What a day! I am sorry I haven’t written at all, but I haven’t had the chance! We have been going, going, going all day. Your kids are like 148 Energizer bunnies. We started the day off with a healthy breakfast full of fruits, proteins, etc. to get us ready for the long day ahead. After our hearty breakfast, it was on to the monuments. While each group went in different directions, all students had a chance to visit the Jefferson, Lincoln, WWII, Vietnam, and Korean Memorials. Also, our students had a unique opportunity that not many do—they got to see no water in the reflecting pool! Some were disappointed until we told them that this has never happened before. In fact, the pool has been leaking and they are currently renovating it. Also, they saw the beginnings of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. monument, which we told them, may be finished by the time their siblings get to Washington! The Korean War monument was well received because of the impressiveness of the larger than life statues. At the Vietnam Memorial, they looked up names of people on the wall from CT and viewed the statues of the nurses. The farthest walk was to WWII memorial, but it was worth it! They found the pillar for CT and all took pictures in front of it. Additionally, the Atlantic and Pacific pillars on either side made great canvasses for famous quotes. At the Lincoln Memorial, students walked up the steps to the place where Martin Luther King, Jr. made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Check out the pictures of students’ feet on the same spot where King stood. When we got up to Lincoln, students got to take pictures by him and check out his hands and face. It is said that his hands are in the sign language position of A and L—the sculptor of Lincoln had a deaf son.
Board the buses and on to the Old Post Office. WOW! There were a lot of others kids there! But our students handled it really well and enjoyed a lunch described by many as “Holy cow, this is delicious!!” They head back there tomorrow and are excited to try more food. Oh, and go shopping (although, some got a head start!).
The next stop was the Holocaust Museum. It is hard to describe this Museum in words. There are no pictures because photography was not allowed. Instead of describing the whole museum, I am going to use the words/phrases that the students expressed to me as they were leaving: inspiring, heartbreaking, made me think about things in a whole new way, moving, and many more.
I encourage you to talk to your kids about their experience there—what it meant to them, how it felt to make the connection between the Museum and the real life concentration camp survivor we met, what they would say to a potential visitor, etc. In order to start your conversation, here is a bit of background—they saw real artifacts (shoes collected, door of a synagogue that was burnt down, a casting of an extermination oven, and so much more), they received cards that depicted real people and at the end they learned if they lived or died. The kids were excited to tell us about their person so hopefully they will share with you as well.
After a chance to decompress from the Holocaust Museum—a chance that was both well-deserved and well-needed, we reboarded the bus and headed to Carmine’s. The students were HUNGRY! And couldn’t wait to shove that garlic bread, spaghetti, and meatballs in! We got tons of pictures of said shoveling! We departed Carmine’s with a gift—a cookie in a bag! Students had their “dessert on the go” as we walked the short 2 blocks to the Crime and Punishment Museum. The Crime and Punishment Museum was described as “the coolest Museum of the day.” One group of students went upstairs to the actual museum where they learned about gangsters, crimes, and different forms of punishments. They got to check out a mock crime scene and participate in interactives where they drove getaway cars and shot at targets (the chaperones also got their kicks in!). Kids checked out cold cases and saw the Top Ten most wanted list. The group downstairs participated in a forensics lab. As they moved through the lab, they analyzed blood splatter (red paint) from a hammer and a wrench. They then moved on to fingerprints—all students got to finger print themselves (ask to see their fingerprint!). As thy lab progressed, they analyzed fiber samples, phone records, handwriting, and DNA to come to the final conclusion—Mark and Victoria did the crime! As we left, students were so excited and said it was “So Cool!!”
The kids (and chaperones) were exhausted and quickly got on the bus to sit their barking puppies down. We drove by the White House all lit up at night and it was soon back to hotel. Students are now upstairs, sleeping (hopefully), and getting ready for our last day! Sweet dreams to all!
I would like to take this opportunity to tell a story about our students that shows how moved they were after visiting the monuments and museums. A WWII veteran was in the lobby of the Holocaust Museum and one student, at the encouragement of others, went up to him and said “Thank you. Thank you for everything you have done for us.” And he stood up from his wheelchair, and said to her, “Thank you for remembering.”
