Washington, D.C. – It was a Veteran’s Day Weekend to remember. Three days, 46 Loveland High School seniors, and Washington, D.C.
“It’s important to share the lessons of history and self-government, and when you can do it on site, it magnifies the power of the lessons to be learned,” said LHS Teacher David Volkman, who has sponsored the trip annually since 1994. “Seniors are on the cusp of adulthood and full citizenship. They must realize that this nation and its future belongs to them. Washington reminds us that history is made by people, just like them, who were confronted with tough questions, and who had to make tough decisions.”[pull_quote_center]”After hearing the stories from Mr. Volkman, I finally began to realize how lucky we all are to have so many men and women who have given up everything to protect others.”[/pull_quote_center]
“The senior D.C. trip was an incredibly enriching experience and I gained a new perspective of our nation’s history,” said LHS Senior Alyssa Gilliland. “Visiting Arlington National Cemetery for the second time was a very different experience. Visiting the different Loveland graduates grave sites including Seth Mitchell’s was heart breaking but very moving. After hearing the stories from Mr. Volkman, I finally began to realize how lucky we all are to have so many men and women who have given up everything to protect others.”
“The Pentagon memorial was a lot to take in,” said Gilliland. “I was thinking about all of the families affected and by all of the events that occurred on September 11 and for the first time, it felt real. Mount Vernon was beautiful. I loved walking the same paths that George Washington and his people walked hundreds of years ago. As we toured his mansion, it was amazing to see the artwork and detail put into the mansion that has been preserved for so long. This trip opened up my eyes to the amazing country we live in. We often spend most of our time criticizing everything in our lives and it felt good to appreciate our country’s past present and future.”
