It was a chilly, clouding afternoon when our group arrived in Washington, D.C. The first thing I noticed were the half-staffed flags of the United States and flags of its states and territories in front of Union Station. We boarded the “duck,” basically a boat on wheels, and I inquired to the captain about the flags. By presidential decree, President Barack Obama had ordered all flags in federal buildings to be at half-staff to honor the innocent lives lost in the Oregon shooting which happened in October, a couple of days before. The captain seemed to know many details regarding the capital city. The tour was brief and did not delve into deep details, but it was perfect for the first-timer, as it progressed through most of the major monuments
