3
George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Washington DC, USA. 5.47am
Maria Estes loved this time of day, when the streets were empty enough to walk freely, before tourists with clumsy maps thronged the city. As she walked, she gave thanks to God for her family and for America, for the new life she had here and for her job.
She loved being part of the cleaning team for the Memorial. It made her feel connected to this land, where immigrants just like her had come to try and build something better for their lives. Although it wasn’t one of the most high profile monuments in Washington, it was still visited by tourists every day and she loved to think of her efforts being part of their experience.
Those who traveled out to the suburb of Alexandria were certainly devoted to learning
