Five for Fighting singer: Booted from Jefferson Memorial

John Ondrasik | USATODAY

While in our nation's capital on Sunday, I decided to take a jog through the National Mall. Before mile 4, I would be bounced from the Jefferson Memorial.

My first stop was the World War II Memorial. Though most barricades were still up, I passed easily by a smiling park ranger, various politicians getting their photo ops and then joined the hundreds of veterans and tourists inside. What an honor, shaking a Greatest Generation veteran's hand.

As I continued running, I was weaving through angry tourists trying to egg a bit more out of their cameras' zoom lenses as they struggled to get a decent picture of the Lincoln Memorial from behind the barricades. Uncle Abe's brow seemed a bit more furrowed.

I continued jogging left toward the Jefferson Memorial. HALT! Road Closed! The sign -- "Because of the Federal Government SHUTDOWN, (Yes it was in caps.) All National Parks Are CLOSED. (Yes it was in bold font.)" Suspiciously tailored for a media photo op? Nah … My shoes must be too tight, I thought.

After two failed attempts at rehydrating I discovered that even the drinking fountains are shut down. As bikers and runners cruised past me and the sign, down to the Jefferson Memorial I loped.

A couple girls hopped the barricades to get a pic and, though I was a bit hesitant, I remembered those WWII memorial barricades covered in wheel chair tracks. Over I went and the fun began! Under the gaze of Mr. Jefferson's statue, I was forcibly removed by a police officer who seemed to enjoy pushing me down Sir Tom's steps.

As someone who has done many benefit concerts for the police, I fully understand that the cops are in a no-win position here, but this gentleman's tone was illuminating. When I asked him why at some open air monuments it's OK to cross barricades and some it's not, he replied, "That's their problem." When I queried, "Why do you have to push me when I'm leaving anyways?" He replied, "It's quicker this way."

No matter my pleas for him to take his hand off me while I'm exiting, I was basically bounced from the Jefferson Memorial! He did offer to move the barricade so I wouldn't have to jump over it.

Oh well, I got my 5 miles in and learned something about government spite and political theater along the way. I'm just sad the Founding Fathers had to see it, too.

John Ondrasik is the singer/songwriter of Five For Fighting .