My Grandmother’s service at Arlington National Cemetery was soon after July 4th, so John and I decided to add a few days to our trip to Virginia and check out July 4th from the National Mall. It was record breaking heat and a TON of people, but well worth it. We hadn’t been since we were kids and enjoyed checking out the Smithsonian and the fireworks were some of the best we’ve ever seen. EVER. We watched them from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.