Pope Benidict XVI is just down the street - where the arrival ceremony is underway on the south lawn of White House this morning. They are saying it's one of the largest ceremonies ever conducted at the White House. There were piccalo players dressed in old school outfits, opera singers doing "Ave Maria" (soprano Kathleen Battle), a choir singing "Glory Glory Halalujah" as the entire audience waved little American flags, a 21 gun salute and lots of trumpet players. They also sang "Happy Birthday!" - it's the Pope's 81st b-day today. With so many people on the White House lawn this morning, you'd think there would be traffic backed up into Virginia, but somehow I got to work just fine. Maybe because today is also Emancipation Day?
For those interested:
The municipality mof Washington, D.C., celebrates April 16 as Emancipation Day. On that day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia. The Act freed about 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia nine months before President Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation which presaged the eventual end of slavery to the rest of the nation. The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act represents the only example of compensation by the federal government to former owners of emancipated slaves.
It also means that Jason has the day off. Whoo hoo!
It just seems like there's almost too much pomp and observance for one day! They should spread it out a little.
Which reminds me. Did you see this commercial for the Discovery Channel. It's my favorite!
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