After hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, hash browns, and cereal, we were on a way for the last day. While kids have been enjoying themselves, many expressed excitement about coming home. We packed the busses, got the kids loaded, and headed to Iwo Jima. The kids were shocked to see how much bigger it was than the one they saw in Newington. They were also excited by the optical illusion that Ms. Conti pointed out. If you drive slowly around the circle surrounding Iwo Jima (which our bus drivers did), it looks like the flag is being raised. The students thought this was pretty neat. After Iwo Jima, we headed to Arlington. As students got off the bus, they immediately recognized how serious and important this place was. We trekked up and down many hills through the amphitheater, past the thousands of grave markers to arrive at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Students were honored to realize they were going to see two very unique ceremonies. The first one was a wreath laying ceremony. While another school got to lay the wreath (an honor we tried to apply for and will try again to do next year), the students saw the serious and somber ritual of laying a wreath in remembrance of our fallen soldiers. Minutes after the wreath laying ended, the students watched the Changing of the Guard. A ceremony that occurs every 30 minutes, the Changing of the Guard is an honored tradition that guards train long and hard for. 21 steps in one direction, wait 21 seconds, and then start the steps in the other direction, the ceremony is meant to mirror the 21 gun salute standard at any military funeral. As the guards changed, the precision with which they walked—almost robotic—mesmerized our students. They were silent during the ceremony and watched with unblinking eyes as the guards were flawless. We retraced our steps and made our way past Robert F. Kennedy’s grave as well at the eternal flame that represents John F. Kennedy’s final resting place.
After the long walk and emotional ceremonies, we made our way to lunch—pointing out other places along the way, including the Pentagon. Lunch was a lot less crazy than it was yesterday and after eating, students were able to shop ‘til they dropped. And dropped they did! They were more than ready to get on the bus—almost 20 minutes before we told them they had to meet us!! We were now back on the bus and the kids are sleeping, listening to music, and watching Night at the Museum 2. This movie has more meaning to them now as all the places in the movie were locations they had already visited—Air and Space Museum, Museum of Natural History, and the Lincoln Memorial! Write back later!
