Written by Kate Huneke
Photos by Peter Bouret
The second day of the eighth graders’ adventure in Washington D.C. was packed with new experiences and tons of fun. First, we woke up at a startling seven A.M. to get ready for the day that was expecting us, and first on our crowded list was Arlington Cemetery.
When we arrived at the cemetery, the mood suddenly shifted. We went from excited and carefree to serious and respectful. All of us knew that it was a time to be reverent and quiet; several funerals took place during the short time of the visit. After a small time of gaping at the rolling hills that were dotted with small, white government-issued headstones, we made our way to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where we got to witness the changing of the guards, as well as the Wreath Laying Ceremony which was executed by four of Menlo School’s very own—Jasmin Gutierrez, Paul Wat, Lillian Siegel, and Travis Chambers. Afterwards, we visited the burial sites of the Kennedy brothers—John, Robert and the most recently deceased Edward.
Because our stomachs were rumbling and growling, we made our way over to the National Gallery of Art where we enjoyed a scrumptious meal provided by the pristine food court. Once satisfied, everyone headed over towards the International Spy Museum—a fun, mysterious, interactive place to learn about the history of spies.
With a sudden alteration of the setting, we found ourselves inside of the beautifully detailed National Cathedral. We were in awe of the carefully crafted elements of the ancient structure (including a moon rock that is inside of a stained-glass window and a carving of Darth Vader as one of the grotesques on the outside of the church). Unfortunately, our time at the Cathedral was short but, being hungry once again, we headed towards Armand’s for delicious pizza, passing by Embassy Row on the way there. After dinner, we had a short stop at the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial, where we all paid our respects to the soldiers who fought for our freedom. Tomorrow, we start the day with a long bus ride to Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello and finish it with an evening of basketball, watching the Washington Wizards take on Lebron and Shaq’s Cleveland Cavs.
