons below for our slideshow of the donation ceremony at the museum.) [gallery ids="100345,109162,109167,109172,109177,109182,109187,109192,109197,109202,109207,109212,109157,109152,109117,109233,109122,109229,109127,109225,109132,109221,109137,109142,109147,109217" nav="thumbs"]

Washington International Horse Show Gets Underway at the Verizon Center (photos)
• October 31, 2011

The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), a leading equestrian event in the U.S., celebrates its 53nd year in the nation’s capital, Tuesday through Sunday, October 25-30, 2011. This championship event, drawing leading horses and riders from around the nation and the world, is one of the few remaining major metropolitan indoor horse shows and is the pinnacle of the annual equestrian season. The show takes place each October at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., attracting the attention of tens of thousands of equestrians, non-equestrians, celebrities and politicos alike with events such as show jumping, dressage, hunter and equitation competition, plus Kids Day, Barn Night, special exhibitions, shopping and hospitality.

This year, about 500 horses are expected to perform in the competition. More than $400,000 in purses will be given to the top riders. The highlights of this week’s competition are Friday night’s $25,000 Puissance class and Saturday night’s $100,000 President’s Cup grand prix. In Friday’s Puissance, horses will jump the great wall until only one horse remains without knocking it down. The Washington International is the only remaining show in the US to offer this class. The record to beat is 7’ 7-1/2,” set at Washington in 1986. Riders will also gain valuable points to qualify for the World Cup Finals in April.

The Washington International Horse Show is open to the public; children 12 and under receive free admission during the day. Two performances are held daily except Sunday. Daytime events generally end around 5 p.m. Children’s tickets are $10 in the evening, except for Friday and Saturday nights when tickets are $20. Adults tickets are $15 during the day and $20 in the evening, except for Friday and Saturday nights, when admission is $40. For those who wish to watch the events remotely, the show’s Web site will feature more than 70 hours of live-streaming video.

View our photos from the early days events by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet)

View additional photos by clicking here.

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Social Conservatives Gather in DC for Values Voter Summit (Photo Slideshow)
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The annual gathering of more than 3,000 Christian conservatives and elected officials was a joint production of the Family Research Council and other social conservative groups. Gay marriage, abortion, religion and the upcoming presidential election dominated the discussion at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC on October 7-8, 2011. Featured speakers included most of the Republican Presidential Candidates. (All photos by Jeff Malet)

Click on the icons below for the slideshow.

View additional photos by clicking here.
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Al Sharpton’s Rally for Jobs and Justice (photos)
• October 27, 2011

Thousands of Americans led by the Rev. Al Sharpton rallied Saturday against the backdrop of the Washington Monument, calling for easier job access and decrying the gulf between rich and poor before marching to the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. (Saturday, October 15, 2011). Click on the icons below for our photo slideshow. (All photos by Jeff Malet)
View additional photos by clicking here.
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Hoyas Overpower Colgate for Homecoming Victory (photos)
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Georgetown defeated Colgate in a 40-17 Homecoming Football Victory on Saturday October 22 at Multi-Sport Field. The Hoyas have now won 6 games against only 2 losses and clinched a winning season record. The Colgate Red Raiders went to 4 and 4, but had won its previous 3 games. One of the stars was junior linebacker Robert McCabe of Newtown Square, Pa. who ran back an intercepted pass 50 yards for a touchdown and had a game high 15 tackles. Cornerback Jeremy Moore from New Haven, Conn. had seven tackles and two interceptions and blocked a punt. Senior placekicker Brett Weiss (Phoenix MD) made four field goals. The Hoyas, who came into the game with the nation’s tenth best rush defense, held the nation’s eighth best rushing offense to under half of its season average, while outrushing Colgate 162-121. Senior running back Wilburn Logan (Kingston, RI) led five Hoyas’ runners with 73 yards on 11 carries. Georgetown’s next home game will be against Fordham on Nov. 5 at Multi-Sport Field for Senior Day.

Click on the icons below for our slideshow. (All photos by Jeff Malet)

View additional photos by clicking here.
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Images from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dedication
• October 20, 2011

Thousands gathered in West Patomac Park under clear skies on Sunday October 16 to help dedicate the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The event was originally scheduled for August but had to be postponed due to Hurricane Irene. Click on the thumbnails below for our slideshow. (All photos by Jeff Malet).
View additional photos by clicking here.
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The United States Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Award
• October 6, 2011

The United States Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Award is given to Sea Service veterans who have excelled with distinction in their respective civilian careers while exemplifying the Navy core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.The 2011 award recipients will join an impressive list of men and women who have distinguished themselves by drawing upon their military experience to become successful in their subsequent careers and lives, while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.

This year’s recipients of the Lone Sailor Award
Beau Bridges—Actor, Director, Producer, United States Coast Guard Veteran
Jeff Bridges—Actor, Producer, United States Coast Guard Veteran
Lloyd Bridges (in-memoriam)—Actor, Producer, United States Coast Guard Veteran
Brian Lamb—Founder and Chief Executive Officer, C-SPAN, United States Navy Veteran
Jerry Coleman—Famed Major League Baseball Second Baseman and Broadcast Announcer, United States Marine Corps WWII and Korean War Combat Veteran
Bob Feller (in-memoriam)—Famed Major League Baseball Pitcher, United States Navy WWII Combat Veteran
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