This morning we got to sleep in an extra hour and had breakfast in the hotel at 8:00am. The busses left by 9:00am and headed toward the Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland.
Every year, the Lipscomb Academy 8th Graders go on a class trip to Washington D.C. This year, it’s finally my turn! I’ve been so excited for this trip since the beginning of the school year, and to make things even better, I get to go with my dad!
My day started at 3:45 AM, and we got to the airport at 5:30. After getting through security, my dad took us to 8&r Coffee and got me a hot chocolate! The flight process was pretty smooth, and I spent the time listening to Broadway tunes with a friend.
When we got to D.C, we almost immediately boarded a bus to go to a food court at a mall. We stayed a while, and my friends and I browsed in the various stores.
Our first destination for touring was the Museum of African-American History and Culture. This museum was very interesting, but it is definitely a lot to take in. Learning about the horrors African-Americans have gone through all throughout history creates a terrible feeling.
After this, we went to dinner at Buca di Beppo. This was a very good meal, and it was family style, so we could all help ourselves to a little bit of everything.
Our final touring destination for the day was the John F. Kennedy Center, which features both the Hall of Nations and the Hall of States. On the top level, there was also a beautiful terrace where we all took pictures.
We didn’t get to spend long in here, but after we went to the terrace, we got to explore an exhibit highlighting the growth of various arts programs over time. What really stood out to me about this exhibit was that each sign I read pointed out how the specific art form told the story of America as a whole. As much as I love music and theatre, this is something I’d never really thought about.
We arrived at our hotel at about 8:30, and we were all very tired. However, it was a very good day that we all enjoyed in one way or another.
Our second morning began with a lovely breakfast at the hotel and we pulled out just after 8:00am. The first stop of the day was the US Capitol Building. We parked on the front side of the Capitol and then walked up the hill to the back.
From there we walked over to the Supreme Court building and took a photo of the group.
At the start of this post, I want to acknowledge the school shooting that took place at Covenant School this morning just after we arrived in Washington D.C. Covenant School is less than two miles from the Lipscomb Academy Lower School where my wife Olivia works, and less than three miles from the Upper School where both Kate and Sara attend. Learning about this during our day was overwhelming, and difficult to deal with emotionally. This was especially true considering the many connections those in the Lipscomb family have with the families who lost loved ones. While we still enjoyed our day in D.C., it understandably cast a heavy shadow. I cannot comprehend this act of evil nor the loss of these precious souls. My heart hurts and my prayers will be continually lifted for all involved.
This week I am accompanying Sara while serving as a chaperone for the Lipscomb Academy 8th Grade field trip to Washington D.C. I was able to go on the same trip four years ago with Kate, and am thrilled to be going again with Sara. Olivia dropped us off at the airport at 5:30am to meet up with our group of approximately 125 students, teachers, and chaperones. The group was split into two flights (Southwest & United), leaving at two different times, and flying to two different airports (Reagan & Dulles). Even with all of this going on, the process of getting boarding passes and navigating through security was pretty smooth. Kudos to Bob Rodgers Travel, Southwest and United Airlines for having everything ready to go!