A group of 47 GHS juniors and seniors kicked off their spring break early on March 27th, when we departed for Washington, D.C. We spent Tuesday afternoon and  evening journeying through North Carolina and Virginia looking at scenic mountains and snow remains from the nor’easter. Some of us engaged in a quick snowball fight in the parking lot of a delicious family cooking restaurant in Virginia. Our feet hit the ground of the capitol on Wednesday with a morning photo op at the White House followed by devouring a delicious burger and fries at the world re-known Ollie’s Trolley, a D.C. local favorite. Afterwards, all 47 of us departed on our long walk to Capitol Hill, as we passed by various government department buildings, like the Department of Justice and FBI, along with various museums and the Trump Hotel. Our afternoon was filled with a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building which included stops inside the balconies of the House and Senate Chambers. We enjoyed the evening shopping and eating inside the huge Pentagon City Mall. We were up early on Thursday morning for the one-hour drive to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where our group would embark on a tour of the battlefield as we walked the trails of the Civil War. Later that night, we had the distinguished honor and pleasure of attending the hilarious murder mystery production, Shear Madness, at the Kennedy Center, an immaculate place for the arts that attests to President Kennedy’s deep love and devotion for arts and culture. Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, along with a beautiful cold crisp sunny afternoon at the National Mall filled our day on Friday, which was all completed with a night tour of D.C. with stops at the Pentagon, Jefferson, and FDR memorial. Saturday was filled with frigid temperatures, as many of us toured Arlington National Cemetery and watched the reverent changing-of-the-guard ceremony. Some in our group were locked away in their hotel rooms as food poisoning and stomach virus began to take its toll. With lunch at Hard Rock Cafe, an afternoon stop at the Holocaust Museum, all finished with a evening dinner cruise in the Washington Harbor was the perfect finish to a fun trip and a awesome trip to D.C., even though many of us were back at the hotel recovering from a brief sickness.  Our Easter Sunday began with a drive through embassy row, and on past the Vice President’s residence, and to our final destination,  The National Cathedral for the Easter Day service. Pictures could not attest to the gorgeous beauty of the cathedral and the very detailed art and Gothic gargoyles of the Cathedral. With triumphant music and an inspiring message, the service, full of diversity in worship and culture, was the perfect way to end the trip and embark on our travel home. All of us in the group seemed to have had a very enjoyable and educational experience in Washington. Mary Morgan, a junior, really enjoyed the tour of the Capitol Building, especially the artwork inside the Rotunda; she explains, “It was very informational. I enjoyed going to the Senate and looking at the eight paintings that describe the history  of the U. S. through the Revolutionary War.” However, her most memorable part of the trip was a tour at the Holocaust Museum: “my favorite spot would have to be the Holocaust museum. I have been before, but it still amazes me what went on and the information that they have of that time period.” Coach Duncan looks to take another group of juniors and seniors on the trip next year. I encourage any student to plan on attending this very entertaining and educational trip to the beautiful capitol of our nation, Washington, D.C.

For more photos from the trip. check out Kayleigh Harril’s slideshow of photos from the trip right here on www.ghsindianpost.org