A Quiet Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

The Quiet Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

The Week Ahead…

There are no ANC or other community civic meetings scheduled for the week ahead.  Happy Holidays.

Some Photos from the Past Week

Union Station continues the tradition of erecting The Norwegian Christmas Tree – an annual gift from the people of Norway to the United States in thanks for assistance in WWII.  The tradition dates to 1997 and was proposed by then-Ambassador Tom Vraalsen.

The wreaths on the front of Union Station have become an iconic symbol of the season.

And here’s a reverse shot with the U.S. Capitol in the background.

At the Library of Congress, this year’s tree is on the balcony rather than on the main floor of the Great Hall.  Among the ornaments are small books which have the names of the states in their title. 

Around the base of the tree are books belonging to 14 of those who have served as Librarians of Congress.  Each book has been turned into a paper sculpture, with bundles of pages folded in a way that provides a surface upon which is displayed the names of the books’ owners.  Shown here are books owned by Librarians of Congress Boorstin and Billington.  The current Librarian is Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and the first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress. 

Attached to the books are examples of the liberty or Phrygian cap, symbolizing freedom.  It recurs throughout the Library of Congress Great Hall Space.  (According to Wikipedia, the Phrygian cap is a soft conical cap with the apex bent over which came to signify freedom and liberty first in the American Revolution and then in the French Revolution.) For timed entry passes, go here:  https://www.loc.gov/visit/