DC TRIP RECAP – Day 4 (Saturday)

Our last day in DC started with checking out of our hotel and then heading downtown to the US Capitol.  It was a beautiful morning to be downtown – sunny and warm (even though there was a half-marathon and 5K happening right downtown).  We started our time on Capitol Hill by taking a group photo at the Grant Memorial.  We then hiked up the Hill for a tour of the Capitol Building.  We learned about the history, architecture, and art in the building.  We spend most of our time during the tour in the Rotunda, Statuary Hall, and the “Crypt.” 

After lunch in the Capitol Visitor Center, we headed across the Potomac River to Arlington National Cemetery, where we had a guided tour of the cemetery – learning about its history and some of the more famous/noteworthy veterans who are buried there.  We visited the Tomb of the Unknowns where we viewed a Changing of the Guard.  We then had the incredible honor of participating in a Wreath Laying Ceremony where we had the opportunity to lay a “Deerfield High School” wreath at the Tomb to honor all of our alumni who have served in the armed forces.

We then went to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – where we had dinner, got to walk around the balcony and see great views of the entire city, and take in a performance of Shear Madness.  This is a play that is best described as an improv comedy, murder mystery, audience participation, who-done-it.  It has been performed more than 14,000 times, with no two shows ever being the same.  We enjoyed a ton of laughs and some of our kids participated in trying to solve the mystery.  

We ended our trip with a visit to the Marine Corp Memorial (sometimes called the Iwo Jima Memorial). Located right next to Arlington Cemetery, this also provides one of the best views of city.  It was a fitting way to end our time in DC.  We then boarded us bus for the drive home.

The kids have been AMAZING on this trip.  It has been an absolute pleasure to travel with them and to help them explore the DC area.  We received numerous compliments about their behavior throughout the trip.  Thank you for letting us continue to show our students amazing parts of our country!  They should have new memories to last a lifetime!