Because ASB is never complete without its share of inside jokes, only to be remembered and considered amusing by those who were present, I felt it necessary and fitting to title this post as I have.
Having been a participant on two Alternative Break trips, and now a trip leader on two, I am always amazed at how much even leaders learn from their teams. I lead trips (and all the stress that comes with them) to create good experiences for my team. And my team is amazing. From Uno and Scrabble, to hearing about the poopy smell of my room, the walking around the city, Metro-ing, dealing with my shrieks of joy upon encountering another man in uniform, for being so flexible, for being so open, for showing me that there are people in my generation that care about people and the world, and for teaching me as I was "leading" you - thank you. Thank you all for being who you are - honest, truth, and pure beauty. I miss you. And of course what we shared.
On the other side of the coin, on our "free" Friday (minus 4 hours in transit to the Hispanic War Veterans of America), we rode the Metro to Pentagon City (next to the Pentagon on the blue line) to get food. On came three women in Air Force fatigues. Nine pair of eyes opened with a new found light - our first interaction with the very people we had been theoretically talking and thinking about for a week. As we were getting off the train, a few of us walked up to the women, shook their hands, and said 'thank you.' A simply 'thank you.' Two words, but throughout this week, we've heard that phrase dozens of times. Oddly enough, from veterans themselves to us. Instead, I must insist on saying 'thank you' because I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice that these men and women make on a daily basis; the work that they do, though we may not agree with the why or the how, or the politics behind it, these people are just people. They are men and women who want to better themselves (like us), who want to get an education (like us), who want to support their families (like us), and who want to stand up for something (like us). Those women on the Metro, the man at Walter Reed with his baby on his hip and his wife behind him, swollen, shrapnel covered face, Audie Murphy and Tuskegee Airmen, the Jewish veterans and nurses, and the Navajo Code Talkers ... they're all just like us, like me. We are no different fundamentally, we are one, and we are the same.
On a more personal note, my thoughts on coming back to school and the grind of my internship, I've got a constantly flowing stream of thoughts going through my head. Like what's the oldest you can be to join the military (an actual consideration for me), how I wrestle with my feelings of trying not to seem like an invader into a foreign world (not just veterans but in all stations of life) while trying to do my best to make the world just and right, how much I value my education, how so much of human value is placed on the physical (but I've seen with my own eyes this week people with physical disabilities who are stronger, faster, smarter, probably better people than me), how I don't know my place in life, much less in the world. I don't know. I seem to be a big verbalizer but in my head, I have a lot more thoughts that never make it out. I guess all I can say is that each time I go on a trip like this, I find myself out of sorts without knowing how to be right again. But I guess maybe that's the point - that you're never the same person you were before a trip like this.
Signing off -
Joelle
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
We're sitting here in the living room of our hostel on the last night of the trip watching Full Metal Jacket. We left this morning around 7:45 or so to start on about a two hour trip to visit the Hispanic War Veterans of America in Alexandria, VA. We spoke with two veterans, one who served in Vietnam and another older man who served in both Korea and Vietnam.
One of the main things that was addressed by these men about their organization was the emphasis the organization places on separating immigration issues from veterans affairs. The organization doesn't focus its attention on resolving the controversies surrounding illegal immigration but rather problems revolving around services available, or lack thereof, for immigrant war veterans. I think of the most interesting things I learned today from these men was that many immigrants come legally to the US and enroll for military service yet are not allowed to apply for citizenship until after their service is complete.
Looking back, there were many fulfilling aspects of this trip. From a social perspective, it was cool to get to know and spend time with some new people from school. Yea it sounds cliche but I feel like a lot of things sound cliche because they are true and represent certain commonalities in all of us and for me at least, considering that this was my first alternative break trip, I am sincerely glad I was able to experience this. From a topical perspective, I think the most fulfilling times were when we were able to personally talk with veterans and get to know them a bit more personally and intimately. This was cool because you were able to get to see them more as humans and individuals rather than soldiers of a mass, collective military.
To be continued...
One of the main things that was addressed by these men about their organization was the emphasis the organization places on separating immigration issues from veterans affairs. The organization doesn't focus its attention on resolving the controversies surrounding illegal immigration but rather problems revolving around services available, or lack thereof, for immigrant war veterans. I think of the most interesting things I learned today from these men was that many immigrants come legally to the US and enroll for military service yet are not allowed to apply for citizenship until after their service is complete.
Looking back, there were many fulfilling aspects of this trip. From a social perspective, it was cool to get to know and spend time with some new people from school. Yea it sounds cliche but I feel like a lot of things sound cliche because they are true and represent certain commonalities in all of us and for me at least, considering that this was my first alternative break trip, I am sincerely glad I was able to experience this. From a topical perspective, I think the most fulfilling times were when we were able to personally talk with veterans and get to know them a bit more personally and intimately. This was cool because you were able to get to see them more as humans and individuals rather than soldiers of a mass, collective military.
To be continued...
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A trip that is drawing to a close....
So today we went to this small row house on Massachusetts Avenue, home to the D.C. office of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. They are largely an advocacy organization for veterans issues and a large membership organization. The oldest staff member is 34 and so they largely utilize the internet, creating an almost facebook equivalent for veterans to discuss issues that are specific to them and not feel that they will be attacked for what they say.
Then we had some free time before we head out to Walter Reed where we played some Bingo with some guys who were receiving care there and their families, thanks to a contact we made at the alumni reception- Monica Boner. (WONDERFULLLLL)
All throughout this trip, people have been commenting on the way that being around people who serve in the military makes your own life feel so insignificant. The other teams, while they are doing excellent work, probably won’t have this exact feeling in regards to their topic and the people they are serving. You can build beds in South Dakota or pull out invasive species and you can feel like you didn’t make a difference, but here we are engaging and learning with a population so unlike our selves, so vastly committed to something larger than anything we could ever have imagined. But they are there, in the Middle East, watching their friends get blown up, dealing with language barriers, lack of trust sometimes, and a general lack of civilian infrastructure in those areas. When they come back, Tom at the IAVA gave us this quote/thought: That after war, the volume on life has been turned down. How do you find meaning in a life that hardly compares to the danger of war? Waking up and wondering what’s for breakfast hardly compares to waking up and wondering if your going to die that day. Every single person on this trip I think feels almost completely insignificant.
At Walter Reed, just standing around and watching everyone come in with their families, it was so interesting and eye opening the kind of reactions these service men/women can have when they feel safe and comfortable. Almost immediately after we got there and sat down, we all noticed a guy who had had one leg amputated and had a prosthetic sitting not to far away who seemed to be maybe his mom and two brothers. As another man with a prosthetic leg walked past his table, the first guy sitting down called out “Haha, loser! You only have one leg!” Seeing this kind of joking taking place, while it made us glad to know that they still had that sense of humor in them despite what some would call an extremely grim situation, I reflected on it later. If even one of these guys were at a Maryland soccer game, what would happen? Maybe I’m thinking less of what other students would say and more of how the veterans would feel. Just, whether or not they would feel insecure about sticking out, or what that even feels like, or what men with prosthetic legs think that everyone else thinks about them.
It’s touching to hear ‘thank you’ so many times. I don’t think I’ve ever been told ‘thank you’ this many times in such a short time span. Mainly they come when we interact with the veterans or active military members, but in most cases they generally come from older men who have served in previous wars. One of my participants was telling me that tonight at Walter Reed she was talking to someone who was running the Bingo program who also happened to be a Vietnam vet. He was amazed at what we were doing, amazed that these COLLEGE students took the time out to care, since back during the Vietnam War a college campus was the last place you wanted to be.
I think a lot of people see us as ambassadors, as a new group of people who are showing that our generation truly cares, that this go-around, things will be different.
In planning this trip, and carrying out this trip, we have noticed (and been explicitly told) that there is not much military-civilian interdependence or communication. We can’t volunteer certain places for lack of a security clearance, or just the general lack of understanding we’re seeing exists between the two groups. We all felt kind of bad at Walter Reed, we didn’t want any one to feel as though they were being stared at or put on display, but I think that without a growth of communication between the two groups, to some extent it will always be like that, which is unfortunate, but when you physically need different accommodations than other people, its hard to pretend like you don’t stick out, unless you are somewhere where it really is that common place.
I also wanted to touch on the Alumni Reception again, and say that even though it was mainly getting the word out about the program, having so many people there that truly seemed interested in what we were doing and what we had to say, really conveyed to the students that what we are doing, it really is important. We have shown that we care so much I think throughout this trip, but I don’t think our students had really understood the impact and what even just our interest has meant to all of the people we have met.
The last thing I want to say, (and I hope its ok if I do since it was semi-stalking on my part to see this) is tell you a little bit about our reflection tonight, that hopefully can sum up some of the general changes in ourselves from this trip. A few nights ago, we asked everyone to write down what they thought of, when they thought of what veterans are. Most people wrote a list of a few words, or just a general definition like someone who has served in the military, whatever- preconceived, maybe stereotypical notions. Tonight we asked them to do the same thing- write down what they thought veterans 'were'. I was sitting behind one of the participants, and as the conversation at the end of the reflection came to a close, I saw what he had written for that question. Of all the characteristics, of all the people, the data, the stereotypes, the uniforms, what have you, of all of the things they could have written down for “Now, after having been on this trip, what ‘is’ a veteran?”, they simply wrote diagonally across the space in all capital letters ‘HUMAN’.
-Sophie Tullier
Then we had some free time before we head out to Walter Reed where we played some Bingo with some guys who were receiving care there and their families, thanks to a contact we made at the alumni reception- Monica Boner. (WONDERFULLLLL)
All throughout this trip, people have been commenting on the way that being around people who serve in the military makes your own life feel so insignificant. The other teams, while they are doing excellent work, probably won’t have this exact feeling in regards to their topic and the people they are serving. You can build beds in South Dakota or pull out invasive species and you can feel like you didn’t make a difference, but here we are engaging and learning with a population so unlike our selves, so vastly committed to something larger than anything we could ever have imagined. But they are there, in the Middle East, watching their friends get blown up, dealing with language barriers, lack of trust sometimes, and a general lack of civilian infrastructure in those areas. When they come back, Tom at the IAVA gave us this quote/thought: That after war, the volume on life has been turned down. How do you find meaning in a life that hardly compares to the danger of war? Waking up and wondering what’s for breakfast hardly compares to waking up and wondering if your going to die that day. Every single person on this trip I think feels almost completely insignificant.
At Walter Reed, just standing around and watching everyone come in with their families, it was so interesting and eye opening the kind of reactions these service men/women can have when they feel safe and comfortable. Almost immediately after we got there and sat down, we all noticed a guy who had had one leg amputated and had a prosthetic sitting not to far away who seemed to be maybe his mom and two brothers. As another man with a prosthetic leg walked past his table, the first guy sitting down called out “Haha, loser! You only have one leg!” Seeing this kind of joking taking place, while it made us glad to know that they still had that sense of humor in them despite what some would call an extremely grim situation, I reflected on it later. If even one of these guys were at a Maryland soccer game, what would happen? Maybe I’m thinking less of what other students would say and more of how the veterans would feel. Just, whether or not they would feel insecure about sticking out, or what that even feels like, or what men with prosthetic legs think that everyone else thinks about them.
It’s touching to hear ‘thank you’ so many times. I don’t think I’ve ever been told ‘thank you’ this many times in such a short time span. Mainly they come when we interact with the veterans or active military members, but in most cases they generally come from older men who have served in previous wars. One of my participants was telling me that tonight at Walter Reed she was talking to someone who was running the Bingo program who also happened to be a Vietnam vet. He was amazed at what we were doing, amazed that these COLLEGE students took the time out to care, since back during the Vietnam War a college campus was the last place you wanted to be.
I think a lot of people see us as ambassadors, as a new group of people who are showing that our generation truly cares, that this go-around, things will be different.
In planning this trip, and carrying out this trip, we have noticed (and been explicitly told) that there is not much military-civilian interdependence or communication. We can’t volunteer certain places for lack of a security clearance, or just the general lack of understanding we’re seeing exists between the two groups. We all felt kind of bad at Walter Reed, we didn’t want any one to feel as though they were being stared at or put on display, but I think that without a growth of communication between the two groups, to some extent it will always be like that, which is unfortunate, but when you physically need different accommodations than other people, its hard to pretend like you don’t stick out, unless you are somewhere where it really is that common place.
I also wanted to touch on the Alumni Reception again, and say that even though it was mainly getting the word out about the program, having so many people there that truly seemed interested in what we were doing and what we had to say, really conveyed to the students that what we are doing, it really is important. We have shown that we care so much I think throughout this trip, but I don’t think our students had really understood the impact and what even just our interest has meant to all of the people we have met.
The last thing I want to say, (and I hope its ok if I do since it was semi-stalking on my part to see this) is tell you a little bit about our reflection tonight, that hopefully can sum up some of the general changes in ourselves from this trip. A few nights ago, we asked everyone to write down what they thought of, when they thought of what veterans are. Most people wrote a list of a few words, or just a general definition like someone who has served in the military, whatever- preconceived, maybe stereotypical notions. Tonight we asked them to do the same thing- write down what they thought veterans 'were'. I was sitting behind one of the participants, and as the conversation at the end of the reflection came to a close, I saw what he had written for that question. Of all the characteristics, of all the people, the data, the stereotypes, the uniforms, what have you, of all of the things they could have written down for “Now, after having been on this trip, what ‘is’ a veteran?”, they simply wrote diagonally across the space in all capital letters ‘HUMAN’.
-Sophie Tullier
Day 5
Our first stop today was a tour of the Marine Barracks near Navy Yard in southeast DC. The place is steeped in tradition. For example, retiring officers leave a book in the library they feel is important for other officers to read. The novels range from “Golfing for Dummies” to “Flags of Our Fathers” to a collection of Dr. Seuss’s works. Our tour guide was quite handsome and most of the girls in the group left feeling like 14 year olds at an N’SYNC concert. Starting May 1, every Friday night at 8pm the Marine band hosts concerts on the green for the public to attend.
After the tour of the barracks, we took the metro to Walter Reed Medical Center to visit the Museum of Health and Medicine. The museum hosts the bullet that killed Lincoln as well as fragments from his skull. It showcases the advances in military medicine on the battlefield and the contributions to medical technology each is known for. The War in Iraq and Afghanistan will likely be remembered for the leaps and bounds with which prosthetic limb technology has moved forward. As of now, prosthetic limbs are being built with sensors to determine if the user is running, walking, climbing upstairs and adjusts itself accordingly. This allows patients to regain mobility in a matter of days, not months. On a more heartrending note, a slab of concrete (about 10’x10’) from an emergency room in Balad, Iraq, known Bay II, has recently been installed at the museum. Bay II is known as an area in this ward where the most lives have been saved, and lost, during the Iraq War. Iodine stains, dents, and duct tape are still visible and induce a sense of sadness to know in that very location young men and women drew their last breaths while fighting for our country over the last few years.
For dinner we were invited to Kristen Cilente’s apartment for a second round of fajitas and to meet Andrea, a Captain in the USMC. After graduating high school, Andrea enlisted in the Marines to help pay for her education and has been with them for the last 12 years including two tours of duty in Iraq. She made a great story teller and engaged us all in the day to day missions she carried out while in Iraq. She made a statement how, even as a graduate student taking 5 classes and teaching 2, she has so much free time compared to the structured life she lived on active duty. Her dedication to the military and her commitment to education had us all questioning our own purpose and appreciating our education and opportunities available to us.
-Cait
After the tour of the barracks, we took the metro to Walter Reed Medical Center to visit the Museum of Health and Medicine. The museum hosts the bullet that killed Lincoln as well as fragments from his skull. It showcases the advances in military medicine on the battlefield and the contributions to medical technology each is known for. The War in Iraq and Afghanistan will likely be remembered for the leaps and bounds with which prosthetic limb technology has moved forward. As of now, prosthetic limbs are being built with sensors to determine if the user is running, walking, climbing upstairs and adjusts itself accordingly. This allows patients to regain mobility in a matter of days, not months. On a more heartrending note, a slab of concrete (about 10’x10’) from an emergency room in Balad, Iraq, known Bay II, has recently been installed at the museum. Bay II is known as an area in this ward where the most lives have been saved, and lost, during the Iraq War. Iodine stains, dents, and duct tape are still visible and induce a sense of sadness to know in that very location young men and women drew their last breaths while fighting for our country over the last few years.
For dinner we were invited to Kristen Cilente’s apartment for a second round of fajitas and to meet Andrea, a Captain in the USMC. After graduating high school, Andrea enlisted in the Marines to help pay for her education and has been with them for the last 12 years including two tours of duty in Iraq. She made a great story teller and engaged us all in the day to day missions she carried out while in Iraq. She made a statement how, even as a graduate student taking 5 classes and teaching 2, she has so much free time compared to the structured life she lived on active duty. Her dedication to the military and her commitment to education had us all questioning our own purpose and appreciating our education and opportunities available to us.
-Cait
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Day Four
Today started with a jolly stroll through the neighborhood up the street to the Armed Forces Retirement Home. If you’ve never been to this place, it is pretty great- it’s quiet and secluded, and almost seems like a college campus for a different generation. When we got there, the staff had already decorated for the St. Patty’s Day party we were having for the residents... we got to go and help bring some of them down for the big sha-bang. Once we got them settled with cupcakes (complete with green sprinkles) and soda or beer (for those of age!) we really got to spend time talking with them, about anything and everything. I think every single person on this trip can say that it was a great experience- these are the people who served our country in so many wars, and they are the ones with the real stories of our country’s history. Just a couple hours with them has taught me more than my American History class I took last semester, and I wish we could have more time with them. One of the girls (Maryanne) actually talked to a woman who was one of the first women to serve in the Army, and as she puts it, she was “a pioneer of that generation and of all women in our history”- how awesome is that?! And probably the most powerful thing I took from the whole experience was that every single Vet I talked to, who has participated in the toughest challenges that humans face, can still say that he or she truly lived a great and memorable life. I just hope when I am their age I can reflect on my own life and be happy with what I have accomplished.
After the St. Patty’s Day party, we were off to another party- an Alumni Reception with some of our fellow Terps! It was at the Navy Memorial, and it’s pretty amazings. If you know someone who was a member of the Navy, you should definitely take them there and let them log into the Servicemen Registry- they can even look up and hopefully reconnect with fellow Navy men and women! Before all of the alum arrived, we got a private screening of a video showcasing many of the missions of the Navy. However romanticized it might have been, it is still incredible what they do. Now, the dinner was fabulous. It was our first time eating a meal with people other than ourselves, and our first dinner out of the hostel, which was very exciting for us. We got to meet some of the wonderful people who make ASB possible for us, and I know we were all honored to be there. Most of us got the chance to really sit down and talk to Kirby Bowling, who has served in Iraq, and among several other things, is helping the Vets who are coming to UMD. There were several really great ideas that we discussed with him for future events we can do with our very own Vets, so we should all be looking out for them soon!!! The day just reinforced how much we have all already learned the past few days of this trip, and how much we want to keep doing in the future when we get back to school. It will be the spring break that never ends… in a good way!
Well, that’s all for now- Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!
-Michelle
After the St. Patty’s Day party, we were off to another party- an Alumni Reception with some of our fellow Terps! It was at the Navy Memorial, and it’s pretty amazings. If you know someone who was a member of the Navy, you should definitely take them there and let them log into the Servicemen Registry- they can even look up and hopefully reconnect with fellow Navy men and women! Before all of the alum arrived, we got a private screening of a video showcasing many of the missions of the Navy. However romanticized it might have been, it is still incredible what they do. Now, the dinner was fabulous. It was our first time eating a meal with people other than ourselves, and our first dinner out of the hostel, which was very exciting for us. We got to meet some of the wonderful people who make ASB possible for us, and I know we were all honored to be there. Most of us got the chance to really sit down and talk to Kirby Bowling, who has served in Iraq, and among several other things, is helping the Vets who are coming to UMD. There were several really great ideas that we discussed with him for future events we can do with our very own Vets, so we should all be looking out for them soon!!! The day just reinforced how much we have all already learned the past few days of this trip, and how much we want to keep doing in the future when we get back to school. It will be the spring break that never ends… in a good way!
Well, that’s all for now- Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!
-Michelle
Monday, March 16, 2009
"You just dropped some mad knowledge."
Hey everyone!
Today was an amazingly educational and fun day (yes the two can coexist!). We started off the day with a trip to the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum a couple of metro stops away onU Street
After spending some time here and reflecting on how "modern" some of the names were (Jupiter just does not strike me as a Civil War era name, but it is a good name none the less) we moved on to the actual museum. At the museum we were greeted by Hari Jones, the curator of the museum, and he treated us to an impromptu "lecture" on the truth about African Americans in the Civil War. He used the movie Glory as the focus of his discussion and proceeded to educate us on the actual facts of the 54th regiment. Fascinating stuff! I really would have liked to spend all day listening to him- he was that good. So good, in fact, at the end Christian exclaimed "You just dropped some mad knowledge, man." You should talk to the man. It might just change your life.
After that, we walked down to the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. This was also very interesting. There was a focus on the roles of Jewish women in the military, and an overall focus on the role of American Jewish soldiers in World War II. The museum included lots of pictures and personal artifacts, which really made an impact. Seeing these things (shoes!) and the pictures of the people and their own words on paper made everything feel closer to home, and not quite so long ago.
At this point, we were all tired, hungry, and more than ready to walk back up toU street Washington , D.C.
So anyway, we had an amazing day and I am up WAY past my bedtime, so until tomorrow ASB fans and friends...
-Nichole, Staff Advisor
Today was an amazingly educational and fun day (yes the two can coexist!). We started off the day with a trip to the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum a couple of metro stops away on
After spending some time here and reflecting on how "modern" some of the names were (Jupiter just does not strike me as a Civil War era name, but it is a good name none the less) we moved on to the actual museum. At the museum we were greeted by Hari Jones, the curator of the museum, and he treated us to an impromptu "lecture" on the truth about African Americans in the Civil War. He used the movie Glory as the focus of his discussion and proceeded to educate us on the actual facts of the 54th regiment. Fascinating stuff! I really would have liked to spend all day listening to him- he was that good. So good, in fact, at the end Christian exclaimed "You just dropped some mad knowledge, man." You should talk to the man. It might just change your life.
After that, we walked down to the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. This was also very interesting. There was a focus on the roles of Jewish women in the military, and an overall focus on the role of American Jewish soldiers in World War II. The museum included lots of pictures and personal artifacts, which really made an impact. Seeing these things (shoes!) and the pictures of the people and their own words on paper made everything feel closer to home, and not quite so long ago.
At this point, we were all tired, hungry, and more than ready to walk back up to
So anyway, we had an amazing day and I am up WAY past my bedtime, so until tomorrow ASB fans and friends...
-Nichole, Staff Advisor
Our second day started early as we left the lofstel around 9:30, after waiting for the guys to get up. We walked out into drizzly weather to catch the metro to the Smithsonian stop, then walked up the National Mall to the American History Museum. As we walked up the mall, we saw the floats lined up, ready for the St. Patrick's day parade that was to be held that day. We saw Irish step dancers and bagpipers getting ready for their performances. We all hoped that we would get to see some of the parade!
We arrived at the museum, and the group split up to go see different exhibits that interested them. I (Maryanne) started at the exhibit about the history of the National Anthem, and saw the actual flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the Star Spangled Banner. Sophie, Michelle and I also tried to check out the Simulater rides, but were discouraged by the seven dollar price of tickets. We all at some point got to see the extensive exhibit entitled "The Price of War", that chronicled the struggles of soldiers through every major war and conflict since the American Revolution. There was even a video that played that featured a UMD professor! The were so many things to look at, it was hard to tear myself away from the detailed information that lined the walls of each exhibit.
My experience was a little different from Maryanne's. I (Sabaina) along with Michelle and Nicki went to the First Ladies at the Smithsonian and saw the people in American history who take the back seat. All of these women were such classy ladies and did something productive for the nation by standing by their husbands. We were all amazed by the accessories the First Ladies had. The fine dresses, jewelry, and accessories were extremely nice and I think I speak for all when I say we really wanted Jackie Kennedy's Inaguration Ball Dress. Then, we went to Price of Freedom Museum and went through all the war exhibits from the Revolutionary War to Iraq War. In the end, I watched a movie about fallen heroes and got a perspective on how many people are putting their lives on line for us and for the nation's safety. I think we have all become more appreciative of the soldiers and veterans after visiting these places.
Later, we went to the VA Arlington Cemetery, which is the resting places of veterans of every war in the nation's history. It was raining fairly hard by now, so we took a tour bus around the grounds. The first stop of the tour bus was the gravesites of Robert andJohn F. Kennedy. JFK's grave was next to his wife's, and a few other family members. In front of the markers, there was the eternal flame. The tour guide told us how Robert Kennedy's grave was marked by a simple white cross, how he wanted it in his will. Then, we went to the Tomb of the Unknown. We saw the guardsmen guarding the Tomb of the Unkown. It was really eye opening to see how much dedication these men had to be paying their respects to the fallen soldiers 24/7. We really wanted to see the Women's Veteran Memorial too but couldn't due to some private event there :(
After walking all day, we were exhausted and ready to go back to the loftstel. We metroed it back, and ate delicious guacamole and tortilla pizzas made expertlyby Cait. After snacking, Christian made pasta and alfredo sauce, and Sophie made garlic toast (delicioso). After dinner and some chatting, we went upstairs to do our reflections. Our reflection questions consisted of thinking about veterans and the significance of memorial day. We found out that soldiers who was a member of the service during wartime and served in the war were considered veterans. We also had a really intellectual discussion about war and is it necessary and if peace could achieve more than war. We all agreed that whatever party or policies we believe in, we all respect and appreciate what veterans do for this country and the government should do more for veterans.
We went to bed early excited to visit the rest of the museums in D.C.
Over and out,
Sabaina Arshad & Maryanne Cannon
We arrived at the museum, and the group split up to go see different exhibits that interested them. I (Maryanne) started at the exhibit about the history of the National Anthem, and saw the actual flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the Star Spangled Banner. Sophie, Michelle and I also tried to check out the Simulater rides, but were discouraged by the seven dollar price of tickets. We all at some point got to see the extensive exhibit entitled "The Price of War", that chronicled the struggles of soldiers through every major war and conflict since the American Revolution. There was even a video that played that featured a UMD professor! The were so many things to look at, it was hard to tear myself away from the detailed information that lined the walls of each exhibit.
My experience was a little different from Maryanne's. I (Sabaina) along with Michelle and Nicki went to the First Ladies at the Smithsonian and saw the people in American history who take the back seat. All of these women were such classy ladies and did something productive for the nation by standing by their husbands. We were all amazed by the accessories the First Ladies had. The fine dresses, jewelry, and accessories were extremely nice and I think I speak for all when I say we really wanted Jackie Kennedy's Inaguration Ball Dress. Then, we went to Price of Freedom Museum and went through all the war exhibits from the Revolutionary War to Iraq War. In the end, I watched a movie about fallen heroes and got a perspective on how many people are putting their lives on line for us and for the nation's safety. I think we have all become more appreciative of the soldiers and veterans after visiting these places.
Later, we went to the VA Arlington Cemetery, which is the resting places of veterans of every war in the nation's history. It was raining fairly hard by now, so we took a tour bus around the grounds. The first stop of the tour bus was the gravesites of Robert andJohn F. Kennedy. JFK's grave was next to his wife's, and a few other family members. In front of the markers, there was the eternal flame. The tour guide told us how Robert Kennedy's grave was marked by a simple white cross, how he wanted it in his will. Then, we went to the Tomb of the Unknown. We saw the guardsmen guarding the Tomb of the Unkown. It was really eye opening to see how much dedication these men had to be paying their respects to the fallen soldiers 24/7. We really wanted to see the Women's Veteran Memorial too but couldn't due to some private event there :(
After walking all day, we were exhausted and ready to go back to the loftstel. We metroed it back, and ate delicious guacamole and tortilla pizzas made expertlyby Cait. After snacking, Christian made pasta and alfredo sauce, and Sophie made garlic toast (delicioso). After dinner and some chatting, we went upstairs to do our reflections. Our reflection questions consisted of thinking about veterans and the significance of memorial day. We found out that soldiers who was a member of the service during wartime and served in the war were considered veterans. We also had a really intellectual discussion about war and is it necessary and if peace could achieve more than war. We all agreed that whatever party or policies we believe in, we all respect and appreciate what veterans do for this country and the government should do more for veterans.
We went to bed early excited to visit the rest of the museums in D.C.
Over and out,
Sabaina Arshad & Maryanne Cannon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)