Veterans Day was celebrated on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014. The holiday is a special one, as it is the only holiday where we take an entire day to appreciate those who served and gave their lives in the return of the freedom of this great country.

This national holiday is one not to be taken lightly; it is a somber holiday, where we not only thank those who have served, but we remember those who have lost their lives in doing so.

This past June, a family that is very involved at FC, known as the Rurik’s (Scott and Julie, and their son Alex), embarked on a journey to Washington D.C. They brought along with them James White, his parents, Jim and Beth White, alumni Katie White, ’09, and Ashlyn White Neal, ’11.

Also accompanying them were junior high students John Monke, ’19, Hope Byars, ’19, and her mother Joy Byars. Freshman Josh Oakley, and Carlee Whipple attended, with her parents Rocky and Darby Whipple.

Several former FC students also attended the trip. Chandler Baladjanian and her brother, alumni, Nick Baladjanian ’12, as well as Giana, Niki, and Christian Castro.

The dates that the trip took place on were May 31, 2014- June 5,2014 (just after school let out).

Itinerary:
Day 1- Historic Jamestown Settlement and Colonial Williamsburg
Day 2- Monticello (Home of Thomas Jefferson), The Smithsonians, WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Vientnam Memorial
Day 3- Fords Theater, The House Where Lincoln Died, Washington Monument, Mount Vernon, Home of George Washington, Washington Nationals baseball game
Day 4- Capitol tour (House and Senate Chambers) *Tour lead by Trevor York ’12 (Summer intern for Devin Nunes), Library of Congress, Supreme Court, National Archives, Washington National Cathedral, FDR Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Jefferson Memorial.
Day 5- Arlington National Cemetery, (saw the tomb of the unknown soldier, changing of the guard) a wreath ceremony was performed at the grave site of Staff Sgt. Nino Livaudias, brother of a friend of Julie Rurik, Holocaust Memorial Museum, and last but not least, the White House.

Alex Rurik, ’19, shares a tidbit of his experiences and sightseeing.

“It was a thoroughly enjoyed visit with my family,” Rurik said. “I liked seeing all the monuments and feeling something that I had never felt before: melancholiness. I was neither happy, nor sad, just there, taking everything in. I’m glad I went.”

Former FC student, Chandler Baladjanian, talks about her thoughts through the whole trip.

“It definitely was a trip to remember,” Baladjanian said. “My favorite part was where we went to the top of the Washington Monument because we could see all of Washington D.C. from up there and it was breathtaking. I would go back again in a heartbeat.”

Freshman Carlee Whipple recalls her perspective of the East Coast trip.

“At first, I was a little apprehensive about the whole trip, mainly because I had never been to Washington, D.C.,” Whipple said. “Before so this was a whole new experience for me. But I’m so glad I went. The memorials that we visited were so phenomenal and breathtaking, it was a well worth it trip.”

Veteran’s Day is a unique holiday because it gives a chance to sit back and think about all the wonderful freedom we have and how blessed we are as a country. Take this opportunity to reflect on the opportunities we have and are able to achieve that no one else in every other country can.

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For more features, read the Nov. 6 article, Mock election challenges student involvement in politics, familiarize with issues.