The Presidents

Thursday, 8/26

Another perfect weather day with a special evening treat.  But first, we attend a time share type of presentation that allowed us to stay at this park for almost nothing for three days.  Give the nice man $7,000 and annual "maintenance" fees and our two kids and their kids can travel the world forever so cheaply that we should be ashamed of ourselves for not shouting "YES, WE WILL!".  So, you guessed it.  We're ashamed.

Back to major housekeeping so that we can enter Nebraska without being quarantined by the health department for six months.  Late afternoon and ... off to Mt. Rushmore National Memorial.  Most visitor view the massive, mountainside sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, T. Roosevelt and Lincoln during the day. 

Five Retired Presidents

We chose to pay our respects as the sun was setting, and to participate in the evening ceremony.  Included:  Patriotic music, a memorable and meaningful speech by the park ranger, beautiful movie of the creation of the memorial, including the reasons for choosing these four presidents, and the finale after dark ... the lighting of the sculptures.  Unplanned, but exciting, was the slow procession of large white mountain goats up the path and through the rubble remaining below the presidents' faces.

Concluding was the request for all military veterans to proceed to the amphitheatre stage.  It was most touching to see so many slowly make their way through the audience to the stage, accompanied by constant applause.  Six volunteered to lower the flag, fold it properly and present it to the ranger. 

This evening (with an almost full moon), and the evening rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir are the two best planned events experienced on this trip to date. 

Tomorrow?  We leave the Rapid City/Mt. Rushmore area for a day and overnight at the Wild Horse Sanctuary in the very southwestern corner of South Dakota, a state that has developed a special fondness in us.