Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rotarians told of D.C. visit

Misty Calley, history teacher at Gurdon High School, recently spoke to Gurdon's Rotary club about the trip she and 18 GHS students recently took to Washington, D.C.

"I was so impressed with our students. They acted with class and style the whole time we were there.

"I brought three of the students with me today so they could tell you first hand what they experienced. "I myself would like to thank all of you for your support so we could participate in the Close-Up Program," said Calley.

Senator Mike Ross, from Prescott, met with the GHS students on one day of their trip. They were given the opportunity to ask him questions.

"Mike Ross sent word back to our school that out of all of the students there, our kids asked the most intelligent questions," Calley said.

The first student to address the Rotary was Hunter Johnson, a junior at GHS.

"It was a very fun trip. Although we started out thinking it was going to be a hard week and we might be interested in everything we saw, but I liked it all in the end.

"We saw lots of monuments. We went to the Holocaust Museum. That was really interesting. I think it was my favorite thing of the whole trip. It was amazing to see what those people went through.

"There was a large group of deaf kids at the Close-Up program also. Some of us got to room with them and the ones of us who didn't made friends with them. We were a little worried we wouldn't know how to communicate with them, but it's amazing how easy it is and who much we are the same.

"I would recommend going to Washington, D.C. to anyone who is interested and any student who is interested in Close-Up should participate," said Johnson.

C.J. Stroder, also a junior at GHS, said, "I wouldn't trade this last week and all of the things we saw and did for anything.

"It was one of the funnest weeks of my life. I think I lost 20 pounds while we were there looking for all of the monuments, but it was worth it.

"My favorite thing was the Changing of the Guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

"Although the Holocaust Museum was one of the neatest places I have ever been. They had so much stuff there to show us that you just don't think would have happened.

"I also made friends with several of the deaf students and enjoyed learning to communicate with them."

Lezlee White said she didn't lose 20 pounds, but they did do a lot of walking and it was worth it.

"We were in groups with people from all over. Many of the people were not like us, but that wasn't a problem we all got along and were really interested in one another's ways.

"I liked the Lincoln Memorial and Holocaust Museum. It was so sad to see how so many suffered. They still had some torture devices and shoes the people wore and they still smelled like death.

"We visited the Smithsonian and it had just about everything in it. We saw the world's busiest McDonald's. The hamburgers there were $7. It wasn't like the ones in Arkadelphia.

"The D.C. traffic was an experience. It was really busy and people were everywhere. We rode the Metro. It was cool and we had some interesting times on it," said White.

Calley said in all she was proud of the group she took with her because of their enthusiasm and good behavior.

"We were the only southern state in our hotel. It was a good thing I guess, because the students got to meet lots of different people.

"They were allowed to go into the senate gallery and see them make a vote.

Calley said she knows the trip could not have been possible without the help of the community and Anita Cabe.