Maine Wreaths Put at Headstones In Arlington Cemetery

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14--“Doesn’t it make you proud just to be from Maine,” Diane Peva asked a total stranger as she wiped away tears from under her glasses. Realizing they were both wearing sweatshirts embroidered with the state name, the two embraced. (By Lauren Smith)

Collins
Actress Joan Collins spoke at the National Press Club about aging in society and Hollywood’s attitudes towards aging actors. Actress Lynda (cq) Carter, who played Wonder Woman, listened as Joan Collins spoke. Carter, who was born in 1951, continues to acts in movies and television. Collins, born in 1933, kept the audience laughing with jokes about her life, her three-decades-younger husband, and her work.

Carolyn Russo
Carolyn Russo the photographer of the National Air and Space Museum takes a moment to have a seat on her desk in the upper floors of the Museum. Behind her are photos of her sons Max and Jack and of her husband Robert Craddock, who also works for the museum as a geologist.

Looks through her prints of her "In Plane View,” in which she photographed pieces from the collection up close with her Hasselblad film camera.

Lines up a shot in the entry area of the museum called "Milestones of Flight" with her Hasselblad film camera that she uses for some of her work such as her recent work with the collection "In Plane View.” She also uses digital when it is more appropriate.

The vehicle behind her is Mercury "Friendship 7.” (Space capsule)

The vehicle behind her is Bell X-1 "Glamorous Glenn’s.” (Orange plane)

Court Abortion
Many protesters came to the speak, and not speak front of the Supreme Court in Washington across from the Capitol as Justices were inside hearing arguments on partial birth cases.

Drag Race
Scores of men dressed as women came out for the annual drag race near Washington’s Dupont Circle. After close to an hour of parading up and down the blocked off street as hundreds of bystanders yelled for their favorites and snap photos, the contestants lined up and ran to the end of the street. Among them, one lost a shoe, show with Princess Diana and entourage, assorted candy was represented, a group of dirty nurses were present and some just went for the classic drag queen look.

Maine Day at the National Cathedral
November 12th 2006 was Maine State Day at the National Cathedral in Washington. Groups from all over Maine including Portland, Rockport, Fort Kent, and Bangor came to have a private breakfast, hear the service, and have a private tour of the Cathedral. The entire group sat in seats right in front of the Minister and Reverends.

A Maine Flag flies in the upper portion of the Nave, or main floor of the Cathedral, along 49 other state flags, the George Washington family crest flag, and the American Flag. A second flag will remain behind one of the pulpits for the remainder of the week. Only once every four years does the state get a large celebration.

Two girl scouts of the Maine Kennebee Council troupes entertain themselves following the service at the Cathedral in which they were oblation bearers.

The Right Reverend Chilton Knudsen, the Episcopal Bishop for the Diocese of Maine lead the service, bows her head with others in the breakfast before the service and gave blessings following the service.

Carl Bouchard, the president of the Maine State Society, and his wife Janet Bouchard from Fort Kent ME, who were oblation bearer in the service, look around at the St. John's Chapel.

The DCCC
At the Election Night Watch Party Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill hosted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Nancy Pelosi (D 8th-CA), celebrate leading up to and after the prediction that the Democrats will take the majority.

Perry
Sheriffs from all over Texas came with Governor Rick Perry to Washington to discuss funding for boarder patrol programs and their effectiveness

Portraits of Class’s Profile subjects:
NHpage Kaitlyn story by Kendra Gilbert
Kaitlyn Funk(cq), a page appointed by Rep. Jeb Bradley (cq) (R-1st NH) for the 2004 summer session, visits her former work place. Kaitlyn, a George Washington University student from Manchester, New Hampshire, thought it was a "great experience" and occasionally comes back to Capitol Hill to have lunch with other former pages.

NH Fellow Eggers story by Kendra Gilbert
Navy Lt. Commander Jeffery Eggers, a white house fellow from Exeter New Hampshire stands in front of the south side entrance of the white house. He works across the street in the Eisenhower Executive Office building.

MYTHS story by Katie Geyer
In the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum in Washington D.C. down the street from the White House houses a number of artifacts from the Worcester area especially in the Massachusetts room shown here. In the corner stands a grandfather clock made in Oakham by William Crawford between 1790-1820. Patrick Sheary, is originally from Worcester but now lives in D.C. and works as the Curator of Furnishings for the DAR museum.

Islamic Center:
The Islamic Center in Washington D.C. is central part of many D.C. Muslims, but for different reasons. For some it is a place to gather with friends and family for prayer and special events. For others it is a place of conflict and protest. In 1983 the Iman, or leader of the Islamic Center was no longer allowed hold his position or to enter the Center because of a suspicion of arms being held in the IC, and possibly his strong political beliefs. Since that day in August, he and his followers have held every Jumu’ah or Friday prayers on the sidewalk across from the Center rain or shine.

Air Force Memorial
The dedication of the National Air Force Memorial took place in Arlington Virginia on Saturday October 14.

Of the three spires reaching into the sky the tallest of the spires in 270 feet. All three can be seen from miles around. Planes from a number of eras flew above the memorial with the climax of the Thunderbirds doing a “bomb blast” maneuver, which was the inspiration of the sculpture. President Bush attended and spoke about his experiences as a pilot. In addition, the model for the four Color Guard airmen statue was on hand with his four-year-old sun for photos.

The United States Air Force Memorial was dedicated to the men and women are currently serving, who will in the future, who served in the past and the 54,000 who died in service to their country. The three steel spires of the memorial that reach up into the sky are reminiscent of the “Bomb Burst” maneuver that six thunderbirds demonstrated for a crowd.

Terri Schiavo Memorial Statue
Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schiavo who died as a result of her feeding tube being removed over a year and a half ago, reacts as he looks over to the model of a memorial statue commissioned by the National Pro-life Action Center in memory of his sister. Behind him, his parents Mary and Robert Schindler were there for the unveiling of the model. The sculpture was also there to express his emotions and motivations on the design of the memorial that still has no definite home.

Flags
Anyone in America can go on their Congressman’s website and request that an American Flag be bought, flown on the roof of the Capitol building, and mailed to them. The people in Keene New Hampshire wanted to know more. The Flag office, who organizes the operation and the Labor Department who flies the flags work together to fly close to 100,000 flags a year.

Tom Thomson
Tom Thomson, a tree farmer from Orford (CQ) New Hampshire is an avid opponent of what he calls the “view tax”, an additional assessment value added to the taxable cost of the house. This tax, Thomson believes is unfair because it is on something intangible and uncontrollable by the homeowner. It is also a subjective view that cannot be adequate quantified.

Congressional Mail
Rep James McGovern (D-3rd MA) and Rep. John Olver (D-1st MA) both receive a lot of mail every day. Every letter, email, and fax is read and responded to by their staff. Though the letters may not change the rep’s mind, they have an impact. The how-to guide for writing your congressmen was front page for the Telegram and Gazette.

President Bush for Cox Newspapers
President Bush speaks at the Mariott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. about the progress of the war on terror and the roll of reservists in the military.

Relay for Life
Sen. Joseph Leiberman (D-CT) speaks to Ambassadors from Connecticut after signing the Cancer promise to support legislation that grants money
for cancer research. Delegates from all over Maine came to the Relay for Life to express their opinions to their representatives. They also were a popular group with the other delegates because of their upbeat attitude and their free lobster-themed Marti Gras Necklaces. Many people asked how much they were and were pleased to here they were free.

Diabetes Hearing, September 27, 2006
Aiden Sweeney and his mother Caroline Sweeney spoke in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee about new advances in artificial Pancreas research because Aiden has diabetes and has since he was 20 months old.

Immigrants for Kennedy
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) moderated a press conference on immigration issues including a visiting worker program, regulation of visas, and the religious obligations implied by caring for your neighbors. Others in attendance were Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA), Sen. John McCain (R-AK) and numerous religious leaders from many faiths.

MIA POW Story, September 15, 2006
Margarete (CQ) Holm, widow of Army Capt. Arnold Holm of Waterford Conn. Met Marine Gen. Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the 2006 National POW/MIA Recognition day ceremony outside the Pentagon. Rep. Rob Simmons (R-2nd CT) was a guest speaker at the event and was instrumental in the successful effort that recently found the crash site of Capt. Holm’s helicopter in Vietnam.

Cops in a line:

Metropolitan Police officers relax an hour before the Iranian Prime Minister exits his speech at the National Cathedral. There were hundreds of officers at the event blocking streets, controlling protesters and securing escape routes in case of an incident.