Day 1 saw us in New London, CT where we visited my mom's alma mater (Connecticut College) and the US Coast Guard Academy (my dad served in the USCG, but didn't attend the Academy.)
I kind of felt bad for the USCG. The museum had a major theme...." we do really great work, but most people don't appreciate us compared to the other services."
Which is probably true, on both fronts. The museum was great. We definitely don't appreciate the USCG as much as we could and my kids who are "Hamilton" fans were thrilled to know that it was Hamilton who started the forefather to the USCG, the "Revenue Cutter Service."
From there, we headed to Newport, RI and the oldest synagogue in North America, the Touro Synagogue.
During these troubling times, it was really powerful and inspiring to appreciate the history of Rhode Island, the only colony founded 100% based on religious tolerance.
The synagogue also has a special place in history because of George Washington's famous letter to the congregation in 1790 and the words which resonate particularly strongly today.
For happily the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
We're headed (a bit back-tracking) to New Haven (will check out Yale) and then off to Springfield, MA and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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