National Mall

MALL_08

People gather on the the grass on the National Mall in Washington to celebrate Independence Day. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

MALL_03

People stroll on the National Mall in Washington on Monday, July 4, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

MALL_02

People make their way from the L'Enfant Metro station en route to the National Mall on Monday, July 4, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

Deryk Jeter (left) plays catch with his 10-year-old son, Henry (right), while his 4-year-old daughter, Margaret, grabs onto his leg as they celebrate Independence Day on the National Mall in Washington on Monday, July 4, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

CANNON_04

Members of the Old Guard Presidential Salute Battery move a cannon into position on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sunday, July 3, 2011, in preparation for Monday's Fourth of July celebration. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

CANNON_03

This cannon will be fired by members of the Old Guard Presidential Salute Battery on the Fourth of July during celebrations at the U.S. Capitol and on the National Mall. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

CANNON_00

Members of the Old Guard Presidential Salute Battery move a cannon into position near the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sunday, July 3, 2011, in preparation for Monday's Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

folklife_0007

A Colombian music troupe performs as people dance to their tunes at the "Colombia: The Nature of Culture" exhibit of the 45th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. (Pratik Shah/The Washington Times)

folklife_0006

Handmade Colombian crafts and instruments are displayed for sale at the "Colombia: The Nature of Culture" exhibit of the 45th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. (Pratik Shah/The Washington Times)

folklife_0005

Colombian volunteers perform ceremonial music and dance at the "Colombia: The Nature of Culture" exhibit of the 45th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. (Pratik Shah/The Washington Times)

folklife_0004

A Colombian volunteer weaves a basket by hand in front of a crowd at the "Colombia: The Nature of Culture" exhibit of the 45th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. (Pratik Shah/The Washington Times)

folklife_0002

A drummer with the Colombian dance and music troupe performs at the "Colombia: The Nature of Culture" exhibit on opening day of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 30, 2011. (Pratik Shah/The Washington Times)

Palin_2#7.jpg

Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin holds hands with people gathered for Memorial Day weekend events on the National Mall in Washington on May 29, 2011. Palin rode to the mall from the Pentagon with motorcyclists in the traditional annual Rolling Thunder rally. (Associated Press)

Memorial_1238

From left, Helen Hassell, Pat Tyson and Judy Williams, wear their Civil War era clothing as they wait for the National Memorial Day Parade to start, near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Monday, May 30, 2011. The women are with the group "FREED" - Female Re-enactors of Distinction, from the African-American Civil War Memorial and Museum in D.C. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

Memorial_1234

At right, Steve Hinton of Preston County West Virginia, marches with the Maryland Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans before the start of the National Memorial Day Parade, near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Monday, May 30, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times) ** FILE **

Memorial_1231

Both student cadets at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Cape Cod, Doug Proctor, right, adjusts the nameplate on the uniform of Anthony Venterosa, left, before the National Memorial Day Parade, near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Monday, May 30, 2011. The group from the school had been here since Friday and spent the weekend taking in the monuments and museums. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

B3-National-Mall-GG-WEB.jpg

Illustration: National Mall by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times

kites_237

From left, Claire Tarallo, 5, Nora Tarallo, 3, and dad Brian Tarallo take a break from flying to eat lunch during the annual Kite Festival on the National Mall, in Washington, Sunday, April 10, 2011. The family is from Herndon, Va. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

kites_236

Claire Tarallo, 5, of Herndon, Va., walks with her Disney kite as she prepares to try to get it into the air during the annual Kite Festival on the National Mall, in Washington, Sunday, April 10, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

kites_234

Kaziah Hall of the West Indian American Kite Association prepares to launch a large kite into flight during the annual Kite Festival on the National Mall, in Washington, Sunday, April 10, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)