CAPTURED MOMENTS

Logan Sapphire
423 carats
Sri lanka
Among the world's largest-known faceted blue sapphires, this extraordinary stone is the heaviest mounted gem in the Nationl Gem Collection. It is framed by 20 diamonds totaling 16 carats. The donor wore this brooch as a shoulder pin.

History of the Area: (http://www.stateparks.com/fort_washington.html)
The first Fort Washington was completed in 1809 and guarded the Nation's Capital until it was destroyed by its own garrison in 1814. Twelve days later Major Pierre L'Enfant was sent to construct new defenses but worked on the fort for only a brief period before Lieutenant Colonel Walker K. Armistead replaced him. The fort was completed on October 2, 1824. Extensive remodeling was performed in the 1840s and the first guns were mounted in 1846. The masonry fort was occupied by soldiers from the First, Third and Fourth U.S. Artillery during its early history. Except for a few guns at the Washington Arsenal, Fort Washington was the only defense for the Nation's Capital until the Civil War when a circle of temporary forts was built around the city. Battery Rogers and Fort Foote were the only seacoast forts in the system and armed with large Rodman and Parrott cannons. Fort Washington was garrisoned as the outer defense for the city. Companies of the First and Fourth Artillery as well as numerous state artillery units passed through the post during the war. In 1872 the garrison was removed and additional property purchased to construct a new defense system. Funds for the project were withdrawn and the post was abandoned for the next twenty years. A new defense system, consisting of rifled steel guns in concrete emplacements was authorized in 1886 and work began at Fort Washington in 1891. The next year ground was broken for Battery B, later named Battery Decatur and the guns were mounted in 1896. Eventually eight concrete batteries at Fort Washington and four at Fort Hunt made up the Potomac Defense Command. Prior to World War I Fort Washington was downgraded to harbor defense and the large guns removed. During the war the post was used as a staging area for troops being sent to France. The 8th Provisional Artillery Battalion was organized at the post and sent to France where they became the 53rd Railroad Artillery Regiment. After the war the 3rd Battalion 12th Infantry moved in and became the ceremonial unit for the Military District of Washington. In 1939 the post was abandoned and turned over to the Director of Public Buildings for use as a terminal point for a bridge across the Potomac and a parkway to be built along the shore. Before the transfer was complete the United States entered World War II. Fort Washington was returned to the army and became the home of the Adjutant General's School. After the war the Veterans Administration managed the post hospital and other government agencies occupied some of the buildings. In 1946 Fort Washington returned to the Department of the Interior. Advertise your park related business on stateparks.com:...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc.

How does it affect Alexandria? (http://alexandriava.gov/recreation/info) Jones Point Park is approximately 65 acres in size. The property is and will remain owned, maintained and operated by the National Park Service as land of the US Department of Interior. The National Park Service managed and implemented the park design process for Jones Point Park. The process integrated significant public input and included an Environmental Assessment/National Environmental Protection Act process. In June, 2005, Alexandria City Council voted to support National Park Service proposed action Alternative 4A and the National Park Service subsequently accepted that plan-which is now being implemented and will be constructed. Alternative 4A includes significant constructed features including: historic interpretation of the finishing pier/craneway and shipway, renovation of the Jones Point lighthouse, preservation and historic interpretation of the DC cornerstone, a historic site interpretive pedestrian/bike trails, multi-use fields, event lawn, playground and tot-lot, play courts, comfort station, 110 parking spaces, preservation of existing native species and wetlands and natural areas, removal of invasive plant species and replacement with native plant species.

• Community Gardens presently in the Park are on Federal land and will remain under jurisdiction of NPS. The City will not schedule or maintain athletic fields or other facilities such as the playground. These facilities will be used on a first-come/first-serve basis, similar to Daingerfield Island and Gravelly Point and maintained and operated by NPS.

• The Jones Point Lighthouse will receive renovation work coincident with construction associated with Jones Point Park. The work will be dedicated to interior and exterior improvements.

Construction at Jones Point Park will be undertaken consistent with the Federal Highway Administration Record of Decision of June, 2000. The entire Jones Point Park will not be closed to public access during construction. The Royal Street Community Gardens, the Lee Street Community Gardens, the Mount Vernon Trail and the Community Recycling Center will have continuous public access. Construction of the desired improvements will be undertaken expeditiously while maintaining public safety. Public access to some portions of the park will be temporarily/intermittently closed while improvements are being made. Elements included as a part of the park work encompass an extensive area and while under construction, cannot be used for their intended purpose. For example, heavy construction activities will include pile driving, earth moving, trenching for pipes and utilities. These actions require the use of large construction equipment such as heavy lift cranes, loaders, dump trucks, earth moving equipment, etc. Some of the work also has time-of-year restrictions. In order to provide an efficient construction process, much of the work is heavily dependent upon linear and potentially concurrent construction sequencing.

The fascinating nature of man's brain is wonderfully woven to conquer the mysteries of the universe through NASA's air & space program... Kaya tayo na sa VIRGINIA 2011 at malasin ang lahat ng ito. Sorry Noh was absent during the NASA trip she was still snoring.

The "Changing of the Guard" was a vital part of our JOURNEY on July 9, 2011. It is in this endeavor that Valor, Dignity, Heroism, Courage, Bravery, Patriotism, and Freedom are re-enacted to remind us of what AMERICA is all about...

We're so tired homeward bound to James and Inday's residence. . also very hungry. Can't wait to eat MACKEREL inun-unan and ulo ng SALMON na sinigang. . . .

As you can see on our way to the car we decided to stop and choose a space for our house and lot when we get there beyond the universe. . . Here it is! Inday is taking the picture.

On the way home to Waldorf Maryland... As the sun goes down, I took a picture of this Glorious SUNSET. I reflected on the significance of this rare moment. . . . Even the sun knows that the 10th reunion of NDGSC-AA is coming. . . . to VIRGINIA in 2011; in a hurry to rise again...inviting . . . enticing NOTRE DAMEANS all over the world to come and join the event!!!!

How would you like to touch and shake OBAMA's hand or stare at him eye to eye? Don't you know that NOH is crazy in love with him??? She's really GAGA about him...

JESS, isn't it wonderful to have the BEST NDGSC-World in "VIRGINIA 2011: NOTRE DAME SPIRIT REVIVAL" on June 23-26, 2011? The burden of handling such a load of work for the reunion 2011 is worth it. Working for or with wonderful people makes a lot of difference, and the key to make everything successful is TEAMWORK. . . . . As DAMEANS Notre Dame of General Santos City provided us with effective education that reinforces our lifelong Notre Dame values of FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE. Moreover, the DAMEANS freely reinforce the role that NOTRE DAME Education plays in improving the lives of people and freely share that learning is universal and must be a common goal of all nations-rich or poor. These are clearly embodied in our ideals. Awareness of these ideals and its relevance to NDGSCAA-WORLD to promote better realization of its goals- camaraderie, sharing, and service for others, among others; "After a long, tedious effort for a year and another more year" let us finally make VA 2011: NOTRE DAME Spirit Revival, an astounding success on June 23-26, 2011.
By Babe Bagares ( Message from the Committee)