Londonderry News

There are some  things the hotel does very well and breakfast is one of them.  The buffet is laden with hot, fluffy scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns for those who like a hot breakfast and cereal and a selection of breads for those who want a cold breakfast.  Juice, milk and the best coffee in Maryland greet we early risers.  We eat at about 7 and are loaded in the buses by 7:45 to begin the touring day.

Today for the Blizzards it was a trip to Ford’s theater and a look at the “President’s Box” a special double  box near the front of the stage where honored guests President and Mrs. Lincoln were sat for the production.  Interestingly enough, the stage was set for the current revival of the musical play 1776, so it looked like the room we’d been in the day before in Philadelphia.  The ranger recounted the story of that night and as we’d arrived a little early for the show the guides brought us around to  the back of the building allowing us a glimpse of where Booth entered the theater, and after his dastardly deed, escaped.  We were told something new today…Booth had previously tried to kidnap the President in the hope of ransoming him for the confederate prisoners of war earlier in the year; his goal being to change the then inevitable outcome of the war.  Additionally, just months before Booth killed Lincoln; his brother saved the life of Lincoln’s oldest son when he fell between two railroad car.  If it hadn’t been for Booth’s quick actions, young Master Lincoln would have been pulled under the car and crushed to death.

From this historical experience we took the students across the street to Honest Abes, which was formally Joe’s souvenir shop.  This store, in years past was not unlike Dollar Bills with its 3 for $10 t-shirts and its $15-$18 sweat shirts, it’s cluttered and overstocked shelves and its novelty items for $.50.  The store has transformed with wide aisles broad, white and neatly organized shelves and a brand new upstairs devoted to Washington sports paraphernalia. Sweatshirts range now from $24, onesies ($5.95) tout sayings like “Party in my room, 2am” or “I drink myself to sleep” and what I’ve been hoping to find for the last 5 years: NCIS shirts and sweats.    A challenge for the students was to find the weirdest item in the store.  I picked “Wesley”, the YOODARA, it gives the power to crush the barriers on your way to success.  (The scavenger hunt the teachers have created is so much fun I create my own video each year as well.)

A short walk to the food court where we had choices with our $10 of Five Guys, a taco place, a Quinoas, pizza, and the necessary coffee kiosk.  Everyone was happy with the offerings and mostly choose something nutritious as well as delicious while some just choose delicious (a coffee frozen drink and a croissant)!

Hopping back on the bus we had a picture stop at the White House and then on to the Capitol Building. We had a little extra time at the Capitol so we got to explore the newly added museum.  Usually we see a short video and then tour the building, however this day we were able to move through time and see the progression of Washington from the earliest buildings to what it is today through three dimensional representations.  There was no photography allowed in the museum.  After the video we began our tour.  Michelle Bachman walked briskly by as we got ready to leave the rotunda.  I’m not sure if many of the students know who she is.  After the tour of the Capitol we walked through the tunnel to the Library of Congress.  Students are treated to the outside foyer of the building and don’t get to go in where the books are stored, but the artistry around the room held their attention as we walked up the stairs.

Our next stop was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.  It is carved out of a huge boulder, which is parted with a single stone wedge pushed forward toward the horizon.  Taken from the memorial website the memorial is described:

The smooth insides of the portal contrast the rough outer surfaces of the boulder. Beyond the portal, the stone appears to have been thrust into the plaza, wrested from the boulder and pushed forward – it bears the signs of a great monolithic struggle.  In this wedge the image of Martin Luther King, Jr is carved facing the Lincoln Memorial.  On one side of the carved stones are the words “Out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope” and on the other side are the words Dr.  King suggested he be remembered by: “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.”  Dr. King’s memorial faces Lincolns which only adds to the symbolism.  Carved in the walls on either side of the split bolder are the words of Dr. King and a notation of where each quote came from.  It is very moving.

From there we walked over to the Korean Memorial.  Our guide, 83 year old Joe, is a Korean War veteran.  He takes these memorials very personally and imparted that to the students as he asked them for their reverence and respect.  (When some of our students talk about how far we have to walk I point to Joe.  He is at the head of the group and doesn’t miss a step!)  We passed the Lincoln Memorial on the way to the Vietnam Memorial wall (we will visit it tomorrow, along with the WWII memorial, FDR Arlington Cemetery and Mount Vernon.  If my friends thought they walked today…).  Two of our students had connections with the Vietnam Memorial Wall…one had a close family friend and the other an uncle.  The students were able to find their friend’s name and took a rubbing of it.  His friends looked at him very solemnly as he bent down to do the rubbing.

To finish off the night the 8^th grade was treated to Medieval Times.  We were given crowns, a knight to cheer for and a fine evening of entertainment which allowed the students to cheer, jump up and down for their crusader and generally have a good time. The red and white knight won and saved the realm from the evil doer.  The sword play, jousting and horse tricks were terrific.

Be sure to visit all of our current pictures in the darkroom

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