For years, eighth-grade students from Wylie have joined thousands of other eighth-graders from around the U.S. in converging on our nation’s capital in the spring. It’s a four-day trip marked with long, active days of visiting some of our country’s most prized historical and educational places.
From walking the halls of the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum and Holocaust Museum to etching soldier’s names on the Vietnam Wall and standing at the gigantic foot of the Lincoln Memorial, these students cover a diverse range of moments in our history. It’s an experience they often reflect on as being one of their most favorite memories of junior high.
However, this year, for Wylie eighth-graders Chaynee South, Caden Brannan, Kannon Ruffin and Fletcher Smith, this trip became even more special. The foursome represented Wylie ISD in a wreath ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is located at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The students described this opportunity to honor our U.S. military veterans and members of the Armed Forces as one of great anticipation and honor.
“It was a breathtaking moment not many get to do,” said Ruffin. Smith, who along with Ruffin, led the group in placing the wreath, said the skyline of Washington D.C. was a sight to see from the Tomb. “You could see the Capitol, Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial as we walked out,” said Smith.
To complete the presentation, the students had to follow a reverent and precise process led by a Sentinel, a soldier from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” who stands watch over the Tomb.
They entered the Memorial Display Room of the Memorial Amphitheater, the underground duty quarters of the Sentinels, to receive the instructions, which required the students to walk in cadence with one another, down a set of stairs, and down a path with hundreds of eyes silently focused on them.
“It felt long, but it really was not far. I kept my eyes on my feet,” said Smith. “I was excited and nervous, and tried to be serious, but it was hard not to smile. I felt patriotic and blessed. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
Brannan, who followed behind Smith and Ruffin in the ceremony, said there was a little pressure to execute the presentation correctly, but it was worth it.
“I didn’t want to stumble as I walked out and down the stairs,” he said. Looking back, Brannan said it was a good experience and more enjoyable than he initially thought due to the pressure of completing the presentation correctly.
For South and Ruffin, the impact of this experience went beyond just them. South was approached by a woman after the ceremony who had served in the military. “She said it brought tears to her eyes to know students are still learning about such important things,” South shared.
Ruffin had a similar experience upon his return home. “I have a neighbor who is a close friend, and she has lost two husbands while they served in the military,” he said. “She teared up from knowing younger people are still honoring the military.”
By Kristen Johnson