Students find hometown connections during trip to Washington D.C.
Contributingwriter Tue, 07/23/2024 - 14:37 Image
Yorktown students visit the United States Marine Corps Memorial and point at Yorktown native Harlon Block, who is crouching and closest to the ground. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Yorktown students visit the United States Marine Corps Memorial and point at Yorktown native Harlon Block, who is crouching and closest to the ground. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO 
Yorktown and Cuero students pose in front of the Lincoln Memorial. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Yorktown and Cuero students pose in front of the Lincoln Memorial. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS 
Yorktown and Cuero students pose in front of the Peterson House, which is where Abraham Lincoln was taken after he was shot at Ford's Theatre.
Yorktown and Cuero students pose in front of the Peterson House, which is where Abraham Lincoln was taken after he was shot at Ford's Theatre. 
Yorktown and Cuero students pose with a 'Living History' actor at the World War II Memorial on the anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Yorktown and Cuero students pose with a 'Living History' actor at the World War II Memorial on the anniversary of the D-Day landings.
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Editor’s Note: This is part two of a two part series on a trip of Yorktown and Cuero students to Washington D.C. from June 1-7.
Day 5 began with a trip to Arlington National Cemetery. The group toured the Arlington House, where Robert E. Lee lived before the Civil War. They also saw the graves of many famous Americans, like Audie Murphy and Joe Louis. They also visited the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, which has an eternal flame burning. But, the highlight was witnessing the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Then, the group visited the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, which is a statue of the famed Iwo Jima picture that Yorktown native Harlon Block is known for. Then, the group went to the Smithsonian Museum of American History, where they saw the ruby red slippers that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz, as well as the stovepipe hat that Abraham Lincoln wore the night he was assassinated. After that, the group went to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, a huge, four-floor museum. The group was able to see some of the more interesting exhibits like the ones on sports figures, like Michael Jordan and Jackie Robinson, as well as civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The museum also has many chilling ex-hibits on slavery.
The group finished its day off with more memorials. First, they visitedtheKoreanWar Memorial. The Korean War is often referred to as “the forgotten war” and the memorial does a good job of paying homage to the war. Then, the group made a quick photo stop at the Albert Einstein Memorial, before heading to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as well as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. While at the wall, the students found the names of three men from Yorktown who were killed during the Vietnam War: Franklin Delano Audilet, Wallace Stanley Dworaczyk and Fernando Amayo Hinojosa. The day ended with a trip to the Lincoln Memorial, where the students saw the huge statue of Abraham Lincoln, as well as two of his most famous speeches that are etched into the walls inside the memorial. They also saw the spot where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood while giving the “I Have a Dream” speech.
The final day began with a trip to the World War II Memorial. It was June 6th, the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the group was able to interact with a 'Living History' actor and see several tv networks getting set up for a wreath-laying ceremony that would include representatives from several different European countries. Then, the group went to Ford’s Theatre, where President Lincoln was shot, and the Peterson House across the street, where he was taken and died the next morning. From there, the group went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, where they saw, among other things, the Hope Diamond, which is valued at over $250 million dollars, and mummies. Yorktown 8th grader Darrell Spell said, “I really enjoyed the Natural History Museum. I liked all of the different animal species exhibits, especially the monkeys!” After quick stops at the US Navy Memorial and the Spy Museum Gift Shop, the final stop before returning home was a trip to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The group got a tour of the campus, where they saw Roger Staubach’s Heisman Trophy and John Paul Jones’ crypt. After that, the group went to the Thurgood Marshall International Airport and flew back to San Antonio, Texas. They then boarded a charter bus to return to Cuero. The bus arrived back in Cuero at about 2:30 am on June 7th, 2024.
The trip was six amazing days. The group walked over 50 miles and visited over 30 historical memorials, monuments or sites. The students could not contain their enjoyment of the trip.
Katie Bolting said, “I thought it was very fun and educational to see all the historical monuments and museums.”
Joel Chacon said, “The whole trip was awesome because we were able to go to a lot of places and see so much history!”
Hudson Edmondson said, “The overall trip was good and I really enjoyed making new friends.” Ryleigh Gallegos said, “I think the trip was a great opportunity to explore new things and learn a lot of new information!.”
Allie Geffert said, “I think the overall trip was very exciting and fun, as well as it being well-planned out. It was truly a once in a lifetime trip.”
Leighton Kirchoff said, “I think the trip was a pretty cool experience, also an experience that not everybody gets to do.”
Palyn Koopmann said, “The trip was a lot of fun and we did a lot of learning!” Evelyn Merks said, “It was fun and we had so many cool experiences.”
Melody Rogers said, “It was nice. We learned about a lot of historical things and we got to see a lot of things that many people never see in real life. Seeing this in real life is definitely better than on the internet!”
Darrell Spell said, “I think the trip was very interesting and fun. I’d highly recommend anyone who has a chance to go!”
Jayce Vasquez said, “I thought the trip was amazing and exhilarating! I wish I could go every year!”
Yorktown parents had a few comments about the trip. Wade and Loretta Bolting said, “This was a trip of a lifetime! The history and culture we experienced were amazing and all the places were captivating!”
Cheryl Edmondson said, “The Washington DC Trip was great! The course chaperones did a great job! Thank you, Mr. Douglas and Coach Acree!”
Lynnda Kirchoff said, “I think it was a wonderful experience for me and my child to share. The whole trip, from beginning to end, was wonderfully planned.”
Erin Koopmann said, “It was a really good way to see so much of our nation’s history! Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home, was definitely the highlight for me!”
Yorktown teacher Elvira Ybarra accompanied her grandson, Joel Chacon, on the trip. Mrs. Ybarra said, “I thought it was an awesome trip! The history means so much more to me now as an adult. I also learned a lot of new things from the places we saw.”
Next year’s trip is now open. If you are interested in going. The 2025 trip is open to any DeWitt County student who will be in the 8th grade during the 2024-2025 school year. More information can be found at: https://worldstrides. com/custom/2025-dew itt-county-dc-216492/. Informational meetings will be held once the new school year starts.
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