Veterans Commemorate 70th Anniversary of Allied Victory Over Imperial Japan at WWII Memorial (photos)
• September 8, 2015

On Sept. 2 1945, Imperial Japan formerly surrendered to the Allied Powers aboard the battleship USS Missouri, marking the end of World War II.

Exactly 70 years later, veterans of that global conflict gathered at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., for a solemn wreath-laying ceremony. The event was sponsored by the Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service. World War II veteran and former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole was the featured keynote speaker. Lt. Dole was badly wounded by German machine gun fire in Italy in 1945. During the ceremony, Dole joked that he was running for president in 2016.

Among those who participated in the wreath laying were Robert Kenneth Kaufman, 95, of McLean Virginia, who witnessed the surrender of Japan on the deck of the USS Missouri. Another wreath layer, Abe Levin saw service as a lieutenant in the Soviet Army. Andrew Henry Abugelis, 92, saw action on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, where he served as a plane handler. Bill Schrader, one of the youngest participants at age 89, was an Army Air Corps B-24 gunner serving in the Pacific. George Carroll, age 96, of Falls Church, Virginia, was a Coast Guard ensign aboard the USCG cutter Taney during the Battle of Okinawa, where he witnessed a Kamikaze pilot hit another ship close by his.

Ernest J. Yamartino, Sr., who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on June 14, 1944, is pictured proudly holding a photo of himself in uniform, age 19. He was involved in some of the heaviest fighting in Okinawa and was poised to take part in the invasion of Japan when he received news of the surrender. After the ceremony, Yamartino was surrounded by part of his extensive family of six children, 13 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Then, there was Frank B. Yanick, Sr. After graduating from high school in 1940, Yanick enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent five years on the USS Phoenix with a total of six years of service. Yanick participated in more than 25 different engagements, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Surigao Strait. Yanick’s initial duty on the Phoenix was the “trigger man” on a five-inch anti-aircraft battery.

The debt America owes to these and other members of “The Greatest Generation” is incalculable.

View our photos of the ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet). [gallery ids="102302,127449,127457,127465,127548,127491,127509,127516,127524,127532,127540,127553,127560,127483,127441,127431,127500,127339,127346,127372,127355,127569,127475,127380,127387,127396,127405,127413,127421,127363" nav="thumbs"]

Nishikori, Stephens and the Bryans Take Top Honors in Citi Open Tennis (Photos)
• August 17, 2015

Kei Nishikori of Japan overcame a strong field and the strongest server in the world, winning the Citi Opens Men’s Singles trophy on Sunday August 9 before a sellout crowd in Washington D.C. Nishikori prevailed over American John Isner in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. As a result of the win, Nishikori will move up to number 4 in the world rankings. In the women’s field, 22 year old Sloane Stephens (USA) won her very first tour-level win in 84 attempts, easily defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russian 6-1, 6-2. In men’s doubles action, top ranked brothers Mike and Bob Bryan defeated Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, the same team who beat the Bryans in the French Open final earlier this year. The 47th edition of this tournament was held at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center at Rock Creek Park between August 1-9, 2015.

View our action photos from courtside during the final days of the Citi Open by clicking on the photo icons below. For photos from the first part of the tournament, see our August 6 article. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="127810,127921,127929,127937,127944,127952,128144,128138,128131,128124,128116,127913,127905,127897,127818,127826,127834,127841,127850,127858,127866,127873,127881,127889,128108,128100,127988,127981,127974,128157,128151,127968,127801,127959,128033,127792,127995,128003,128011,128092,128084,128077,128069,128063,128056,128048,128041,128026,128019,102278" nav="thumbs"]

Andy Murray Makes Appearance at the Citi Open Tennis Tournament Draw Ceremony (photos)
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Andy Murray, ranked No. 3 among the world’s best tennis players, made an appearance at the Citi Open Tennis Tournament Draw Ceremony to kick off the 47th edition of the Nation’s Capital Tennis tradition on Woodrow Wilson Plaza in Washington, D.C., July 31. Murray, a two-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist, was joined by WTA star Coco Vandeweghe. Also in attendance were British Ambassador Peter Westmacott; Brandon Todd, District Councilmember representing Ward 4, which includes the tournament’s home, the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center; Donald Dell, Citi Open Co-Founder and Tournament Chairman; Eleni Rossides, President, Washington Tennis & Education Foundation; Jeff Newman, Citi Open Tournament Director; Greg O’Dell, President and CEO of Events DC; and Paul Thornell, Managing Director, Federal Government Affairs, Citi.

The Citi Open Tournament runs from Saturday, Aug. 1, through Sunday, Aug. 9. Single session/daily tickets and box seats are available for purchase at the tournament box office starting August 1 at 8 a.m. or at www.citiopentennis.com or by calling the tournament hotline at 202-721-9500.

See our photos from the Draw Ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below.

[gallery ids="102162,132866,132859,132901,132852,132881,132874,132889,132894,132842,132834,132789,132797,132773,132781,132805,132812,132818,132826,132907" nav="thumbs"]

Courtside at the Citi Open (photos)
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Boasting one of its strongest fields in years, the 47th edition of the Citi Open Tennis Tournament reached the midway point on Wednesday with several exciting matches. In addition to tennis action, the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center that surrounds William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Stadium plays host to family-oriented activities, including player meet and greets, autograph sessions and tennis clinics — not to mention an extensive food court. You can also listen to live commentary of events on center court on your own personal listening device supplied free of charge by Citibank.

The tournament runs through Sunday, Aug. 9. Single session-daily tickets and box seats are still available for purchase at the tournament box office, at CitiOpenTennis.com or by calling the tournament hotline at 202-721-9500.

View some of our action photos from courtside by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102270,128438,128432,128425,128417,128410,128404,128397,128390,128384,128376,128369,128362,128356,128349,128343,128445,128466,128281,128289,128337,128297,128460,128305,128321,128314,128506,128499,128453,128487,128492,128480,128473,128329" nav="thumbs"]

American History Museum Opens New Innovation Wing (photos)
• August 7, 2015

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History officially opened its new $63-million Innovation Wing to visitors with special ceremonies July 1. The first floor of the museum’s West Wing contains 12 exhibits across 45,000 square feet that explore the history of American business, featuring “hot spots” of American invention and ingenuity. The new wing also includes a new “Gallery of Numismatics,” featuring rarities from the Smithsonian’s famous coin and money collection. Opening day featured ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremonies, performances by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Quintet and the construction of a nine-foot high American flag sculpture by Lego Master Builders. Younger visitors also participated in hands-on activities in the Draper Spark!Lab.

View our photos from the Grand Opening of the New Innovation Wing by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102130,133675,133671,133667,133663,133659,133655,133651,133647,133643,133639,133635,133631,133627,133679,133683,133725,133619,133728,133719,133722,133715,133711,133707,133703,133699,133695,133691,133687,133623" nav="thumbs"]

A Star-Spangled Fourth in Photos
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Soggy weather and security concerns did not deter the hundreds of thousands who gathered in Washington D.C. on July 4 dressed in red, white and blue as our nation celebrated its 239th birthday. A massive fireworks display and the annual PBS concert from the Capitol lawn drew additional audiences from around the country. View our photos of the fireworks over the National Mall, the National Independence Day Parade, the PBS “A Capitol Fourth” concert, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="133526,133503,133495,133486,133479,133470,133462,133453,133445,133437,133510,133612,133557,133533,133589,133597,133609,133603,133581,133573,133549,133565,133429,133421,133415,133326,133318,133310,133301,133293,133285,133277,133257,133268,133334,133342,133351,133406,133398,133391,133383,133368,133376,133518,133541,133358,102133" nav="thumbs"]

Costumes Galore: Awesome Con Is Out of This World (photos)
• June 12, 2015

Not too long ago, Washington, D.C., was without a comic-con of its own. Then came along Awesome Con in April 2013 which operated in a few small halls in a corner of the Walter Washington Convention Center in D.C. Now in its third year, Awesome Con proved truly awesome with tens of thousands of attendees, a huge exhibition hall plus added space on two additional floors. From May 29 to 31, guests at this Awesome Con included William Shatner and George Takei from “Star Trek,” Sean Astin of “Lord of the Rings,” James Marsters of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and WWE World Champion Seth Rollins. There were also panels, artists, contests and even sci-fi speed dating. But the real showstoppers were the many who attended dressed as their favorite comic book and sci-fi characters — an activity now known as “cosplay,” a sort of blend on the words “costume” and “play” — which we were able to photograph and which you can enjoy by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet). [gallery ids="134174,134107,134103,134099,134095,134091,134087,134083,134079,134075,134071,134067,134063,134059,134055,134051,134111,134115,134171,134180,134167,134163,134159,134155,134151,134147,134143,134139,134135,134131,134127,134123,134119,134047,134043,134039,133967,133963,133959,133955,133951,133947,133943,133939,133935,133931,133927,133923,133919,134177,133915,133971,133975,134035,134031,134027,134023,134019,134015,134011,134007,134003,133999,133995,133991,133987,133983,133979,102094" nav="thumbs"]

Ford’s Theatre Hosts Tribute to Lincoln on 150th Anniversary of Assassination (photos)
• May 11, 2015

Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil in front of Ford’s Theatre and a wreath-laying ceremony on the steps of the Petersen House commemorating the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s death on April 15, 1865.

Many persons were dressed in authentic period costume. Speakers included Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and James Swanson, author of “Manhunt: the 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer.” Actor David Selby recited “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman. Musical performances and the playing of taps were provided by the Federal City Brass Band. Sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier also participated. The candlelight vigil started on April 14 at 10:15 p.m., the moment of the 1865 assassination. The wreath-laying ceremony started at 7:22 a.m., the next day, at the time of Lincoln’s death. Ford’s Theatre is owned by the U.S. National Park Service and is located at 514 10th St. NW, Washington D.C.

View our photos of the April 14-15 candlelight vigil and April wreath-laying ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below (all photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="134678,134652,134650,134648,134646,134644,134642,134640,134638,134654,134656,134658,134676,134674,134672,134670,134668,134664,134662,134660,134636,134634,134632,134608,134606,134604,134602,134600,134682,134680,134683,134610,134612,134614,134630,134628,134626,134624,134622,134620,134618,134616,102050" nav="thumbs"]

Folger Shakespeare Library Celebrates the Bard’s 451st Birthday in Grand Style (photos)
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The Folger Shakespeare Library celebrated William Shakespeare’s 451st birthday with its traditional open house on Sunday, April 19, with a full day of Shakespeare-related activities for one and old alike — stage combat demonstrations, juggling jesters, and Elizabethan crafts. Visitors were invited to recite their favorite Shakespeare lines from the Folger Stage and try on their favorite Elizabethan costumes. The day ended with the cutting of the cake by none other than Queen Elizabeth I, and the singing of “Happy Birthday Will Shakespeare”.

The Folger Shakespeare Library is located on Capitol Hill at 201 E Capitol St. SE in Washington D.C. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

View our photos from the event by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102052,134593,134592,134588,134586,134584,134582,134580,134578,134576,134574,134572,134570,134568,134566,134562,134564,134590" nav="thumbs"]

Activists Assemble as Supreme Court Considers Same-Sex Marriage (photos)
• May 4, 2015

Thousands of supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage gathered in front of the steps of the United States Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. on Tuesday April 28, 2015 as the Court heard arguments on four cases that could make same-sex marriage legal throughout the country. The cases are from four states with gay marriage bans – Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

View our photos from the scene by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet). [gallery ids="134456,134432,134430,134428,134426,134424,134422,134420,134418,134434,134436,134438,134454,134452,134450,134448,134446,134444,134442,134440,134416,134414,134412,134388,134386,134384,134382,134380,134378,134376,134457,134390,134392,134394,134410,134408,134406,134404,134402,134400,134398,134396,102069" nav="thumbs"]