There’s something strangely peaceful about a place that once carried the full weight of a nation’s grief.When I turned through the gates of President Lincoln’s Cottage, I didn’t expect to find serenity. I expected formality, fences, and signs that said Do Not Enter. What I found instead was a quiet hilltop retreat — and the … Read more
Operation Iron Lantern — Arrival Zone When my plane touched down at Washington National, I thought the mission was just beginning. Turns out, it had already started centuries ago. Before the runways came Abingdon Plantation — a colonial estate buried beneath the airport’s asphalt. Some say the ground still remembers. Declassified with restrictions. The Arrival … Read more
Declassified with restrictions. The Launch Point Officially, I was on my way to a hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland.Unofficially, I had one stolen day, a heavy heart, and a covert objective: carve out a little space to breathe, sneak in time to explore, and begin the hunt for the historic Union Arch Bridge. Every operation needs … Read more