Mississippi
SATURDAY: Youth Tour 2011 is off to a great start. Students arrived this afternoon and checked into hotel. After a short time for unpacking, we started sightseeing around 6 p.m. We visited the FDR Memorial and Jefferson Memorial. Then a hungry group attacked the food court at Pentagon City Mall. We have an exciting week ahead and look forward to showing the DC area to these super young people. A full day of sightseeing tomorrow including lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and an evening cruise on the Potomac River.
SUNDAY: Our busy day started with breakfast at McDonalds. Our next stop was the popular Iwo Jima Memorial and then to the World War II Memorial. The students enjoyed a visit to the museum at Ford's Theatre and visited the theatre and a presentation by the National Park Service. Lunch was at the popular Hard Rock Cafe. Just a block away is Madame Tussand's wax museum where students had photos made with famous Americans. The rest of the afternoon was spent at the Lincoln Memorial, Viet Nam wall and Korean Memorial. Back to the hotel to freshen up and then to dinner and an enjoyable evening cruising the Potomac River. Hot and sunny today with a brief afternoon shower. A cool front is moving in and tomorrow's weather looks to be great. Visit us again tomorrow as we share our journey with you.
MONDAY: The day started with more than 1,400 students from 42 states attending Youth Day 2011. The morning activity closed with an awesome presentation by our keynote speaker, Mike Schlappi. Mississippi was well represented. The to Union Station for a little shopping and lunch at the food court. We took a trip up Embassy Row and made a stop at the National Cathedral. What a beautiful place of worship! Next stop, Honest Abe souvenir shop in D.C. followed by a visit to the Smithsonian Sculpture Garden. At this stop, the students had an opportunity to enjoy the outdoor sculptures and relax. A delicious seafood buffet at Phillips on the Potomac was enjoyed by all. After dinner, we attended a performance of the award-winning show, Shear Madness, at the Kennedy Center. A photo of our hard-working group of advisors is included in the photo gallery. A wonderful day with great weather. We are having a great time with a group of outstanding young people. Please excuse any "typos" as the days are long and an early departure in the morning. We will visit Mt. Vernon, Arlington Cemetery and the Sunset Parade.
TUESDAY: The morning was spent at Mt. Vernon with a tour of President George Washington's home and a visit to his grave site. The student visited the museum located on the ground and enjoyed a video where it snowed! Finally a home cook meal (or the best we could do) at the Country Buffet. Our next stop was the Air Force Memorial where the students received an American flag as today is Flag Day. A walking tour of Arlington Cemetery included a visit to view the eternal flame at JFK's grave site and the changing of the guard. Today's tour ended with the students joining several thousand people at the world-famous Sunset Parade held at Iwo Jima Memorial. A great day with weather around 80 and overcast. Tomorrow we will tour the Capitol and visit with our Senators and Representative. In the evening, the students will attend the farewell dinner/dance for all the states. We are having a blast with the best young people in the world.
WEDNESDAY: Capitol Hill day was fantastic with a 7:00 a.m. departure. Photographs were taken in front of the Capitol including a group shot with Rep. Gregg Harper (3rd Congressional District). After photos, Rep. Harper led our students to the floor of the House of Representatives where he delivered an informative talk and took questions. This is a place not many people have the opportunity to visit. Next, he led the young people on a personal tour of a portion of the Capitol and a visit to the Speaker's balcony. This site provides a beautiful view. He also arranged for us to view a video on the history of the Capitol and a guided tour. Thanks to Rep. Harper for being a great host to all of our young people. We left the Capitol and walked to the Hart Senate Office Building for a photo session with Sen. Roger Wicker. He visited with them and answered several questions from our students. We had lunch in the Rayburn House Office Building and separated the students by congressional districts. All of the students had the opportunity to visit with their Representative and have pictures made. Our thanks to Rep. Alan Nunnelee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Gregg Harper and Rep. Steven Palazzo for taking time to talk with them. We left Capitol Hill around 3:30 p.m. and returned to the hotel for the all-states dinner and dance. The tired but happy students are now in bed (probably not asleep). Well, they are predicting rain tomorrow. It's our day to visit the Smithsonian museums and the White House. We trust the rain will hold off until we finish our sightseeing. Look forward to visiting with you again tomorrow evening, our last night in D.C.
THURSDAY: An answer to prayers! The weather forecasters predicted a 50% chance for rain during the day, which is not good for visiting the Smithsonian. Well, it did rain! But only after we had loaded the bus at 5:00 p.m. The students had cloudy skies and cool weather as they visited four of the major museums. The young people enjoyed breakfast at their favorite place, McDonalds. Then to the White House and Lafayette Park (commonly referred to as Protest Park). Most of the day was spent at the Smithsonian and dinner was served at the food court in Crystal City. Back to the hotel and saying goodbyes. We will be checking out early in the morning to catch flights in Baltimore and D.C. I would like to thank our advisors who have assisted with this trip. They have done a wonderful job and really taken good care of your precious children. They are: Abby Berry (assistant tour director); Azalea Knight; Leif and Colleen Munkel; Linda Hutcherson; Mark and Lexie Bridges; and Micheal and Angie Weltzheimer. Special thanks to Mark for producing this website each night after we returned to the hotel.
I want to thank you for allowing us an opportunity to share this time with this special group of young people. I think they truly enjoyed the trip, even with the long days and lack of rest. We had a wonderful time in this beautiful city and they have been most cooperative. I am pleased to know the future of Mississippi will be in great hands when this group takes the reins. As I told them, please know that I and our advisors are committed to each student and if we can ever be of service or help to them, we trust they will get in touch with us.
Love to all my new children;
Daddy Ron
stewart@epaofms.com
601-605-8600
Read MoreSUNDAY: Our busy day started with breakfast at McDonalds. Our next stop was the popular Iwo Jima Memorial and then to the World War II Memorial. The students enjoyed a visit to the museum at Ford's Theatre and visited the theatre and a presentation by the National Park Service. Lunch was at the popular Hard Rock Cafe. Just a block away is Madame Tussand's wax museum where students had photos made with famous Americans. The rest of the afternoon was spent at the Lincoln Memorial, Viet Nam wall and Korean Memorial. Back to the hotel to freshen up and then to dinner and an enjoyable evening cruising the Potomac River. Hot and sunny today with a brief afternoon shower. A cool front is moving in and tomorrow's weather looks to be great. Visit us again tomorrow as we share our journey with you.
MONDAY: The day started with more than 1,400 students from 42 states attending Youth Day 2011. The morning activity closed with an awesome presentation by our keynote speaker, Mike Schlappi. Mississippi was well represented. The to Union Station for a little shopping and lunch at the food court. We took a trip up Embassy Row and made a stop at the National Cathedral. What a beautiful place of worship! Next stop, Honest Abe souvenir shop in D.C. followed by a visit to the Smithsonian Sculpture Garden. At this stop, the students had an opportunity to enjoy the outdoor sculptures and relax. A delicious seafood buffet at Phillips on the Potomac was enjoyed by all. After dinner, we attended a performance of the award-winning show, Shear Madness, at the Kennedy Center. A photo of our hard-working group of advisors is included in the photo gallery. A wonderful day with great weather. We are having a great time with a group of outstanding young people. Please excuse any "typos" as the days are long and an early departure in the morning. We will visit Mt. Vernon, Arlington Cemetery and the Sunset Parade.
TUESDAY: The morning was spent at Mt. Vernon with a tour of President George Washington's home and a visit to his grave site. The student visited the museum located on the ground and enjoyed a video where it snowed! Finally a home cook meal (or the best we could do) at the Country Buffet. Our next stop was the Air Force Memorial where the students received an American flag as today is Flag Day. A walking tour of Arlington Cemetery included a visit to view the eternal flame at JFK's grave site and the changing of the guard. Today's tour ended with the students joining several thousand people at the world-famous Sunset Parade held at Iwo Jima Memorial. A great day with weather around 80 and overcast. Tomorrow we will tour the Capitol and visit with our Senators and Representative. In the evening, the students will attend the farewell dinner/dance for all the states. We are having a blast with the best young people in the world.
WEDNESDAY: Capitol Hill day was fantastic with a 7:00 a.m. departure. Photographs were taken in front of the Capitol including a group shot with Rep. Gregg Harper (3rd Congressional District). After photos, Rep. Harper led our students to the floor of the House of Representatives where he delivered an informative talk and took questions. This is a place not many people have the opportunity to visit. Next, he led the young people on a personal tour of a portion of the Capitol and a visit to the Speaker's balcony. This site provides a beautiful view. He also arranged for us to view a video on the history of the Capitol and a guided tour. Thanks to Rep. Harper for being a great host to all of our young people. We left the Capitol and walked to the Hart Senate Office Building for a photo session with Sen. Roger Wicker. He visited with them and answered several questions from our students. We had lunch in the Rayburn House Office Building and separated the students by congressional districts. All of the students had the opportunity to visit with their Representative and have pictures made. Our thanks to Rep. Alan Nunnelee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Gregg Harper and Rep. Steven Palazzo for taking time to talk with them. We left Capitol Hill around 3:30 p.m. and returned to the hotel for the all-states dinner and dance. The tired but happy students are now in bed (probably not asleep). Well, they are predicting rain tomorrow. It's our day to visit the Smithsonian museums and the White House. We trust the rain will hold off until we finish our sightseeing. Look forward to visiting with you again tomorrow evening, our last night in D.C.
THURSDAY: An answer to prayers! The weather forecasters predicted a 50% chance for rain during the day, which is not good for visiting the Smithsonian. Well, it did rain! But only after we had loaded the bus at 5:00 p.m. The students had cloudy skies and cool weather as they visited four of the major museums. The young people enjoyed breakfast at their favorite place, McDonalds. Then to the White House and Lafayette Park (commonly referred to as Protest Park). Most of the day was spent at the Smithsonian and dinner was served at the food court in Crystal City. Back to the hotel and saying goodbyes. We will be checking out early in the morning to catch flights in Baltimore and D.C. I would like to thank our advisors who have assisted with this trip. They have done a wonderful job and really taken good care of your precious children. They are: Abby Berry (assistant tour director); Azalea Knight; Leif and Colleen Munkel; Linda Hutcherson; Mark and Lexie Bridges; and Micheal and Angie Weltzheimer. Special thanks to Mark for producing this website each night after we returned to the hotel.
I want to thank you for allowing us an opportunity to share this time with this special group of young people. I think they truly enjoyed the trip, even with the long days and lack of rest. We had a wonderful time in this beautiful city and they have been most cooperative. I am pleased to know the future of Mississippi will be in great hands when this group takes the reins. As I told them, please know that I and our advisors are committed to each student and if we can ever be of service or help to them, we trust they will get in touch with us.
Love to all my new children;
Daddy Ron
stewart@epaofms.com
601-605-8600
