A group of 16 Yolo Middle School students, accompanied by three teachers and one parent, toured Washington, D.C. and New York City in late June, where they visited national landmarks and enjoyed cultural events.

The group had raised money for several months to fund the trip, which was offered through WorldStrides, an organization which offered educational student trip programs.

The local delegation first visited Washington, D.C., where guide George Early (otherwise known as Coach E) shared his insight and know-ledge of the numerous landmarks and monuments.

He brought the group to a Marines sunset concert at the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial, and shared a spectacular nighttime tour of the Lincoln, Jefferson, Korean, Vietnam, FDR and World War II memorials.

The local group also visited the Kennedy Center, Einstein Statue, Sept. 11 Pentagon Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, National Cathedral, Capitol Visitor Center, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Holocaust Memorial and Mt. Vernon.

At Arlington, students witnessed two funerals and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

At the Vietnam Memorial, with the help of their guide, sisters Brittany and Claire Barron were able to locate the names of  family members on the polished black granite wall.

While visiting Mt. Vernon, Claire Barron and Alyssa Briones participated in a wreath-laying ceremony. The group credited their guide for knowing the details of the various venues and coordinating their visits to such special moments.

A bus trip to New York City followed. After a memorable dinner in Little Italy, the group took the subway to see a Broadway presentation of “Lion King” at the Minskoff Theatre. A visit to Times Square after the show capped a magical evening. Breakfast at the Celeste Diner, a true New York dining experience, started a whirlwind final day on the East Coast. The students visited the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the financial district, Trinity Church and Ground Zero. They visited the Firemen’s Memorial, but saw little of Ground Zero itself due to the massive construction at the site.

A trip to the top of the Empire State Building to enjoy the sweeping views of the Big Apple was the final stop before the West Siders flew home from Kennedy Airport, bringing with them rich memories of a trip of a lifetime.

Angela Mackovich, one of the teachers who accompanied the group, said organizers hope to offer the trips every two years. That schedule gives participating students sufficient time to raise funds for the East Coast adventure.