Save The Date: Sunday April 6 Lantern Ceremony

NCSS and the National Park Service will jointly sponsor the 54th annual Stone Lantern Lighting and Concert outdoors on the Tidal Basin on Sunday, April 6 starting at 2:30 pm with prelude music by the Toho Koto Society of Washington, DC.  Five hundred chairs will be set up for the public on a first come, first seated basis and admission is free. Additional music will be provided by the Cardinal Choir.  The 8 and 1/2 tall two-ton Japansese Stone Lantern was carved 357 years ago in 1651 to honor the Third Shogun of the Tokugawa Period. It was given to Washington, DC in 1954. Public officials will offer brief remarks including the guest of honor, His Excellency, Ryozo Kato, the Ambassador of Japan to the United States.  The location is one block west of the Paddle Boat Dock at the west end of Kutz Bridge near the intersection of 17th and Independence Avenues, SW. The Lantern area is located about four blocks west of the Smithsonian Meto Station on the Orange and Blue lines.  Parking is very limited so Metro or taxi cab is the best option. The World War II Memorial is about sixty yards north of the Lantern on 17th Street and public restrooms are located there.