Week-long history field trip to D.C., packed full of activities for WHS students

 

April 7, 2016



WORLAND — The 2016 Worland High School Honors U.S. History Class recently completed their annual field study to Washington, D.C. the week of March 21-26.

Teacher Randy Durr said this is the 17th trip he has taken with students in his classes, both in Montana and Wyoming. Students raised all the funds for the trip, approximately $1,895 for each student for a total cost of $51,940. Durr said the class held several fundraisers including a garage sale, car wash, golf tournament and raffles.

While he has taken this trip 17 years with students this is the third year in Worland.

“It’s a field experience. They get to see things we’ve discussed in class,” Durr said.

The field experience began on Monday, March 21, where the students visited Arlington National Cemetery taking in such sites as the Kennedy brothers gravesites: President Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy, Senator Edward Kennedy, and a memorial for Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.

Other sites visited were the final resting places of long-time Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield and Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara. The students witnessed the ‘Changing of the Guard’ and toured the Arlington House, once owned by Robert E. Lee, Durr said.

After Arlington, the students crossed the Potomac River Bridge making stops at the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

“Each student had the opportunity to etch a name from the Vietnam Wall as well,” Durr said. “Next it was on to the World War II Memorial finishing the day at the Washington Monument before having a wonderful dinner in Pentagon City.”

Tuesday, March 22 started with a tour and lecture at Ford’s Theatre (site of President Lincoln’s assassination) followed by a tour of the White House.

“With the bombing of Brussels earlier that day, the security was tighter than normal but the tour was incredible,” Durr said. He said after a “great lunch” at the famous Hard Rock Café, the students spent the remainder of the day at the American History Museum taking in all the sites.

On Wednesday, March 23 the students were taken on a tour of the Pentagon and then attended the Washington Wizards-Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball game. Several students signed up for the half-time “Simon Says” competition and were selected.

“In the end, our own Taylor Warner was the overall winner. What a great experience for the kids,” Durr said.

Thursday, March 24, students visited St. Matthews Cathedral, the site of President Kennedy’s funeral mass on Nov. 25, 1963. The next stop was the Holocaust Museum, followed by a tour from Senator Barrasso’s staff of the Capitol.

Durr said, “All three places were of great interest to the students and a fine experience.”

Friday, March 25 included a tour of the Library of Congress where the students received a library card for that prestigious institution.

Durr said after dealing with some subways issues, the students visited the Iwo Jima Memorial then walked across the Francis Scott Key Bridge to Georgetown. There, the students “shopped until they dropped” visiting the historic sites, and visiting the home of Jackie Kennedy, where she lived following the assassination of her husband. That evening the students were treated to dinner at the famous O’Connell’s Irish Pub in old town Alexandria.

The final day for the field experience on Saturday included visits to the National Archives, National Air & Space Museum, the Jefferson Memorial and reading at the Library of Congress.

Students then met back at the hotel to ready themselves for a trip to the Kennedy Center to watch a play.

“They were treated to ‘Shear Madness’ a humorous murder-mystery, which was very enjoyable to all,” Durr said.

Sunday was set for packing and departure back to Worland after an event-packed experience in our Nation’s Capital.

“We would like to thank the community of Worland for their overwhelming financial support for our trip. Without that unprecedented support, this ‘trip of a lifetime’ would have not been possible,” Durr said.

Students who attended the 2016 Honors U.S. History Field Study were: Erin Taylor, Emrie Jolley, Alex Mulhall, Carmen Elliott, Mary Linneman, Emma Edholm, Jakob Schaeffer, Mauricio Caballero, Hannah Vigil, Jewel Haynes, Levi Sinn, Jalynn McClure, Emily Keller, Bryanna Mickelson, Ashton Kittleman, Emmy Dykman, Allyson Klingler, Hannah Nissen, Taylor Fulfer, Callie Klinghagen, Taylor Warner, Saydria Russell, Aubrey Goodrick, Braedon Page. Sponsors were Durr and Andee Bilodeau.

 
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