Advocate+DC+2014+Article

=ANNUAL WASHINGTON, D.C., TRIP WAS 'EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME' FOR AURORA STUDENTS =  by MIKE LESKO | REPORTER Published: November 26, 2014 1:00AM

 **Aurora** -- The annual journey by Harmon School eighth-graders to Washington, D.C., was "the experience of a lifetime," student Graham Aldredge said. Student Bryn Sesny said seeing all the memorials "was really touching. It made me understand why we honor our veterans. It was a very worthwhile trip." About 250 eighth-graders, along with 30 staff chaperones, traveled to the nation's capital on six buses Oct. 22-24.The Aurora group stayed at the National 4-H Center, about a half hour outside of Washington, D.C. It was similar to a college dormitory.

"It is almost a rite of passage for our eighth-graders that provides each an unforgettable, bonding experience with their friends, classmates and teachers that they'll remember for a lifetime," said Social Studies teacher Paul Frankmann, who coordinated the trip. "It grounds them in real life experiences in American history / government and is the core of our eighth-grade social studies curriculum." Harmon secretary Laurie Berger said the trip has been offered for more than 30 years. The only exception was in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks. "We hope students come back from the trip feeling proud to be an American," Frankmann said, adding students are responsible for paying for the trip. "Since Laurie Berger is so good about managing the money, students are able to arrange for payment in a variety of ways," he said."Almost all of our students go. None of our students don't go because of money."Berger said families are informed of the trip and cost at the end of seventh grade "so it is not a surprise at the beginning of eighth grade." Frankmann added, "Our students always make us proud and represent Harmon and Aurora so very well."

**WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL**

Assistant Principal Mike Janatovich said "one of the most impactful highlights" was the wreath laying ceremony Paul and Angie Frankmann created at the World War II Memorial. "This ceremony has more than 40 student participants who read and sing the national anthem or play Taps on their trumpets," Janatovich said. "The focus of the ceremony is to reflect on the men and women who served our country and protected the freedoms our forefathers worked hard to establish." Student Gilda Chestney said the wreath laying ceremony was her favorite part of the trip. "It was really touching when they read the names of veterans," she said. "A choir sang the national anthem." Chestney said reading stanzas of poems was "a great experience." "I read part of a poem about how a man walked along the ocean shore where soldiers had fought and died," she said. "I loved the World War II Memorial. There were quotes on the wall from different people. It was moving. "Student Julia Robinson's great-grandfather, Mindley Jack Morris, served on a mine sweeper during World War II, helping to clear a path for large ships. "He said the scariest part was if a mine blew up, his boat would blow up and everybody would die," she said. "Our family is very proud of him."

**WW II HONOR FLIGHT**

"We had the honor of meeting an Honor Flight of World War II veterans from Alaska who flew in just to see the memorial," Janatovich said. "It was a powerful experience for all involved ."Student Olivia Cymanski was impressed by getting to meet the World War II veterans. "One of them was saying how some of his friends didn't want to talk about the war, but he said he enjoyed having a chance to talk about it," she said. Chestney said she took photos of the veterans and thanked them for their service. Sesny noted she enjoyed meeting some of them. "Our group gave the veterans a standing ovation as they walked by," Berger said. "Students were able to thank and talk to several of the veterans. It was very touching for both sides. Our students are so respectful and reflect on their relatives that have or are currently serving."

**THE F.D.R. MEMORIAL**

Chestney was moved by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, which she said had four different rooms, one for each term of his presidency, and there were FDR quotes on the walls along with life-size statues. "One showed FDR in a wheelchair [because he had polio]. His face looked very realistic," she said. "Another showed his wife, Eleanor, helping to form the United Nations."Chestney said there were scenes from the Great Depression, including a "bread line" for unemployed citizens. She said Roosevelt was also shown with his dog.

**ARLINGTON CEMETERY**

Student Colin McNamara said the cemetery was "awesome; there are more than eight funerals a day there."Aldredge said Arlington was his favorite site. You could look out and see a sea of graves," he said. "It was somber and peaceful, but marvelous to look at." Cymanski said it was "inspiring" to see the cemetery and the changing of the guard there. "One guard was in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," she said. Robinson agreed it was "inspiring. It was sad to see the graves of all the veterans who sacrificed their lives."

**THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL**

Aldredge was impressed. "We saw it at night when it was lit up; it was very cool," he said. "It's huge," McNamara said. "You walk up to it, and you're amazed."

**MOUNT VERNON**

Aldredge said the students walked through George Washington's house at Mount Vernon. "We saw paintings he had bought," he said, "and we saw a bedroom and the porch. [The rooms] were very brightly colored."

**SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION**

Chestney said she liked seeing the original flag from where the "Star Spangled Banner" was written. Aldredge said George Washington's wooden teeth were on display. "Sometimes, they would splinter and he'd have to get new ones," he said.

**KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL**

McNamara appreciated seeing the Korean Conflict Memorial. His great uncle -- the late Joe Koval -- fought in the war. He described statues of groups of soldiers near a wall. "I just connected with it," he said. "Even before the trip, I was looking forward to seeing it."

**VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL**

"It was impressive to see all the names on the wall," Robinson said. Sesny said she was impressed by seeing the names on the wall, adding "That had the most impact on me." Cymanski said students held pieces of paper over the names on the wall, then rubbed over them with lead pencils to create a copies of the names. "We all had to choose a name [from the website] during social studies class," she said. "We're going to make scrapbooks about the trip."Chestney appreciated the statues that were "larger than life," adding "they were carrying walkie-talkies and weapons. There were quotes on the walls [from people involved in the war]."Janatovich said he hoped students learned "the impact that history has on our country today."It is powerful to point to places that students have seen in a text book and see in person, which leads to great discussion." Janatovich said.

**Email: mlesko@recordpub.com** **Phone: 330-541-9400 ext. 4187** **Facebook: facebook.com/mike.lesko.378** **Twitter: Mike Lesko@MikeLesko_RPC**