Eighth Graders Attend RFK Memorial Event
Yesterday, the eighth grade trip to Washington DC took an unexpected turn. The students and faculty stumbled into an incredible event on their way to watch the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. An event was gathering at the Amphitheater that is right behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy on the 50th anniversary of his death. In attendance were the Kennedy family, former President Bill Clinton, and Civil Rights icon John Lewis.
“As we were walking by the amphitheater, a man working the event invited us in,” said Humanities teacher Melissa Dolan. “We had seen the Kennedy family as we visited JFK's gravesite and the eternal flame; they were gathered around RFK's gravesite for a private ceremony.
“The event was a really big deal. The students heard Clinton speak and Kenny Chesney performed a song. The students had studied John Lewis’ work when learning about the leaders of the Selma-to-Montgomery Marches in 1965. They also heard Emma Gonzalez, a student from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who has since become an activist, who read a quote from RFK.
In addition to the excitement on Wednesday, the students visited the African-American Museum of History and Culture, one of the Smithsonian museums, on Monday. On Tuesday, they visited the Supreme Court, the Capitol building, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. At the end of the day, They went to the Nationals Game. The DC area had been dealing with heavy rains for days/weeks, but the weather was 80 and sunny all week.
“After the events at Arlington, the students headed to Annapolis for lunch and a tour of the United States Naval Academy, which they really seemed to enjoy,” said Ms. Dolan. “All in all, a fantastic trip!”
Click here for an article about the event.
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