LMS students learn how to become a 'real' American

Students pose in Central Park in Manhattan atop a massive schist rock formation. The best way to become a "real American," according to Washington, D.C., guide Brooks Breece, is to take a tour with him of the nation's Capital and pay tribute to the heroes who fought and died for the country.

That's exactly what 43 Lampasas Middle School eighth-graders and 14 local parents and teachers did on June 1-5.

Eighth-grade teachers Jan L. Vann and Ann Conner led the annual eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C., and New York City, where they started at the National Archives to view America's sacred documents -- the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The newly redesigned American History Museum with the refurbished Star Spangled Banner flag on display was the next stop, as well as a tour of the National Cathedral, also known as The Nation's Church.

The first evening tour included the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Women's Memorial where four students were allowed to make rubbings of the names of eight Lampasas County men listed on "The Wall." The students were John Cole Vann, David Straley, Julie Mize and Kaitlyn Harp. This activity proved to be very meaningful and really brought the Vietnam War home to these young people, said trip sponsors.

LMS eighth-grader David Straley takes a rubbing from a name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The group also visited famous sites such as the Korean Memorial, the World War II Memorial, Washington Monument, Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial.

At Arlington National Cemetery, Alandra Killingsworth, Tori Liverman, Kleg Kennedy and Kenneth McGuire were chosen to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Breece gave the students the history of the tomb and cemetery, and he explained how Arlington House -- the home of Robert E. Lee -- was taken over by Union soldiers during the Civil War.

Breece ended the day with stops at the Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, White House and the United States Capitol.

Another favorite museum of the students was the Museum of Natural History, where the Hope Diamond was viewed as well as the many displays of dinosaurs. The popular Air and Space Museum amazed students and adults with its exhibits of the moon rocks, Charles Lindbergh's plane "The Spirit of St. Louis" and the lunar modules.

Times Square in New York City pulses day and night with sounds and lights. On the final day in the nation's Capital, the tour took the group to a favorite site of Mrs. Vann's and Mrs. Conner's: Mount Vernon, the home of President George Washington. Students got a detailed tour of the home, saw the graves of the first president and Martha Washington, and saw the breathtaking river view of the Potomoc.

Students learned that Mount Vernon is still a working plantation growing the same crops Washington did in the late 1790s.

The group then loaded a bus for the four-hour trip to New York City. After a picnic lunch, the students were welcomed to the Big Apple as their teachers played several variations of the song "New York, New York."

The tour included a visit to the "Top of the Rock," or Rockefeller Center, for a night view of the city.

From left, Leanne Poole, Becca Keen and Dakota Davis stand at the base of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The final two days were spent seeing Central Park, Wall Street, Ground Zero, Times Square, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and an evening at the Broadway Play "The Lion King."

After a visit to the famous Trinity Church where many memorials were left for those who died at Ground Zero, Lampasas students and chaperones bid farewell to New York and headed back to Texas.

Mrs. Conner and Mrs. Vann agreed it was one of the best trips they have taken, and said they were very proud of the students as they received many compliments regarding their behavior and appearance.

The sponsors added that the 43 students represented their school, their town and Texas very well throughout their trip.

Most importantly, as Breece would say, they are now "real Americans."

Students on the trip included Dakota Barbee, Reanna Boone, Caleb Davis, Olivia Everhart, Devon Feighner, Katelyn Franklin, Scotti Franklin, Ryan Henderson, Lauren January, Alandra Killingsworth, Tori Liverman, Kenneth McGuire, Chris Monroe, Aubrie Perez, Tyler Perkins, Samantha Phillips, LeAnne Poole, Bryce Ramon, Jake Terry, John Cole Vann, Ann Ward and Marley Wiggins.

The Statue of Liberty is a popular stop on the trip. Also, eighth-graders Esidro Arce, Marley Berry, Dallas Brooks, Tatyana Carnes, Aric Figurski, Cathleen Garczynski, Kaitlin Harp, Ben Henderson, Nicholas Hughes, Jenna Jenkins, Rebecca Keen, Kleg Kennedy, Kyle Kinabrew, Byler Lindeman, Kenya Martin, Julie Mize, Katie Peterson, Megan Roberts, Cullen Singleton, Hannah Smart and David Straley.

Teachers and parents who joined Mrs. Vann and Mrs. Conner were Iva Davis, Marie McGuire, LaDale Perkins, Laura Ramon, Barbara Smith, Tracy Taylor, Danny Vann, Katherine Brown, Kim Jenkins, Patricia Singleton, Mariann Smart and Robert Straley.

 

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