What A Week! Thanks for the memories.

Wow, it's hard to beleive that the week has gone by so quickly.  It literally seems we were gone but for a few days.  But, oh the memories we share; from having a group of our students performing beautifully on the stage of the Apollo Theater to an audiance of Whoppie Goldberg and Robert Klein, to standing in the presence of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.   We did it all, and we did it with perserverance while overcoming mechanical troubles with our bus as well as dodging rain showers in the Lower East Side.   Through it all we developed relationships and learned so much about our great nation.   We laughed, we sang, and we even cried.   In the course of a week, we became an even closer community, we became a family. 

We hope you have enjoyed following us on our blog.   We have added over 300 pictures to document the places we visited and the times we enjoyed.  We shared our thoughts through words to give you some sense of the time we have had. 

The Bath Area Family wants to thank the students and the Team Leaders that made this program happen.  Through the Freedom Tour it is our hope to develop a greater sense of healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility.  

Day Seven . . . already!

It started out by waking up at 5:00 in the morning.  It was the earliest we had to get up for the week.  Once we got up and ready to leave, we went down to go eat breakfast.  We needed to have some energy because we had to leave early to get to the today show!!  That was a blast, we got to the today show and there was no where we could go.  Then one of the teem leaders from the white bus came and told us to come over to this spot.  I didn’t understand why they wanted us to go over there then once Channing Tatum came out we found out.  I didn’t find out that Channing Tatum was going to be on the show until my mom came and told all of the girls in the back of the bus yesterday.  Before we even got to the today show we got to make posters.  A lot of people made a poster that said something with Channing Tatum.  Can’t blame them he’s hot.  Once he come out everyone was screaming!  I was one of them, he came over to us and I touched his hand! I was so happy about that.  Later in the morning after Channing Tatum did his interview he went to leave and a lot of people wanted to get a picture with him.  A few bath people did.  EVEN MY MOM GOT A PICTURE!!!!  I was so mad! 

After we left the today show we all went to “The Top of the Rock”.  I didn’t know what it was.  I though it was a real rock!  But it turned out to be a very tall building.  We all went up there, but only a few amounts of people could go on the elevator to the top.  It took 43 seconds to get to the top.  Once we got to the top we were able to take amazing pictures! My mom/team leader, took a teem photo and it looked amazing.  There where a few flights of stairs you could climb to get to the top.  We all left at different times to go shopping.  Today was the best day to go shopping!  Not a lot of people saved money for today but a good amount of people in my team did.  The first store we went in was H&M.  I have never been in to that store until today.  It was HUGE! I got a few things from that store so did my friend.  After that we went to a toy store, I forgot the name.  But it was huge and there was a giant piano that you could walk on.  There also were giant gummy bears.  I got one, it looks yummy!  After that we went to Abercrombie and Fitch to get is picture with some models.  We also got free pictures for the photographer!  After that we went to the M&M store! It was huge and you could get a picture with a giant M&M.  My team got one it was awesome.  I also got some candy from there and squished pennies!  This was defiantly the best day of the week!!  We also stopped at a little vender in the streets and I got a picture that says “Times Square.”  My mom said I made a good choice. 

After two hours of shopping we had to meet at the Hard Rock Café.  There weren’t a lot of choices for food but it was good.  After lunch we have a half hour till the bus came.  My team went out side to look around, we ran in to Hello Kitty!  She was so cute.  We also saw a “Naked Cowboy” or that is what he called himself.  All of us got a picture with him it was amazing.  Then after lunch at the Hard Rock Café we had to leave and get on to the bus to head home.  We still have a few hours to go!

- Trish A.

Today we had to get up early to go on the today show, it was tiring waking up early for the today show but once we got there it was really cool to see the people that we see on TV. Afterwards we went to the “Top of The Rock” were we could see a very long way. We got pictures at the top and it is really different from Bath. Then we got to split up into our groups and go to see some of the shops around New York. We went to some different store then the ones we have around us, like Disney and FAO Schwarz. At FAO Schwarz there was a magic piano which we could walk on and play music. I had a really fun time today and really enjoyed the freedom tour.

- Amelia F.

Today Show, Channing Tatum & NYC!

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Today was an eye opening experience. Seeing the Holocaust Museum really brought everything to heart. To see and read about how people survived, died, supported, and fought in the Holocaust made me understand what it was like during that time. Many things disturbed me and were shocking, but made me more aware of how it truly affected people’s lives.  It made me more aware of how the Holocaust began, and how Hitler took over the Germans during his dictatorship. I also learned a lot about how the other countries reacted, and why it was a hard decision for America to decide whether or not to join the war. The museum had a lot of information, and was very helpful in understanding this period of time where life wasn’t always as good as it is now. After today I’m leaving with a new view on the Holocaust, and how I treat people from today on.

- Molly M.

Early morning when I rise leads to a great day, I would have to say. Today we entered the Holocaust Museum and Memorial.  I know personally I had no idea what my feelings would be like at the end of the four entire floors we walked through. Each floor showed different, interesting, eye-opening stories and experiences the Jews had to deal with. As I walked through each floor my heart would sink further and further. I would have to say that the saddest parts I experienced today were probably when I walked through the hallway and on either side of me were the Jews shoes. There were tons. As I walked in I literally gasped. I had no idea what to think, what to do, and I walked through speechless. Another touching part was “Daniel’s Story” and his entire exhibit. I have never in my life felt so bad for people or had so many different feelings falling into my heart at once. The Holocaust Museum and Memorial will be something I will never forget and will definitely always be in the back of my brain.

- Baylie C.

Today we went to the Holocaust Museum and there were many mixed feelings. As the group ventured through the museum we saw many new and disturbing exhibits and photos. The exhibit that was most disturbing was the one about the experiments that were performed on the Jews and other prisoners; I have never felt so bad for other people. It was a very moving experience that filled me with knowledge that I was unsure about.

- Hunter R.

World War II Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, and much more . . . .

Service men and women gave us peace and hope and let us believe in ourselves. They’ve given us courage and let us stand where we are today. So I give honor to all of the armed forces solders who keep me alive today. It is very touching to see that all the graves at Arlington National Cemetery. As the saying goes, “Freedom is not Free”. This just shows you have to work for what you want, not just ask for it. Nothing is free so I give a salute in honor of the Marines and to the veterans who have died.  

-
Jonathan  L.

Wow!  Today was very busy and interesting.  The day began with a ½ mile uphill hike in Arlington Cemetery.  I’m not going to lie it was very hot and I was tired from the night before.  Seeing the Unknown Soldier Tomb and watching the changing of the guard gave me new perspective.  I was no longer thinking of myself.  I thought of the men who had died for me so I can enjoy the freedom we all share today.  As the day continued Mr. Savary and Mr. Merry took a small group to the Law Enforcement Memorial.  The memorial consisted of two granite walls.  On these walls were all the names of Law Enforcement officers killed in action.  I have had a connection with law enforcement since I was born, because my father is a police officer.  I began to think of if his name would ever be on one of those walls.  A thought came to me that many people all around me take everyday risks to protect our country and our own freedom.  After a few other memorials we ate dinner at Union Station.  My friends and I went to Johnny Rockets and had an excellent meal.  The last Memorial that really stood out to me was the Lincoln Memorial.  I had been there before but that was 6 years ago.  Memories of climbing up the stairs and reading the Gettysburg Address inscribed on the wall soon became a reality again.  Throughout the Freedom Tour (especially today) I have reflected on the thought that freedom isn’t free.  I’m glad I have had the chance to go on this trip.

- Christine S.



Reflections on Day Five

Today, Monday June 25^th, might have been one of the hardest days of all both physically and emotionally. It was 90 degrees and we walked all throughout DC seeing some pretty amazing things. Going to the memorial at the Pentagon was pretty mind blowing. Thinking about all those benches being replaced by almost 200 people who were friends, family or other loved ones who were either working at the Pentagon or travelling on a plane. All those men, women, and children who never got to see their loved ones again. Another thing that really made me stop and think was the Marine Corps Memorial. Hearing the story of those six brave men definitely made me closely observe every aspect and detail of the statue, and hearing a specific part of the story that Joel read to us something like those who did not return are the real heroes. I’m starting to see things in a completely different perspective now, in a way I cannot describe. Seeing the Lincoln Memorial, all the museums, etc. was great, but the one thing I will never seem to get out of my head is this specific quote “Freedom is not Free.” There are so many ways you could see this, and so many possibilities and so many things to consider. What I took from this was that freedom is not all it seems, nothing can or will ever be completely 100% free, there will always be another obstacle, another step, one last task. Thank you so much for allowing me to experience this,

- Marisabel R.

The date was June 25, 2012, and we all went to Arlington National Park to see the graves, changing of the guard, the Kennedy’s grave site, and the mast of the USS Maine. I was very sad to see all the men and women who were dead who fought for us in the war. After Arlington we went to the Pentagon to see the memorial. The day it happened was September 11, 2001 9:37AM. There were benches placed in opposite directions on the grounds. Some benches represented the way the plane flew into the Pentagon. There were names and dates of the people who died. We also went to the Vietnam memorial. There were a lot of names, it was definitely more then I expected. People put roses near the names. Next we went to the Korean War memorial. There were statues of men from the Korean War who were wearing ponchos and walking through rice patties. Last but not least we went to the Marine Corps Memorial. Joel told us a story about a group from Wisconsin who met a guy whose father was the last guy to raise the flag. I was very emotional after Joel told the story, and when I looked up at that statue I teared up.

- Noah M.