by Hazel Padgett
This is why an 8th grade journey to Washington D.C. is considered one of those rites of passage in America. It is the time where history comes off the pages of a book and becomes something that one can only experience in person. Our recent visit was filled with amazing moments and unforgettable memories, from the marble buildings of the Capitol to the long lines of Arlington.
Day 1: Honor
Our journey began with a beautiful Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and exploring around the church. Then a stop at the Arlington National Cemetery to witness the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier left the whole group in a rare, respectful silence. With a stop in between being, the Kennedy tomb eternal flame. After, we stopped at Iwo Jima and the Pentagon memorial, which were both very impactful. For lunch we ate at an adventurous medieval knight meal, with a few more stops at the Vietnam wall, nurses memorial, Vietnam memorial, Lincoln memorial, and the Korean War memorial.
Day 2: Reflection
Day two started out with a visit at the FDR Memorial, Martin Luther Memorial, Washington Monument, World War II memorial. We also visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum, which many students described as the most moving and “raw” part of the entire trip. Later on we went to the bible museum, national archives, and saw a glance at the White House, all of the stops being very informational. For dinner we stopped at the fish market in scenic Old Town Alexandria. Then finished the day with a beautiful night time visit to the Jefferson Memorial.
Day 3:Memories
On our last day, we started off the day by going on tours of the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, and the Supreme Court. Following with a short lunch break at the Ronald Reagan Building. Later, we had the opportunity to visit many of the Smithsonian Institution museums such as the Museum of American History and the Natural History Museum. To conclude the day, we got the chance to have a dinner and dance cruise down the Potomac River. Throughout the whole trip we made incredible memories together, but this cruise definitely had the most memories made.
You can view some photos of the 8th grade trip here.