The Hospitality Suite

I’m in DC. I flew here yesterday to meet up with Bob who is here with Afghanistan’s Minister of Defense for high level meetings. We are in a really nice hotel on the top floor with a lot of security. That means cameras and people in suits with ear pieces and badges. It’s so cool.

There is a hospitality suite on our floor with awesome food. Last night, I kept going back for more and felt a little foolish knowing that the camera caught every trip. The jumbo shrimp were so good, but only two on a plate. So, I wasn’t really a big hog, but you can only stack those plates so high. I think if I were sitting there doing security, I would take bets on people like me and how many trips they make and how many plates they take on each trip. “Yep, there goes Room 1818 again, she thinks because she’s wearing a scarf and sunglasses that we don’t recognize her.”

This morning, the Minister of Defense laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. We convoyed there in three black SUVs with police lights on them. There were also a couple of sedans with security that were in the entourage. We had police escort into Arlington Cemetery. It was incredible to drive through Washington and stop traffic. Tourists stopped and stared.

As we entered the Cemetery, there was a 21 gun cannon salute. It filled the hills with smoke. It gave me goose bumps. Then we parked and filed out to the tomb behind three Honor Guard soldiers who led us with the Afghan flag. These soldiers were so thin (maybe I need to take them to the hospitality suite) and they moved fluidly as one. There was an area that was reserved for us, and tourists were snapping pictures. There were troops representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, they looked so sharp. The Army band played the Afghan National Anthem followed by our National Anthem.

The wreath was laid. Then there was a drum roll and taps was played. Then we left and went to the 9-11 Memorial. It is a really symbolic memorial. Benches with the names of those killed that are arranged by their date of birth. The first bench represented a baby who was on the plane and the last bench was of a retired Navy Captain who was born in 1930. The benches representing those killed on the plane face in one direction and the benches of those killed in the Pentagon face the other direction.

It was a very moving morning where I thought a lot about how 9-11 changed our lives. And now I’m back in the hotel room wondering what little snacks are out in the hospitality suite.