"For the dead AND the living, we must bear witness"

Although not planned intentionally, today's theme ended up being about remembering.  Remembering those who have led our country (the good and the bad), those who have died for our country, those who fought by speaking out about injustice, and those who suffered when we (as a country) did not do enough to help.  There really is such a thing as emotional overload.  Usually I don't experience this until the last week of school when I am planning to say goodbye to my current class of 5th graders.  There was one point when Leigh and I didn't speak to each other for about an hour as we wondered through our exhibits.  There were just not words to express the overwhelming emotion we were feeling.

Our day started out with a Metro ride out to Arlington National Cemetery.  We arrived early (thank goodness) and missed the crowds.  Our original thought was to just visit the Tomb of the Unknowns and watch the Changing of the Guard, but that idea didn't last long once we found out the Tomb was a mile into the cemetery.  We ended up taking the tram, which included a guided tour and multiple stopping points.  Our first stop was John F. Kennedy's gravesite where the "Eternal Flame" still shines.  We continued on to witness the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The precision and discipline the Marines demonstrated was amazing.  The Tomb was greatly honored by both the Marines guarding it, and the visitors observing.  Our final stop on the tour was Arlington House, General Lee's home, which was lost to him and his family during the Civil War.

From Arlington, we made our way to Ford's Theater where we traveled back in time to President Lincoln's years in office.  The Museum included explicit information about Lincoln's final hours.  After walking through the Museum portion, we were able to visit the inside of the theater and look up to see where President Lincoln was sitting when he was shot.  We then traveled across the street to the Peterson house where Lincoln passed away the next morning.  Being able to walk through the theater and the Peterson home has forever connected both Leigh and me to this historical event.  An event that we will now remain a part of us.

The American History Museum was our third stop for the day.  The first exhibit we visited was "The Price of Freedom:  Americans at War."  I must say, as an educator, this was a wonderful exhibit.  I think Leigh and I probably took over 100 pictures (her 4th grade standards and my 5th grade standards).  I figure we've got plenty of picture evidence to put together a nice PowerPoint when we start teaching social studies this year!  We also visited the "American Presidency" exhibit and "America on the Move," which focused on American transportation throughout the years.

Our final stop was the Holocaust Museum.  Please check out Leigh's post for more details about our visit here.  All I can tell you is that I was brought to tears multiple times as I walked through this monumental museum.  My earlier comment about not being able to express ourselves belongs with this part of our day.  We were both amazed at the respect shown by both the creators of the museum and the visitors were with us today.  Even younger children understood the importance of what they were seeing and were silent as we walked through.

My title post, "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness" is written on the walls throughout the Holocaust Museum.  I feel that I have been able to "witness" today and am now better prepared to share our history with those that I teach.