Challenger

for the trip you had to be a junior or senior that had served on the drill team or the color guard for two or three years. The following students were selected to participate: Jake List, Kristen List, Aunjanae Hawthorne, Elizabeth Pierce, Jessica Martin, Brad Mattingly, Ashley Bidwell, Kim Burns, T.C. Shew, Jake Thompson, Jessie Roby, Kristy Tuhy, David Gant, Luke Griffith, and Aaron Ray. When asked the purpose of the trip senior Jake List said, “We read about places like the Arlington National Cemetery all the time. It was time we actually visited them. I was an informative trip.”

The trip started when they met with Ralph Basham, the Secret Service Director , originally from Owensboro. Before they any of the students or parents were allowed to enter the buildings, background checks had to be done. He presented each cadet with a Secret Service lapel pen. Director Basham spoke to the cadets about the different responsiblities of the Secret Service. He also urged them to continue their education beyond high school. The cadets visited the West Wing of the White House as a guest of Director Basham and were escorted by the Secret Service personnel who explained the duties of the agents stationed at the White House and answered questions.

Later that day the cadets met with Kentucky’s U.S. Senator, Mitch McConnell on the steps of the Capitol. Senator McConnell spoke shortly with the cadets and joined them in a group picture. There they saw several U.S. Senators pass by, including Senator, and former First Lady, Hilary Clinton. As a guest of Senator McConnell the cadets observed a session of the Senate. “It’s a lot bigger in person than on TV,” commented senior Aunjanaie Hawthorne. Senator Nelson from Florida was presenting a bill for hurricane relief. One student said that he described the hurricane in detail.

The next day, the cadets, dressed in their Air Force uniforms, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. Seniors Jake List, Kristen Lewis, Aunjanae Hawthorne and Elizabeth Pierce marched with the Tomb’s Honor Guard, and placed a wreath at the base of The Tomb. The other cadets were in formation at “Present Arms” as the bugler played “Taps” in honor of the military members interred inThe Tomb. They also toured the gravesite of President John Kennedy. After that the cadets journeyed to Anapolis, Maryland to visit the United States Naval Academy. A volunteer guide took them on a tour of the academy. They visited many historical sites on the campus as well as the dormitory housing the 4,000 Midshipmen, the academy chapel, and the crypt housing the remains of John Paul Jones, a hero of the American Revoluntionary War.

The day was not over yet, the cadets toured the National Mall in D.C. They visited many monuments and memorials such as the new World War Two Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. Cadet Jessie Roby wrote a poem honoring Vietnam veterans. The poem with signatures from the other cadets was placed at the foot of “The Wall” along with a small American Flag.

The following morning the cadets returned to the National Mall. While some of them returned to the war memorials, most of the cadets visited the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and the Holocaust Museum, which was junior Aaron Ray’s favorite part of the trip. Several cadets saw President Bush and his motorcade returning to the White House.
Free time was not on the schedule for these cadets. As soon as that topic was brought up, they immediately said that there was no free time. They left at six o’clock in the morning, which meant they had to get up at five or five-thirty to be ready. Then lights were out at ten that night. “The funny thing about that was the night we didn’t get back until eleven-thirty,” Jake said. “We didn’t even have time for the homework we were supposed to do while gone.” Aaron explained. Friday, September 24 the cadets returned to Apollo late. During the trip the cadets were required to keep a journal and later they will write a portfolio piece. As a whole the Wreath-Laying at Arlington was the cadets favorite part of the trip.