CAYUGA, Ind. — Vermillion County 4-H Junior Leaders traveled to our nation’s capital recently — and gained so much more than simply visiting.

Thirty-seven 4-H Junior Leaders and eight chaperones embarked on the adventure, visiting and/or traveling through six states and the District of Columbia.

Gettysburg, Pa., was the first day’s stop, where the group visited the history-rich town and its museums.

They visited the Gettysburg museum, movie, and amazing Cyclorama painted in the 1860s and depicting the famous battle. Then they were given a personal tour of the battlefields. The group learned of Indiana’s part in the Iron Brigade, which was instrumental in the Gettysburg victory.

From Gettysburg the group made its way to Harper’s Ferry, W.Va. The next morning, they went white-water rafting along the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers through three national parks. Although the rivers were low, the group enjoyed rapids of levels I-III and learned some paddling maneuvers and teamwork.

“White water rafting was my favorite part of the trip. I wish we had a little more time at everything for pictures. Overall it was a great trip,” Leslie Wilbanks said.

After rafting, it was time to head to the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Md. The night tour included a visit to the National Archives, where the original Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and the visiting Magna Carta were viewed before taking a tour of the new Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

After that, the group visited the Korean, Vietnam, and World War II memorials as well as the Jefferson and Lincoln monuments.

“My favorite part was the night view of all the monuments and memorials because we learned something special about each one. I also really enjoyed watching the wreath laying at Arlington,” Katelyn Freed said.

The next day, the group was in front of the White House bright and early, chatting with security guards.

The group visited the Library of Congress, where they got to see the Gutenberg Bible.

Next, the group went to the Supreme Court and a tour of the Capitol Building.

Ford’s Theater was a favorite stop for many of the teens. The museum and the theater brought the night Lincoln was assassinated to life. A National Park Guide, on stage, told of the events of the evening that Lincoln was shot; the visitors could see the balcony box where he and three others were seated. The theater is still used today.

The city’s subway, the Metro system, was used to travel from Ford’s Theater to the National Zoo.

After dinner at the National 4-H Center, the group traveled to Alexandria, Va., where they were divided into two groups for ghost tours.

Wreath laying

On the last morning of the trip, five Junior Leaders — Dylan Haltom, Nick Nepote, Erin Holbert, Samantha Vitaniemi, and Morgan Willhite — were picked up by a former Vermillion County resident (now a Maryland resident), Nancy Schaff. She took them to Arlington Cemetery for dress code and wreath inspection — all wreath supplies were provided by Sawyer’s Flowers in Clinton. This group had the honor of laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

After the 9 a.m. changing of the guard, the five Junior Leaders marched in formation down the center steps where a guard presented them with the wreath that had been made by all of the Junior Leaders. Following the wreath laying, not a sound could be heard except the bugler playing “Taps.”

 “My favorite part was white water rafting; however, laying the wreath at Arlington was a great honor and I will never forget it,” Erin Holbert said.

The group saw some of the sites near Arlington’s Amphitheater. While learning about the cemetery, Marines led a caisson with a flag-draped casket.

The stop at the Marine Corps Memorial was expected to be brief. However, students ran into Thomas Miller, an 88-year-old veteran who saw action during Pearl Harbor and Iwo Jima. He was sitting at the memorial with his fisherman’s cap on and his Ziploc bag of pictures and maps.

He seemed to be waiting for a listening ear — and he found a lot of listening ears. He shared experiences that most see only in films or read about in books. He was patient in answering questions. He made his mark on the memorial by having the privilege of applying the gold leafing to the “O” in the word “WHO,” the first word on the fourth line. The students said it was a privilege to meet him.

Angel Keller said, “My favorite part was the rafting because it was something new. Also, Arlington and the war monuments were very emotional; seeing all of the soldiers who gave their lives so we could have our freedoms.”

The Air Force Memorial, overlooking the Pentagon, is a more modern version but striking and moving just the same.

Finally, the students had three hours of free time on the National Mall and the Smithsonian Museums.

The students

Junior Leaders attending the trip were: Ashlee Akers, Jacob Bryant, Max Catterson, Gavin Clark, Peyton Clark, Haley Crouch, Gabrielle Ellis, Michaela Ellis, Dakota Floyd, Katy Foltz, Melissa Foltz, Katelyn Freed, Laura Fultz, Baylee Garver, Dylan Haltom, Erin Holbert, Lexi Holbert, Madie Holland, Mo Holland, Shai Hollifield, Cimber Jackson, Angel Keller, Jordan Kelsheimer, Kirsten Little, Madison Miller, Taylor Morgan, Nick Nepote, Brianna Nickels, Melissa Pearman, Colby Pomar, Sydney Poynter, Troy Price, Marissa Vandergriff, Emily Vitaniemi, Samantha Vitaniemi, Leslie Wilbanks, and Morgan Willhite. Chaperones were Becky Holbert, Margie Fultz, Gena Britton, Melanie Willhite, Becky and Jeff Haltom, and Kim and John Bryant.

FYI

For more information about Purdue Extension Service and Vermillion County 4-H, call (765) 492-5330 or visit its website at www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/vermillion