Student Blog

Well today we visit the Holocaust Museum! This was very emotional time for myself! Why? Because all the things they went through back then just because they were Jewish. Sometimes we don't recognized how blessed we are to just be living because back then it was hard. The scriptures that were around the museum was a wake up call for me! I want to thank all the people that made this happen for us! ~ Breon Williams

Holocaust Memorial Museum

After packing up and getting back in DC, the group was able to choose their own adventure. Many chose the Air and Space Museum, but I went to the National Archives to see our nation's founding documents. It was amazing to see such important and powerful documents (with their corrections and edits; even the founding fathers made mistakes!). We are now at the Holocaust Memorial Museum about to go into the exhibit. This will be another powerful site for the students.
~ Brian Gano

Student Blog

Wow! What a long day of adventures and history! LC has taken over DC. Today we visited several museums and monuments. I will have to say all of the sites we visited I enjoyed but I really love the American History Museum! I was able see past and current First Lady dresses that each of them wore. The MLK monument was very nice as well. There's so much I can say about today but these stood out the most. Im really enjoying my LC family! ~ Breon Williams

Student Blog

Washington D.C was a great experience! I really appreciate y'all taking us! ~ Mallory Hammonds

Faculty Blog

jux·ta·po·si·tion noun 1. an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

In mathematics, we use juxtaposition to indicate multiplication. When we write 7y, we place the 7 next to the y to indicate multiplication - 7 times y.

In Washington, DC, juxtaposition is used as motivation - to learn, to grow, to see if you are paying attention.

It all began at the Capitol Visitors Center. There, in the shadow of the statue of Freedom, in a building that grew out of a belief that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, the security guard stopped me and told me I could not take my LC travel mug into the building. I took off the cover, and held the mug upside down, and showed the man that the mug was empty. "No, you'll have to throw it away," was his reply.

At the entrance to the U.S. Navy Submarine School, student submariners have to walk past a plaque that says "No written procedure gives you permission to do something dumb." I am sure that the security guard was following some written procedure, and I think it's pretty dumb.

I recognize that I am naive about many things, I don't know how to think like a terrorist, but, seriously, where is the threat in a demonstrably empty travel mug? In the shadow of Freedom, I was free to be treated like a security threat; I was free to remove the belt from my trousers; and I was free to be electronically searched. I tolerate that treatment every time I travel by plane, and I know why and I am (mostly) glad to comply, but something about my coffee cup today really bugs me. The coffee cup was empty, I showed the empty cup to the guard, and he was free not to apply any common sense or to trust the evidence of his senses.

A few hours later, I was shushed by a security guard in the National Gallery of Art. The art that we were talking about (too loudly) was meant to be provocative - it was meant to make you talk about it. I have to be believe that Mel Bochner, the painter whose work we were reacting to, would be happy that we had climbed up all those stairs deliberately to encounter his work. These were paintings - in your face, what are you gonna do about it - paintings. We reacted, too loudly. I was free to be quiet, because this was that guard's museum, and he was responsible for good order and discipline.

When I get carried away, and risk harm to myself or others, I depend on the community around me to set me right, and I am grateful for the help. But when petty little security guards apply petty little rules to nibble away at Freedom, we are moving in the wrong direction. We visit the Holocaust Museum tomorrow, and Hitler started small, too. And the Nazi's admired good order and discipline.

~Jeff Olbrys

Student Photo Blog

Photos by Mack Watson

Student Blog

Visiting Washington D.C. has been an exciting trip so far. I liked how everything was planned and the students had their personal itenarary. We covered a lot of places. starting our trip out with getting on the metro (which was the first for [me]). I could tell that my fellow peers were very excited and when we got off we walked to the Capitol Visitor Center, which really blew my mind. The art that I saw had me very speechless. most of the buildings that we saw were very educating and it has been a great experience over all. ~ Deborah Toomer

Student Blog & Pictures

I had such a good time today! DC is such a beautiful city. I had two favorite parts: one was going to the Lincoln Memorial and the second was the MLK Memorial. The worst part was having to walk everywhere, but it was worth it! I am looking forward to tomorrow and seeing the Holocaust Museum.
~ Keryn Shionis

Student Blog & Pictures

LC to DC was very fun. I had a blast taking pictures and hanging out with my friends. I also got more understanding of some of our nation that I did not know before. Today was both educational and exciting....WE ARE LC!!!
~ Cortes McCormick

Student Blog

Blog for day 1: Well first of all I have to say that was a pretty amazing day! Very fun filled and adventurous! So glad that I was able to see all that I did! I never thought that I would be so interested in seeing all of the history stuff as much as I was when I got there! It was absolutely amazing to see so much! My favorite part would have probably been either the American History Smithsonian or the MLK Jr. Memorial! The American History [Museum] had many interesting facts about the different wars and what went on in them and how we reacted. Also, the most devastating part was seeing a piece from one of the Twin Towers. The MLK Jr. Memorial was fascinating! It was awesome how they took a piece of the "mountain" out symbolizing him through his despair . Although those were only two of my favorites the memorials of all the veterans made you feel so thankful to be alive and so grateful for them dying for you. The best part was seeing a letter written from a little boy in middle school to the veterans that were never welcomed home. It was so thoughtful and heart warming! It makes me so proud to be an American! The only down fall was all the walking but it was more than worth it! So glad that I was able to go on this trip! -Allie Ball