Day 2: June 10th, a Day of Remembrance.

Most of these entries begin with a statement of exhaustion.  It is never meant as a complaint.  It simply is setting the stage for anyone who has never traveled on an student based educational tour.  The goal is to pack as much in, in as little time as possible.  The downside of this is that we can often forget the magnitude of the things we are experiencing and it might not have the impact that it should.  To be exhausted, at the end of a night of touring, is a good thing.  Tonight, I, as well as the other chaperons, are exhausted...and that is a good thing.  I think that most of the kids are exhausted too...and that is an even greater thing.

Our day started with a little controversy.  When we checked into the hotel, we received a little paper welcoming us to the Howard Johnsons  (Ours had a few pieces of candy on it too).  This slip informed us that our breakfast would be served in the Washington room at 6:30.  At 6:15, Mr. Collins and I, and a few of the boys, found ourselves looking for the Washington room.  The front desk clerk gave us directions, but informed us that they would probably not be ready.  We patiently waited until the appropriate time and then we made our way to eat.  The Washington room was clearly too small for our group.  The available food didn't seem like there would be enough either.  I was distressed. I ended up walking to a local gas station and buying an apple.  It was tasty, but when I returned I found out that a mistake had been made.  We were supposed to eat in a different building and there was plenty of seating, food options, and smiles.  For the Goonies fans out there, we had breakfast at Fratellis.  There was no sign of Sloth.

After getting some decent food to eat, we boarded our buses and took off towards Arlington National Cemetery.  We knew it was going to be hot and that the kids might become a little anxious, but we gave them some water and reminded them of where we were headed and why we were headed there.  They understood.

National Cemeteries are beautiful places.  As I mentioned yesterday, I've been fortunate enough to visit Normandy and walk within the American Cemetery above the shores of Omaha beach.  I've also visited a World War One Cemetery in France at Aisne-Marne.  Each one is a dignified final resting place for America's most deserving citizens.  I am always moved when visiting places such as these and I really wanted the kids to sense that as well.  I've always been impressed with the attitudes of our high school students and was pleasantly surprised to see the kids today exhibiting the same values as I've come to expect.

Our first stop inside Arlington National Cemetery was the final resting place of John F. Kennedy.  JFK is buried alongside his wife Jackie and two of their children.  Carole explained a little bit about Kennedy and noted that JFK's brothers were not too far away.  Robert and Edward are buried just down the hill and Joe is memorialized there as well.

An eternal flame burns just above the headstones of the Kennedy's.  It is said that Jackie requested the flame because of how much Jack admired the eternal flame he saw burning at the base of the Arc de Triumph in Paris.  Today, for me, it serves as a reminder of the youthful exuberance of the Kennedy's and how that rekindled part of the American dream.

After a few moments, we made our way through the cemetery.  We were on our way to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Carole told us there are approximately 400,000 headstones at Arlington, but there are closer to 600,000 people buired there.  Not all of those interred are servicemen or Presidents, but most have left an impression on American history even if their stories are largely untold.  None of us had the time to walk among the headstones to pay individual respect, but we were able to make a universal gesture to their sacrifices while standing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It was our pleasure to witness the changing of the guard.  I've seen similar presentations in multiple foreign countries, but nothing is as impressive as the young men whose duty falls upon that tomb.

I tried to video the ceremony.  I was a little far away and it was the first time I've used my GoPro, but I hope you are able to make out the decorum and dedication of these young men.

After the guards were back on duty, Carole took us towards the exit.  She stopped and informed the kids about Christa McAuliffe.  I asked who had gone to the Waybright and upon seeing a few hands in the air, I told the kids how we had all been gathered into the Cafeteria to watch the Challenger take off into space.  A teacher was about to become an Astronaut.  It was a day that I'd never forgotten.

Carole has just explained what happened to the Challenger and to Christa McAuliffe

It is strange, which days we remember...and for what reasons we remember them.

We made our way towards the bus.  Our kids were incredibly respectful.  They stood silently at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and paid their respect to those who are buried on this beautiful ground.  On our way out, however, I saw a headstone.  The young man who was buried there had received the medal of honor.  It is the same medal I wrote about yesterday.  I remembered, again, my trip to Normandy and the sacrifice paid by Arthur DeFranzo.  I am in awe of his story and cannot believe I waited until I was nearly 40 to learn it.  As I remembered him, I stopped.  I grabbed my phone and checked the photograph I posted yesterday.

Today, June 10th, is the 71st anniversary of Staff Sergeant Arthur DeFramzo's death in a field in Vaubadon, France.

Several non-bus 3 students waiting outside of the cemetery.

We boarded our bus and drove to visit the Iwo Jima memorial.  Carole told us the story.  The kids, I think all of them, were familiar with the photograph...and that flag.

A large group of Belmonte kids infront of the memorial.

Some of Bus 3.

This was our view from the bus.

 The memorial is much larger than I had expected.  I told a few people at the front of the bus about my grandfather.  He was a Marine and he fought at Iwo Jima.  My family is fairly certain that he is in the following photograph.

These places we visit are connected to real people who have left behind so many stories.  History is important because we never should let the legacy of our past disappear.  If my grandfather is in this picture, or if he is not, it doesn't really matter...as long as we try to remember those men on that day.

Our next stop was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  I knew, from past experiences, that this can be a fairly emotional place for kids.  In the musuem, they trace the footsteps of a young Jewish boy named Daniel.  They see the growth of the Nazi party, the persecution of the Jewish, and the horrors of the Holocaust.  For most of the kids, the experience was somewhat unnerving.  In the lobby, near the end of our visit, I met four young ladies from a different bus.  One of them told me that her sister has traveled with me this past April.  Another told me that her sibling had also been to Europe with me.  And so it began...these kids were all related to names from my past.  Some, as recently as this past April, but others were former students from many years ago.  Each felt comfortable enough to introduce themselves to me regardless of not knowing me or sharing a bus ride with me.  One time, at Auschwitz, a young man asked me how I cope with so much hate in the world...and in our past.  I told him that is because I can see the good in humanity.  For all of the evils we learn about in history class, there are thousands more examples of kindness and compassion, or bravery in the face of evil.  This, I said, is how I cope.  We began to gather up to depart the museum and head to lunch, when I stopped again...

Placed with reverence, between the entrance and the exit, is a memorial for Stephen Tyrone Johns.  He was a member of Washington's Special Police force and he was killed in the line of duty at the Holocaust museum on June 10th, 2009.  Officer Johns lost his life around 12:50pm.  This memorial stands ever present at his post.  His life was dedicated to protecting others and allowing us never to forget.  On the bus, as we departed the museum and headed towards lunch, one of our students said, "We shouldn't need a museum to remember the Holocaust, we should just remember it and never let it happen again." She's right.

Our last stop, before lunch, was at the National Cathedral.  I didn't take advantage of the tour because I was busy examining the exterior of the building...looking for Darth Vader.  Carole had made many connections to European Cathedrals and she had given the kids a couple of things to look for, but I was caught up in finding a piece of Americana situated on the Cathedrals northern tower.  My camera, however, was not up to the task of capturing old Anakin Skywalker.  I did get some other photos.

I think this was Bus Two.

The Darth Vader Gargoyle is atop this tower.

Lunch, for us, was not an easy endeavor.  We ate at a place called "Eat at the National Place."  There are a bunch of options.  I chose a chicken gyro.  It is one of my favorite meals to eat in Europe and I thought an American version would suffice.  The place, the entire place, was packed.  It seemed like all 6,000 tour buses dropped their kids off at once.  That said, my gyro came out in pretty quick order.  It was quite tasty too.  Not as good as the street food in Paris, but much better than my salad the night before.  Some kids got Five Guys and some tried their first Moe's Burrito.  We consumed quickly and headed off once again for the Newseum.

It is a modern museum dedicated to Journalism and reporters.  I love it.  There are a ton of cool exhibits.  One deals with the assassination of Lincoln.  Another showcases the ways Vietnam was reported.  I watched a video on Pulitzer prize winning photographs.  The kids liked it too.  I spoke with a couple of kids about their favorite parts and many of them had the same answers.

A sign when entering the Newseum

Quite a few of the kids said the 9/11 materials was the most interesting part of the museum.

Portion of the radio tower on WTC 1

Part of the Pentagon

September 11, 2001 was a Tuesday of the first full week of a school year.  I was a second year teacher.  It is also my father's birthday.  Of all of the things that happened that day, the most surreal was eating birthday cake and trying to celebrate a man who is, in my mind, one of the greatest Americans to have ever lived.  It is strange, which days we remember...and for what reasons we remember them.

Another exhibit that the kids referenced were the sections of the Berlin Wall.

The East side

The West side.

I'm a product of the late stages of the Cold War.  My favorite toy was GI JOE.  My Dad (my hero) was a Soviet weapons and tactics expert in the Army.  I was a new junkie as a kid...and I am pretty sure I still am.  I was sitting on the floor, in front of my couch, when Tom Brokaw interupted whatever show was on.  He was reporting that the Wall was coming down.  I turned to my parents and told them, I'd never forget where I was when the Wall came down.  The day was Novemeber 9th.  I love finding connections.  It's why I like history so much.  These middle school kids, and their juxstaposition of two important moments in my life, has allowed me to quantify my feelings about good overcoming evil.  I never realized that to a German citizen, 9/11 is a day of celebration.  It is the day when their people rose above the hatred of their past and the domination of the Soviet regime.  It is a day their people took their freedom back from hatred...and because of Tom Brokaw, and the news, I saw them do it with song, and dance, and good cheer.  It is strange, which days we remember...and for what reasons we remember them.

Gathering up nearly 200 kids is a Herculean task.  We've managed to do it a couple of dozen times now...and we are getting really good at it.  As the Newseum was preparing to close, we did it again, but before we did, I had to try and embarass one of the Bus 3 kids...because today, June 10th, is his birthday.

Bradon's birthday, his first out of state, has been one of his best birthday's ever.  I hope he remembers it for a long time.

We got on our bus and sang him happy birthday.  As we got off of the Bus, he was all smiles.  It had been a heavy day with lots of serious stuff going on, but these kids were super enthusiastic.  They had a dance coming up and they needed to get ready.  The following pictures are of a variety of kids.  I am trying to find youngsters from the other buses because I know some of their parents want to see them on this blog.  It's hard to do, but I promise, I am trying.  Needless to say, the kids all looked great!!!

Most of the boys are camera shy...but not this group!

The Cherry Blossum returning to port.

It's getting late (12:50) and I should really get to bed.  I wanted to end this post with another reference to Days of Remembrance.  As the kids disembarked and prepared to board our bus for the evening ride home, I saw Brandon once more.  He was still all smiles.  I asked if the cruise was a good time (I didn't go on the boat with the kids).  He said it was.  I asked if it was the best birthday ever...he laughed and said it was.  I hope, that in years to come, when June 10th rolls around, that I remember Arthur DeFranzo and Stephen Tyrone Johns.  I want to remember them.  I hope, also, that I remember the best birthday ever and the smiles on Brandon's face throughout the day.  I mean, when you think about it, the sacrifice of the first two men is to protect the ideas represented in that smile.

Good night all...I hope you've enjoyed this blog and please feel free to share it with others!!!