Friday, June 9

At long last, the big day has arrived! The 2006 Youth Tour’s trip to Washington D.C.! It all started several months ago, when I wrote an essay and gave a speech about my local co-op. To my surprise, I won! Since then, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this day.

I’ll admit it. I was a tad overwhelmed when I first walked into the Ramada Inn’s lobby in Jefferson City. There were dozens of high school students — 78 to be exact — from all over the Show-Me State. Like me, they’d each won their local co-op’s Youth Tour essay competition and a right to go on the trip. Naturally, we were all excited to see the nation’s capital.

After checking into my room and meeting my roommates, everyone came together for the first time during the opening banquet. Mike Marsch, the tour director, started the night by giving a funny presentation about the historic sites we’ll see over the next couple days. He seems like a cool guy. I’m glad he’ll be showing us around. When Mike finished Valerie Melton, last year’s Youth Leadership Council delegate, stood up and told us about her experiences in Washington D.C. This trip really sounds too good to be true! She encouraged us to meet others and savor everything. She also kept telling us to thank our local co-ops for giving us the trip of a lifetime.

Once the banquet was over, we changed into some more comfortable clothes and reconvened to learn about the trip. Everyone was super exited! I can already tell this is going to be a great group. Mike went over all the details before we did a quick icebreaker to get to know each other.

We got back to our rooms around 11 p.m. Before bed, I stayed up and talked to my roommates. They seem pretty nice, which is good since I’m going to be sleeping in the same room with them for the next couple nights.

I finally got in bed at about midnight. Before falling asleep, I couldn’t help but think about the upcoming week. What can I expect? Who will I meet? What might I learn about this country or myself? Oh well, I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

Saturday, June 10

I could barely sleep last night. When the wake-up call came at 7 this morning I was already wide awake. After a quick shower, we all grabbed breakfast in the downstairs of the Ramada Inn. Breakfast was great —eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy. The hotel staff was very nice.

After eating, we threw our luggage together and stood in the hall to wait for the buses. Standing there, I couldn’t believe the amount of suitcases and bags we’d have to lug around this week! Fortunately, it all fit nicely under the bus.

Once we climbed onboard, we numbered off — odd numbers on one bus and evens on another. It sounds like we’re gonna be numbering off every time we go anywhere, but it’s OK because we won’t leave anyone behind. Plus, we usually try to make a game of it by timing ourselves.

On the way to Lambert Airport in St. Louis, we watched “National Treasure,” this adventure movie that takes place in Washington D.C. The movie definitely got us in the mood for the trip.

When we arrived at the airport we rushed off the bus, grabbed our luggage, and passed through security. For about half of us, it was our first time to fly. Although I’ve heard it can be stressful checking in and finding the right flight gate, the Southwest Airlines employees were courteous and helped everything run smoothly.

After lunch at the airport, we boarded the plane. I actually heard several small shrieks from first timers as the plane lifted off and touched down in Baltimore. Once everyone found their luggage, we hopped onto two buses that drove a half hour and into the heart of the nation’s capitol.

We entered the city and rounded one corner, a girl behind me suddenly shouted, “Look, there it is!” I looked up to see the Capitol building in the distance for the very first time. The lit dome instantly sent the bus into a flurry of camera flashes and excited chatter.

Once we’d calmed down a little, we were ready to eat. The buses pulled into Union Station around 7:30 (which reminded me to set my watch forward an hour). And even though I only ate pizza for dinner, my dining experience was unforgettable. The high glass ceilings, tall statues and polished marble were an amazing sight. I can’t wait to revisit it later in the week, when we have more time.

After boarding the bus and numbering off again, we started toward the Hyatt Hotel. Fortunately, our bus drivers, Mr. James and Mr. D, were kind enough to take the scenic route.

In case you’ve never seen it, Washington D.C. at night is a sight no American should miss. In just a quick 15-minute drive, we saw the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian museums, the World War II Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Monument, the Jefferson Monument and the Pentagon. Beneath a full moon, it was truly a spectacular sight. I can’t wait to see all those sites up close!

We finally got into the hotel around 10 p.m. and unloaded our bags. Many delegates from other states had already arrived, and the lobby was filled to capacity. After such a long day, I was ready to relax. However, I briefly stopped to talk to students from other states and swap state pins on my way up to my room. They all seemed very cool, and I enjoyed hearing the different accents. Eventually, I made it to my room, where I dropped my bags, talked to my roommates for a while and jumped in bed. Wow, I can’t wait for the rest of the week!

Sunday, June 11

This morning, I looked out my window and the weather in Washington, D.C., was gorgeous! It’s a good thing too because today’s visits required some walking.

At 9 a.m., we departed from the hotel to visit Arlington National Cemetery. First, we stopped at JFK’s gravesite. It was inspiring to see the eternal flame still burning brightly, 43 years after the great president’s life was tragically taken in Dallas. We then took a tram to our next destination. Along the way, we saw seemingly endless rows of white headstone. In fact, there are more than 300,000 people buried in Arlington, making it the second largest national cemetery in the United States.

When the tram stopped we got off to see the Tomb of the Unknowns. Fortunately, we were just in time to see the famed “changing of the guard,” which happens at the top and bottom of every hour, 365 days a year. It was incredible to watch in silence as the Tomb Guard sentinel paced back and forth, taking precision in every movement. The ceremony reminded me of the honor and respect due to the troops who guard our freedom every day.

After leaving Arlington, we visited the Mall — no, not the type with stores and a food court — but the main strip of grass and monuments that runs west of the Capitol. We then took several hours to explore the different Smithsonian museums that line each side of the Mall. I saw the original ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" in the Museum of American History, a painting by Andy Warhol in the American Art Museum and Charles Lindberg’s “Spirit of St. Louis” plane in the Air and Space Museum. There was so much to see and do at those museums that we just couldn’t squeeze everything into several hours. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to go back later this week.

Finally, we left the Mall and ate dinner before traveling to the shore of the Potomac River. There, we boarded a three-story boat for a cruise along the river. It was great! We danced, talked and laughed for four hours while the sun set over the nation’s capitol. Mike, our fearless leader, even got out on the dance floor and showed us a few moves!

When the boat arrived back at the shore around 10:30, we boarded the bus and went back to our hotel rooms. My roommates and I ordered a pizza and talked for an hour before going to bed. I really can’t believe the weekend’s already over!

Monday, June 12

Today was a day to remember. From an inspiring speaker to a beautiful sunset at the Lincoln Memorial, the day had plenty of highlights.

We started the morning with the National Rural Electric Cooperatives’ Youth Day program. This year’s theme was “Commitment to Community.”

After some welcoming remarks and the presentation of colors, next year’s Youth Leadership Council delegates introduced themselves and sat on stage. Next, a guy named Kent Ford from Mississippi talked about his the impact of his experiences during last year’s Youth Tour. Once he was finished, a man with a white wig and lots of blush reenacted a speech by former Senator George W. Norris, the leading supporter of the Rural Electric Administration. Finally, a man in a wheelchair named Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic medalist, gave an inspiring speech about his life. He told us, “If you can’t stand up, stand out.” What a powerful lesson!

The inspiration didn’t end there. After lunch, we began a trip around Washington to the city’s many memorials. First, we visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. Located on the famous Cherry Tree walk, the memorial took us through a series of four sections, each representing one of FDR’s terms in office. With plenty of statues and cascading waterfalls, the site was perfect for photos. Next, we visited the World War II Memorial. The memorial opened in April 2004 and is a beautiful addition to the Mall. Fifty-six pillars representing the states and territories that fought during the war circle a large fountain, and two 43-foot pavilions mark the campaigns in the Atlantic and Pacific.

After seeing the WWII monument, we made a quick stop at the White House for a group shot. Across the street from the presidential lawn was a protestor who had stayed in the same tent for 25 years. What a country we live in, where people are free to voice their opinions — regardless of their political beliefs!

For dinner, we stopped at the Pentagon City Mall, where we looked around four floors of shops. Then, it was back to the memorials. We arrived at the Lincoln Memorial just before sunset. We climbed the stairs where Martin Luther King once delivered his “I Have A Dream Speech” and gazed at the 19-foot marble statue of Honest Abe. Then, we walked back down the steps to see the Korean War Veterans Memorial, where stone soldiers seemed to march through the grass. Finally, we visited the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial. The names seemed to continue forever. All of the war memorials helped me realize the true toll of war and gave me a better appreciation for those men and women who died for our country.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the Jefferson Memorial. At the shore of the Tidal Basin, the memorial featured a 19-foot bronze statue of our third president. What vision the man possessed! It was Jefferson who penned the Declaration of Independence and oversaw the Louisiana Purchase. He also promoted the importance of democracy, freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. It’s largely due to his vision and leadership that we have such a great nation today.

After returning to the hotel, we played a few games before bed. We even did the limbo by using an ironing board. Then, we got to bed around 10:30 — pretty early for us. But I’m sure we’ll need the rest for tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 13

Today, we saw the final resting place of our country’s first president and got some rest of our own during an otherwise exhausting week.

We started the morning by getting on the bus and driving a half hour to Mount Vernon, home of our first president. First, we walked up a long gravel path to the two-story home of President George Washington. Behind the house, there was a beautiful view of the Potomac River. We also saw his garden and horse stables before coming to his final resting place, a tomb at the edge of the property.

Around 11 a.m., we left to eat lunch at the Old Post Office. The historic building is just north of the Mall and offers possibly the best view of the city. We took an elevator up 13 floors to the tower and looked out on Washington Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Smithsonian museums. What a fantastic view!

After lunch, we headed over to the Fords Theater, the famous site where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Boothe. A park ranger gave a riveting narrative of the events surrounding the great president’s murder. Across the street, I saw Honest Abe’s deathbed. What a tragic tale!

After a quick break in the hotel, we traveled to a baseball game to see the Washington Nationals take on the Colorado Rockies. They even flashed our group’s name on the Jumbotron after the third inning. Eveyone had a great time cheering on the Nationals.

Once the game was over, we headed back to the hotel for some much- needed rest. Some of us ordered a pizza while others played cards in the lobby. I was definitely ready for bed after a memorable day.Tomorrow I’m gonna need some energy during our day on the Hill.

Wednesday, June 15

Well, it was our last full day in DC, and we went out with a bang! In fact, I was completely exhausted by the time I made it to bed.

We started the morning off early by dressing in our best threads and making our way to Capitol Hill. Once there, the group split off by legislative districts. Throughout the day, we met with Rep. Ike Skelton, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Rep. Sam Graves, Rep. Roy Blunt, Rep Kenny Hulshof and Rep. Todd Akin. We also spoke briefly with Sens. Jim Talent and Kit Bond. All of the politicians were pleasant and generous to share their time with us. I’m now considering a career in politics. What an interesting job!

Between our meetings with the legislators, we toured the Mall and the surrounding area. Some people visited the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and the Capitol. Others revisited the Smithsonian museums and the National Archive. The free time gave us an opportunity to see some of the sites we missed earlier in the week.

After a long afternoon on the Hill, we came back to the hotel around 4:30 p.m. We quickly changed clothes and got our second wind just in time for the All-States Dinner and Dance, where we had the chance to dance, play games, eat and hang out with many of the other students from around the nation. It was a blast!

And just when we thought the fun was over around 11 p.m., Mike told us he’d rented a room for the sole purpose of keeping the party going. The chaperones first showed off some dance moves and then helped lead games of “Youth Tour Idol” (a singing contest), “So You Think You Can Dance” (a dance contest) and limbo. We laughed and talked late into the night. It really was a great way to end a memorable trip to the nation’s capital. I’ll never forget the experiences and friendships I’ve built in just a few short days.

But, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow we’ll go back to the airport to head home. I’m ready to see my family, but I also know I’m going to miss everyone. I sure hope we keep in touch.

Thursday, June 15

I can’t believe it’s over! Although I’m exhausted, our time in Washington DC really flew by. We’ve created so many memories, and I know I’ll cherish them forever.

This morning, we got on the bus at 9 am to start toward the airport. Along the way, we made two stops. First, we pulled up to the Iwo Jima Memorial, next to Arlington Cemetery. It was inspiring to see the famous statue of three troops raising our flag after a hard-fought battle.

Next, we stopped at a park to see “The Awakening” statue, which consisted of a large man digging himself out of the ground. We climbed all over his face, hands and knee. We also took photos together with our bus groups and drivers. I’m really gonna miss those two bus drivers, Mr. D and Mr. James! They have such big hearts and treated us so well while we were in DC.

Finally, we arrived at the airport in Baltimore. After going through security and eating lunch, we got on the plane and took off around 3 pm. An hour and 40 minutes later, we touched down in St. Louis. I hugged many of my friends and said goodbye, then got on a bus to go home. Around 8 pm, we arrived back at the Ramada Inn in Jefferson City, the same place we first met just days earlier.

I really can’t believe how close this group has grown in such a short time! We saw so many unbelievable sights together, experienced new things and laughed through most of it. I plan to keep in touch with many of them, and I hope we have a reunion one day soon.

I’ll also forever be grateful to my electric cooperatives for giving me this opportunity. Thank you everyone who made this trip to Washington DC possible. It was truly the trip of a lifetime!

 

 

For information contact: Mike Marsch Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives P.O. Box 1645 Jefferson City, MO 65102 or e-mail YOUTH TOUR

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