Poland eighth-graders visit Washington D.C.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Poland eighth-grade students, from left, (front) Emily Huggins, Arlia Duarte; (back) Elise Eckman and Annie Boniface were wreath bearers at Arlington National Cemetery during a trip to Washington, D.C. April 13-15. The students were winners of “What the Arlington Cemetery Means to Me and Why Being Chosen as One of This Year’s Wreath Bearers would be so Important to Me” essay contest..

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Neighbors | Submitted.Eighth-grade students from Poland Middle School visited with Congressman Tim Ryan during their trip to Washington, D.C. April 13-15..

Poland Middle School eighth-graders took in all the historical sites during their annual field trip to Washington D.C. April 13-15.

The students arrived at Union Station and headed to the Grant Memorial to take the traditional eighth-grade photo. They then toured the Capitol Building and met Congressman Tim Ryan.

After exploring the National Archives, the students paid homage to the Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean Memorials before enjoying an evening tour of the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

This year, Arlia Duarte, Elise Eckman, Annie Boniface and Emily Huggins were the winners of the “What the Arlington Cemetery Means to Me and Why Being Chosen as One of This Year’s Wreath Bearers would be so Important to Me” essay contest and got to lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the Changing of the Guards in Arlington National Cemetery.

Kayleigh Chretien was the alternate wreath bearer.

The students also paid their respects to John F. Kennedy and visited the Challenger Memorial, World War II, FDR Memorial and the National Cathedral before boarding the Odyssey Cruise ship for an elegant dinner cruise down the Potomac River.

The students took advantage of their last day in Washington as they explored the grounds of Mount Vernon and George Washington’s home. Their visit to Ford’s Theater coincided with the 146th anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

A White House photo stop, tours of the Natural History, American History and the National Air and Space Museum ended a trip that gave Poland eighth-graders appreciation for the nation’s capital and fond memories.