Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

After a grand tour of NYC and Philly 1632 and 1633 met up Friday morning for pictures and a talk with US Congressman Pete Sessions. Pete took a picture with the Scouts two at a time with the capitol in the background (will be posted on his website) and then talked to the Scouts about the path to success and willingness to take on challenges. Pete Sessions is not only a supporter of Scouting but also an active volunteer with Troop 890 with his son and attends Summer Camp for the week at Constantin every year. Pete Sessions office arranged for Capitol tours and Pentagon tours for both troops. 1632 and 1633 when different directions with the tour of our nations capitol that included the hall of statues and original legislative room and the crypt built for Washington (never used as he wanted Mount Vernon). After the tours 1633 went over to the Pentagon for a two hour personal tour with one of the directors. 1632 hit the Union Station for lunch and then a tour of the Pentagon.

1632 toured the new Native American Indian Museum off the Mall area. The museum is four stories with a theatre and a Pow Wow while we were there. After the museum it was over to the Herrington Hotel for dinner with several council troops including 1633 and an open buffet with three main entrees.

That evening both troops attended the Marine Barracks parade in the Navy Yard. We were on time and got seated right away. And then sat in the sun for two hours waiting for the show to begin. But the marines were great hosts and kept us flush in water and bathroom breaks. The special guest was Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, a Navy Vet. The show was amazing and ended with canon's blazing. After a long ride back to the hotel on the metro and then discovering Crystal City has two Marriott hotels (we went to the wrong one). The Scouts were in bed for a later wake up call. After three days of getting up in the 5AM hour and going to bed late at night everyone slept in to 7AM.

Hot!! Hot!! Hot!!! I miss Texas' hot.  The humidity here is close to unbearable.  1633 is staying hydrated, though and seeing alot of sights.  Moving fast through the Metro line was a challenge at first, but we are becoming experts, as long as we stay on the right side going up and down the escalators.  Mr. Bubeck and Mr. Davidson are getting in shape walking the many miles each day.  All that exercise is paying off, but I will probably put that to rest once I get home.  Interesting culture here.  Go somewhere FAST! and get out of the way.  As Mr. Bennett says, "GOD BLESS TEXAS!" 

Anyway, Friday was nice visiting with Congressman Pete Sessions, albeit at 7:15am.  Pete Sessions was very nice, had his picture with us, and had a moving talk with the 1632 and 1633 Scouts as well as other troops.  He spoke about the need for our country to have teh Scouting program.

From there, we had a tour of the Capitol and it was impressive.   I believe our Scouts were excited to see so much history.  A big surprise was a visit to The Pentagon.  We had to wait a while in the visitors waiting area, but we got a guide and he must have spent one and one-half hours with us.  He spoke about the building, the history, about who works there, and we finished off with looking at a memorial of the people that died while working in the Pentagon on 9-11.

After this visit, we ate lunch at Union Station.  We picked up our bags we had left during the visit with Pete Sessions and we moved onto our last stop for the night, the evening parade with the Marines.  After taking the Metro and some walking, we made it to the Marine Barracks.  We got seated around 7pm and the show didn't start until dusk.  A long wait, but well worth the wait.  It was very exciting to see the Marine Corps band.  This show ended late and we were bushed getting to the hotel late in the night.

On Saturday 1632 started with a White House Photo while 1633 hit the Washington Monument. Afterward both troops met to tour Ford's Theatre and a new and excellent display detailing the life of Lincoln and Booth down to the hours for both men leading up to the assassination. We sat through a presentation by park rangers in the theatre itself (used as an active theatre).

After Ford's theatre both troops hit a local food court with coupons and then went two different directions as 1633 laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns featuring Nathan Bubeck, Colton Sligar, Daniel Stiegler and Jacob Davidson. 1632 went to the Washington Monument and then over to Arlington Cemetery for laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns featuring Campbell Castleberry, Mason Shelley, Rodolfo Vidales and T.J, Skipworth. After the wreath laying 1632 visited the sites commemorating the Space Shuttle disaster, USS Maine, and JFK grave site.

Both troops had dinner at Pentagon City before retiring back to the hotel for laundry and swimming.

Saturday, probably the hottest day so far (102 with 110 thi) 1633 made a jaunt to the Washington Monument after breakfast.  We went up to the top to see around Washington D.C. and other points of interest.  I think everyone liked it also because for a moment we weren't in the sun.  From there, we rushed to make our time for the exhbiit and show at Ford's Theater.  It was great with lots of artifacts and timelines.  1633 and 1632 went in together.  A presentation was given with details of an account of the assasination of Abraham Lincoln and again some timeline of occurances.  Looking from the back, I think many fell asleep because of the tiring walk and the cool building.  Mr. Bubeck had to keep his snoring down because it was getting louder than the speaker.  Ha Ha Ha!

1633 then made a bolt to the Arlington National Cemetary to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to see the changing of the guard, and to see four of our Scouts lay a wreath at the tomb.  Once finished we visited the gravesites of President Kennedy and Jackie Onassis.  It was so hot at this point, we were exhausted.  We went and ate dinner and made it to the hotel early for some swimming and relaxation. 

Tomorrow (Sunday) is Church service in the AM followed by patrol tours of the Smithsonian, National Archives, War Memorials and more! We will work in patrols of 10 (including one adult and one senior youth).

On Sunday, Mr. Davidson has made a plan to take the Catholic Scouts to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  The Scouts should be in awe of this magnificent Church and of course, REVERENT, inside at all times.  After mass, 1633 plans to split up into smaller groups and visit sights such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Smithsonian including the American Indian Museum and others.  The boys went to bed early and I'm up late once again.  I'm ready for Sunday!

Submitted by:

Brian Bennett
Scoutmaster - Troop 1632

and

David Davidson
2nd Assistant Scoutmaster - Troop 1633