Juniors enjoy History/English tour to east coast

The annual History/English educational tour for juniors returned safely early Friday morning.  Students went to Gettysburg, Washington DC and Williamsburg, Virginia.  At Gettysburg students toured the battlefield with Mr. Ram sharing stories and details of the three day battle then traveled to Washington DC and explored the International Spy Museum and ate supper at Union Station.  That evening, students took a walking tour of the FDR, MLK, Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam War memorials.  The next day students spent time in the Newseum–a six level museum dedicated to print and broadcast journalism and news reporting.  The afternoon was free time for students to explore one of the many museums in the area: the American History Museum, Natural History Museum, National Gallery of Art, the Air & Space Museum or the National Archives.  Next was a trip to Arlington National Cemetery where Mr. Ram’s friend and former student, Daryl Willard, who is a former Tomb Guard and currently stationed at the Pentagon, gave a guided tour.  The evening plan was to attend a professional baseball game: Orioles vs Nationals, however the game was rained out.  On Tuesday the tour headed to Pamplin Historical Park in Virginia where students engaged in a four hour experience that included some hands-on activities as part of the “soldiers life” battlefield exhibit.  The next two days started and finished in the historical triangle: Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg.  After exploring colonial Williamsburg, students went to Norfolk and toured the USS Wisconsin battleship.  As luck would have it the rained out baseball game was rescheduled for Thursday afternoon so everyone was happy to return to DC and watch the Nationals play the Orioles.  The Orioles won.  After the game everyone loaded onto the bus for the trip back to Madison Academy.