Blossoms gather in front of the World Bank to protest free trade.

A dash of pink on the South Lawn.

A peek at the Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin.

An amazing monument.

The World War II Memorial is almost complete and open to the public. It's glorious, tremendous and arguably the most beautiful monument in the Washington area. It's scope and size reflect the massive sacrifice that it represents.

"Victory in the Air," surrounded by eagles in the Pacific wing of the monument.

These are all snaps for my grandfather and namesake, who died in the Pacific theater as a fighter pilot off the second USS Lexington in 1944. William Martin shot down 4 Japanese planes and received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor before dying in an ill-fated crash. This monument has the effect that all great monuments should - it filled me with pride and sadness about the sacrifice made by my family and country.

The Atlantic wing of the monument.

Some color and irony, as Sweden's represenative to the Cherry Blossom Festival poses in front of the Ancient Japanese Stone Lantern and military personnel display the colors at the 2004 Lantern Lighting Ceremony.

A gift from Japan presented in 1954, the lantern is 353 years old. This year's ceremony also marked the 150th anniversary of the first treaty between the United States and Japan. The ceremony took place literally 50 yards from the monument to the War in the Pacific, and as I mentioned earlier, it's amazing how things change. Two thoughts sprung to mind:

1. Lord Palmerston's Axiom: nations have no permanent allies, only permanent interests.
2. These countries have moved on from the animosity generated by a World War and two nuclear detonations. There may be a sliver of hope for humanity.

Musicians perform traditional Sakura music and a Japanese choir sings under the canopy.

Amazing. Spring, cherry blossoms in full bloom, an awe-inspiring memorial and a ceremony of friendship between Japan and the United States. Sometimes Washington, DC is a great place to live.