Colton takes on D.C.

This post has been put off long enough ~ I am so overwhelmed that I really don't know how to start or how to finish.  So please bear with me.
Each year the AP US History/Gov't class have the opportunity as Juniors to spend a week in Washington, D.C. visiting the monuments, the museums, the battlefields and to simply enjoy the start of their summer vacation.  Colton was determined to make the trip and he paid for the entire trip 100% by himself.  He saved every penny and was committed to making the trip.  Tom and I are so proud of him. This would be his first plane ride as well.  He was so excited and so was I because I told him that he was to post several pics a day to FaceBook, to Instagram as well as send them in texts.  Well he failed miserably at keeping me upto the minute on his trip however, he did come home with 598 pictures on my camera ~ yep you read that right 598 photos ~ so now you see why I am so overwhelmed.  I will in no way blog about every photo ~ 1. because I wasn't there ~ 2. because Colton is not home while I am blogging and 3. because blogging that many photos would be CRAZY!

Here we go….

Home away from home for the next week

First stop ~ Fort McHenry

they then visited the Inner Harbor in Baltimore

Day 2 ~ Arrlington National Cemetary

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ~ in Colton's words, "extremely moving"

Leaving Arrlington and heading into Washington, D.C. 

1st stop: Iwo Jima Memorial

2nd stop ~ National Mall ~ a giant field from the Capital Building to the Lincoln Memorial 

They played here ALL day ~ enjoy all the photos

 Air and Space Museum

 National Art Museum

 the Famous Monument Walk ~ GOOD walking shoes are required; you will be walking 10+ miles

Jefferson

Roosevelt ~ only president to serve 4 terms 

the artist designed 4 stone rooms ~ 1 for each term

 representing the turmoil that he was dealing as soon as he was elected

Martin Luther King, Jr

Korean War AKA the Forgotten War

 The etching is only visible looking in one direction otherwise like a flat empty piece of granite

 Flowers are continually fresh

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam

The memorial starts off small and continues to grow and grow to symbolize the amount of lives that were lost.

 point symbolizes the war seemed like it would never end 

World War II

 each gold star represents a number of lives lost

Washington Memorial

This will forever be the tallest monument in D.C. 

Last stop ~ The White House

Wowsa they are Tired.  

Day 3

First stop Capitol Building

 Brenden Morris and the statue…  

Walked to Ford Theater along the way they saw the I.R.S, the Post Office and the architechure is amazing.  They ate lunch at an underground food court.  Beyond words…you must see for yourself and he didn't get photos

and the theater

they then ventured to the Holocaust Museum, Mr. Stevens, asked the students to keep their cameras tucked away and simply take it in.

Natural History Museum ~ Colton says they spent way too much time here and he has the photos to prove it.  Enjoy

 Hey Zack

top secret….shhhhh….Colton actually found a corner and took a nap.

Day 4

Gettysburg

 Mr. Stevens doing what he does best  ~ TEACH

 another National Cemetary at Gettyburg

 the "crew"

and that wraps day 4

Day 5

extra time before the flight stopped at Harper's Ferry

a quick history lesson.  Thomas Jefferson visited here.  Shay's rebellion also took place here. Short lived rebellion.

This trip was a great memory for Colton.  He is a huge history buff and loves the stories.  We missed him and the 5 days went too slow sometimes.  We surprised him when we picked him up by having Darbie in the car.  The smile on his face was priceless to see her or was it to see his mommy?  He will never tell.