Bagly 8th Graders Visit Washinton D.C. With Few Being First Time Ever

In the Chatsworth Times, more than 90 Bagley Middle School eighth grade students, alumni and friends, parents, teachers, and even a few grandparents spent part of the recent Christmas break traveling to Washington D.C. for the first time ever to learn more about our nation's capital. This popular trip is a long-standing wait for everyone.

This year's trip coincided with the passing of former President Gerald Ford, and the Bagley group missed going to the capitol when it closed to prepare for the Ford services. The group enjoyed visiting more than 25 sites in the city, however. There were six coordinators for the trip. The group arrived the evening of December 26, and, early the next morning, headed to Arlington National Cemetery where they toured the historic burial ground, watched the Changing of the Guard, and then participated in their own special wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The same day, they went to the White House Visitor Center, enjoyed the Pageant of Peace and the national Christmas Tree, and had lunch at Union Station, and also visited the World War II. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean war, and Vietnam Memorials as well as the Kennedy Center.

On their second day in D.C. the Bagley group toured Embassy Row, visited The Awakening sculpture, Ford's Theater, Peterson House, the Washington Monument, and Washington National Cathedral where they participated in the annual birthday memorial service for President Woodrow T. Wilson.

They also had some shopping time and lunch at Pentagon City Mall with supper at Magill's followed by an evening of bowling. For their final day on tour, these Murray Countians toured the old city of Alexandria, VA., and spent the morning at mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington. The afternoon was spent at the White House and Lafayette Square, The Air and Space Museum of Natural history.

Late in the afternoon, the group departed for home, stopping for supper in Colonial heights, Va., and arrived back at Bagley early and on schedule. Those who traveled to D.C. were leaders Tim Howard and David Robinson.