Hey fellow Hubbers. If there is one thing I know about each of you, it's that you love to write, as do I. At least I know that you either like to write or that you are willing to write in order to get some message across. I fall into the first category, though. I like words. I like trying to fit them together in a way that as Samuel Johnson once said, "Makes new things familiar and familiar things new." It's a fascinating challenge, and more to the point, something I can't help but attempt.

This interest is partly what led to my current job working with a student travel company, writing scripts, articles and blogs surrounding their various educational tours and specifically the attractions most popular for students.

I feel lucky to have a job that so thoroughly incorporates writing, something I would call my hobby or even my dream. But so often, don't we reserve our passion for the hobbies only? And give only a part of ourselves to the job?

Imagine my thrill recently when my efforts toward the job and my passion for writing collided in a beautiful lesson from a war memorial.

(Photo by jimbrickett on Flickr)

I learned about the National World War II Memorial just before making the video above.

It is beautifully positioned at one end of the reflective pool between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. It has several parts: The Freedom Wall with raised stars representing the American soldiers who gave their lives in the second World War, fountains, statues, and pillars representing the states and commonwealths of the United States and the oceans they rest between.

What strikes me about each of the monuments and memorials throughout Washington D.C. is the thought put into every aspect of their journey to existence.

The design for each of them - the Vietnam and Korean War memorials, the presidential memorials, as well as this one - is a study in artistry. They are buit with the surrounding terrain in mind, the surrounding man-made structures, the reflective power of their materials. All of these aspects are considered along with how best to represent the subject at hand.

Already you begin to see how I was inspired. Of course the presidential monuments commemorate history. Of course the war memorials provoke a look at current events. But who knew so many subjects could be highlighted and discussed at one national monument? Art, history, current events, government and democracy, the American spirit, architecture and design, landscaping - they're all there. All of those subjects were not only required for the final product, but were applied with passion.

Besides the beautiful design and thoughtful inclusion for the various aspects of the World War II Memorial, I was especially struck by just a few words engraved on a plaque nearby.

It explains beautifully the position for this landmark between the Washington Monument and Lincoln memorial, how the location was chosen, and how much it meant.

"Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and one the ninteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice."

If you are a writer, perhaps you can see what I do - how the composer of this poignant paragraph put every ounce of their passion into describing not just the importance of this memorial but how even its geography tells its story.

I was researching student travel. And indeed, this kind of education - this kind of inspiration that begs for further discovery and greater passion - is exactly what student travel is for. The historic sites and national landmarks throughout our country are full of gems like this - unlimited potential for the kind of inspiration that leads to tomorrow's history makers, its artists, writers, scientists, designers, world leaders, educators and inventors.

Look for inspiration wherever you are, and put passion into everything you do. You never know who may be impacted in the future.