Wednesday, January 21

Tuesday, January 20

Our wake-up call was at 3:30. Yes, that's in the morning! We had an early bus ride into the city, then a one-hour road march to the National Mall. It was still dark, and really hard to keep track of 16 teenagers who are all bundled up to the point that you can't recognize any of them from the back. We managed not to lose anyone, though. In fact, the kids were awesome all day long! I've received several compliments from adults we've encountered about their behavior, manners and how well they follow my directions, even when I have stopped asking them to do things and have started demanding and barking orders. They really were awesome today, and I was so proud of them.











Road march from where the bus parked, down by the Nationals Stadium, to the Mall.
Our first view of the mob on the mall, as the sun was starting to come up. It was 7:00 and 19 degrees.


As it got lighter, you could see the sharpshooters on the rooftops again. And notice the wind!


My official inaugural portrait!

The kids were trying everything they could to keep warm. Someone brought some space blankets, and they quickly figured out that two bodies producing heat under the space blanket was better than one!

The ceremony began,

and so did the cheering.

President Obama's speech was very moving. I think it's going to be one we will remember the way we remember Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. Some were moved to tears, but most were just proud to be American.


After every good party, there's a mess to clean up.


Back to the bus. It was much easier in the daylight, but still a long trek in the cold.

Monday, January 19

It was cold and cloudy, and our first stop was the Washington Monument. We couldn't go up to the (indoor) observation deck, because there was a problem with the elevator. But we took a group photo outside, and it started to snow! It was the first time ever to see snow for some of them.

Here's a little video I got as we got off the bus--it was early and they were not quite up for the brisk walk.

VIDEO COMING SOON

Then, we walked to the World War II Memorial

Next, we walked past the White House for a picture stop. We couldn't get any closer than this, because so many streets and walkways were blocked off. Here are all the boys.

We were close enough, however, to see sharpshooters on the roof. These guys were on rooftops all over the city.

A short drive up the hill to Arlington National Cemetery, where we wanted to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This was as close as I got to the changing of the guard, but I've seen it before.

I did give the camera to a student to try to get some video of the guard.

VIDEO COMING SOON

While we were visiting the Kennedy family gravesites, it started to snow again.

After lunch, we visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum. This was something that the kids specifically asked if we could do when we first planned this trip last year. (I like to think it was because my superior teaching piqued their interest.)

Candles to honor victims in the Hall of Rememberance

Then, it was back down the National Mall where we attempted to visit the Lincoln Memorial. Unfortunately, it was too crowded, and there was heavy equipment and scaffolding all around after Sunday's concert. This was as close as we could get. Hopefully we can go back tomorrow.

Last stop was the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial. the POW-MIA flag flies at both locations.

Two students are searching for the name of a family member--a great uncle named Ronnie Joe Hoffmann. She found the name and made a rubbing for her grandmother.

Sunday, January 18

I have to say, today was one of the easiest travel experiences I've ever had. All flights were on time, the airports were not crazy yet, and everything we checked showed up with us. We were all tired, but we hit the ground running as soon as our bus dropped us off at the Smithsonian complex. The group split up and some of us went to the National Archives, some to the Natural History Museum and some to the Museum of American History. Here are a few pictures I took at the Natural History Museum.

This is my favorite--The Hope Diamond



Here are the girls before we went to the Worldstrides Inaugural Dance--the teenagers' version of an Inaugural Ball. They had fun, but no one complained when it was time to head back to the hotel.

This is a no-frills post. It's midnight and I need to go to sleep. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll have more time.