Whitefield eighth graders enjoyed a whirlwind tour of Washington D.C., taking in the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital on a four-day tour. The class boarded a bus in Atlanta early on a Friday morning and arrived in D.C. at 10 p.m.
For three days the class visited a number of stops in D.C., including museums such as the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Holocaust Museum, and the International Spy Museum where the students took on the role of spies while learning the history of espionage.
The students also visited a number of the nation’s monuments and memorials, including the Lincoln Monument, the Jefferson Monument, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument, and the Washington Monument.
The Vietnam Memorial, the WWII Memorial, and other war memorials were also on the tour. A particularly moving moment of the trip was the group’s visit to the Arlington National Cemetery where they watched the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited the Iwo Jima Statue. While there, the group chatted with veterans and heard firsthand accounts of their experiences.
“I enjoyed seeing the national monuments that show the unity of our country. It was so meaningful to be able to meet and thank the men who have protected our country in the past,” said Emmy Pridgeon.
At the close of the trip, the eighth graders enjoyed a cruise on the Potomac River, complete with a delicious meal and dancing.
“The Washington DC trip was a fun adventure in which our grade became closer. We had a blast, and we learned about the prominent history of our blessed country,” said Grayce Guthrie.
“We have taken this trip for the past three years and it is always a pleasure to watch students and their excitement as they see the history they have been learning in class come alive,” said Alyson Powell, Middle School teacher.