More Capitol Hill History... At our Spaghetti Dinner Saturday night, Alice Norris, friend of the Mantels and the Connollys, Christ Church representative on the Congressional Cemetery Association Board of Directors, and loyal member of the Chorale audience year in and year out, asked if we would post the following about the upcoming 200th celebration of an interesting facet of Capitol Hill History.  Formed by wealthy landowners and deeded over to Christ Church, Congressional Cemetery was the Washington Burial Ground in the early days of our government, and often referred to as America's Westminster Abbey, because of the number of well known statesmen (and a few states women) interred there in the early days of the Republic.  John Maxim and Marian Connolly were incorporators of the Congressional Cemetery Association, which now runs the cemetery.  A walk  through the cemetery with docents is a walk through this nation's and the District's history.  Here's the info provided by Ms. Norris --

Come celebrate Congressional Cemetery’s Bicentennial Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The official kick-off parade at 10:00 am will be led by Dolley Madison and friends in a carriage and include an all forces Color Guard, a high school band and cemetery docents and volunteers.

There will be docent-led tours highlighting the Civil War and local and national historic figures, bands, drills by War of 1812 reenactors, hands-on stone carving, tree-planting, more bands, stone preservation work, and many more activities.

This is your city and your Nation’s history.  Do come and enjoy it! Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E Street, SE, Washington, DC   202-543-0539