The longest day of the trip is done! Luckily, the weather was in our favor, especially if you enjoy sunny, hot and humid. The students powered through the uphill walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery in order to observe the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Our tour guide, Bob McRae, is a wealth of knowledge about Washington, D.C. and our nation's history.
We had a very nice lunch at the Capitol building and then went on a guided tour. Although we didn't spot any living politicians, we made sure to stop by the statues of former Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop and Mr. Cormier's favorite, William Jennings Bryan. Despite a brief 30 second downpour, we toured the World War II, Martin Luther King Jr., and FDR Memorials. The view of Washington from along the water is absolutely beautiful in May. There are some great pictures of the students visiting these spots posted on the blog.
After dinner, we traveled to the Pentagon to visit the 9/11 Memorial at dusk and then lit up after dark. In my opinion, the simple but thoughtful design and lighting make it a stunning site to see at night. While most of the 8th graders were only babies on that tragic day, visiting this memorial certainly makes an impact on us all. In the background, the three spires of the Air Force Memorial can be seen soaring into the air like the aircraft they are meant to symbolize.
There is much more to come tomorrow. Please continue to check the blog to follow our progress. Goodnight from D.C.!
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Wow! What a fantastic day! Thanks for all the updates.
ReplyDelete-Christine (Jack McLaughlin's mom)