Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Reflections
While on our way home, we asked the kids to text us what they learned this week. We worked hard at having a ton of fun while at the same time grounding the kids on life's lessons around civic responsibility.
The texts are terrific! Sit down with a cup of coffee and read a few at a time.
Believe us, you will be touched as we were.
- I never realized how much I was proud to be an American. How proud I was to live in such a great nation with such great people. I am incredibly proud of all of my family members that have served in the war and all 7+ that now lay to rest in Arlington cemetery. One of the biggest realizations that I came too was that my brother is my hero. He is going into the Military to serve this country and fight for our great nation. He may not have always been the nicest to me when we were little but now he is a loving, kind, athletic, and I hope to one day be half the person he is today and serve our country. One thing on the trip that I tried was a real sleepover. When I was smaller I never really had any sleepovers because I just wasn't interested in that type of thing. The longest sleep over I had ever had was 2 days and I sometimes struggle to get to sleep. This was a large challenge I'm glad I over came.
- My favorite part of the trip was the time when we got to go around a city with our team and do what we want.
- How proud I am and was traveling with a group of enjoyable and respectful future Brunswick High School students . It was an honor to share this wonderful experience with you all.
- Ihad a lot of fun going through the city today. My friends and I kind of just roamed around and hung out. Even though I didn't have any money I still had fun seeing the city and how it is just full of life. The food at the Hard Rock Cafe was really good and I had a good time hanging there with everyone. Overall I had a blast today
- I didn't think I would be able to get up at 6 every morning but I did.
- My favorite part of the Freedom Tour was exploring the monuments and memorials It was so cool to see these iconic places.
- I didn't think that getting up in the morning would be as easy as it was. One day our alarm didn't go off but yet we had enough time in the morning. On the last day I was sure I would be too tired to get up after a long week but we ended up waking up pretty easily.
- The thing that I most enjoyed was the time that we got to go places with people in other groups instead of just our group. Also I loved the time that we had after the day was over to hang out with our friends and just have down time. Also I enjoyed being able to choose the museums that we wanted to go to instead of being made to go places.
- I really enjoyed seeing the monuments and museums because of all the historic and importance they have. Additionally, the monuments and museums also made me think the most and really made my trip.
- My favorite part of the trip was when we went to Battery Park and got to walk around taking pictures and going to walk street. I also really liked the 911 museum and I found it really interesting.
- After being with these wonderful young people for the entire last two school years, I feel like I know them pretty well. I was amazed and proud to watch them stretch their boundaries in so many ways but especially their social interactions. I loved seeing them float around from group to group regardless of what "clique" they belonged to or who they normally hung out with. I don't want to say good bye! I will miss this particular group more than I can express and this was such awesome way to see them off to BHS. Good luck and best wishes to my lovelies, go Dragons!!
- I had a wonderful time this week seeing some new and some familiar places, getting to know some wonderful adults, and spending quality time with a great group of young adults! Being tired is a small price to pay for such an adventure. Thanks for a great trip Bath YMCA :-) White bus rules!
- I liked everything because it was cool.
- My fav part of the trip was our last day! (Today) I loved going shopping and it was so much fun I really enjoyed it.
- I liked walking around NYC because it gave us a chance to relax and get away from the emotional memorials. Also we got to get stuff to remember the trip.
- Roaming New York City today was amazing, we walked through the streets to the Today Show and then had a chance to walk around Times Square. The Hard Rock Cafe was on my bucket list. I always see the shirts that say "hard rock" on them. I thought it was my best interest to buy one while I was here. We are currently leaving the city to return to our dear town, Brunswick Maine
- This has been an amazing week of learning, marathon sightseeing, new friends and many laughs. I truly enjoyed getting to know the kids and the team leaders. That has been my favorite part.Thank you Phil, Marybeth, Tom and Deb. It is easy to see why you are so passionate about this program. It has been a great experience and one that I am happy to have shared with all of you! PS...the White bus is the BEST bus!
- One thing that I learned from this trip is that the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France as a treaty between us and France.
- I thought that Washington was really cool. I had never been there, and enjoyed seeing the monuments, especially the Lincoln memorial, and the Korean War memorial
- On this trip i learned that at gettysburg there were like 700 cannons. One thing i like was how we got to go to the 9/11 museum.
- During this trip, I learned that freedom is not in fact free. Visiting the memorials was a new experience that opened my eyes to the sacrifices many brave men and women made so that our country could encompass its values.
- One thing I didn't know I could do was I didn't think I would be able to do much of anything in NY because I panic in large crowds. I actually feel like I was able to do good even though I had to get a lot of help from a few of my friends. I even bought a few things all by myself.
- The Hard Rock Cafe was fun.
- I learned that you can buy anything you could think of on the street of NYC
- On this trip, I learned what freedom really meant. I learned that without the soldiers and hardworkers in our past, we wouldn't be able to have some of the things we have today. I also learned to push my limits and to not be afraid to try new things. Not only did the monuments and museums teach me new things, but they also showed me real evidence of the events that happened and not just things we learned in the classroom. I also learned the true meaning of friendship on this trip.
- I never knew much about 9-11 until I visited the museum and memorial. I now know how importent that day was to American freedom.
- This week, I learned not to take my rights and freedoms in the U.S. for granted. After seeing all the monuments, memorials, and museums, it really reminded me that many people have fought hard to give people in our countries those rights, and the U.S. continues to make progress in equality for everyone today.
- I learned to not take my freedom for granted because there are many people who do not have access to the freedoms that I have every day. I also learned that many rights I have here in the United States people around the world do not have.
- I learned that when you hear about the 9/11 memorial you don't get the full understanding until you actually go and see all the things in person. You then understand how terrifying it was to be there, and all the destruction that happened.
- I've learned it's okay to try and experience new things. I've learned what freedom means to me, and the world.
What is something I did that I didnt think I could do? Probably explore food and stuff. Like today I had a veggie pizza, for example. It was amazing.
What has been my favorite part of the trip? You know, everything. Excluding the drama, I have enjoyed every crack and crevice of this trip. Thank you the amazing Marybeth and the wonderful Phil. Its been perfect.
- Something that I did that I did not know I could do is go to the Apollo Theater and see the wall of signatures.
- I learned that freedom comes with a cost that is far higher than what we were taught as children. When parents tell their kids that the freedom they enjoy has a price. Those kids can never understand until they see something like what we saw this week. When I saw the 9/11 museum, I realized just how weak our teaching of that topic had really been. While walking through that memorial, I saw things that broke my heart to the point where I was on the verge of sitting in a corner and crying. The true extent of this attack is far greater than what we are told it is, and I think we should take that to heart and try to help newer generations understand.
- I learned so many things about the history of the holocaust. While at the museum I learned that sometimes they took the hair of a "inferior person". With that hair they would stuff mattresses etc. I also learned that the person I received the story of died only a few months before liberation. She had managed to get a fake ID, and she didn't go into a work camp until 1944. In addition I got to learn in more detail what happened before the holocaust. I would like to say thank you, because this was an amazing trip. All of your hard work showed through each day.
I learned a lot of stuff at the holocaust museum and it was good to learn about. Also I really thought about it and what happened to the people there.
I learned that a lot of people take the freedom that the United Stated has for granted. I didn't realise how many men and women and fought and died for our country until we went to Arlington.
Strangely enough, I enjoyed going to the 9/11 Museum and The Pentagon Memorial. I say strangely, because I enjoyed going to the exact places many people lost their lives. The thing I liked the most about these places is the respect that was given. I've never heard a place be as silent as the 9/11 museum was. The Pentagon Memorial was like something I've never seen. The thing I liked the most about these
I learned that "Freedom Is Not Free", a quote on the wall in the Korean War Monument. I agree with this quote, even though others may not.
Something new that I had never experienced before was being able to speak to the pilot who could have lost his life on 9/11 and bringing the president to the White House.
Something I didn't know I could do was be able to see different aspects of freedom the way we did in just one trip. Freedom of speech, freedom for your rights, etc.
On this trip I learned a lot about the tragic incident of 9/11. The museum was breathtaking, detailed, and included many exhibits that interested me. The main exhibit featured a fact-filled timeline, many hard-to-look-at but interesting graphics, news clips, artifacts, and even cards from little kids thanking the men and women that lost their lives that day. Knowing that our country got hit hard by a terrible attack is truly sad but makes me proud to live in a patriotic country that fights back for its freedom.
Some of the little, but important, things I learned on this trip were how to work within a small team, and a large team, more on how to follow directions and listen, and things about cultures and living that I didn't know before. I learned many, many things about freedom and how some people today still don't have it, and even in America, not everyone has exactly equal rights. Many people take for granted what we have in our country, I have now at least partially realized the amount of freedom I myself have. Most importantly, on this trip I learned how difficult it is to find and get to a coffee shop that isn't Starbucks in New York City. I had a lot of fun on this trip with all of my friends and even one new ones, and I know that my experiences on this trip will be valuable to me in the future.
Gettysburg was cool. There was a pretty view from Llittle Round Top.
This week was very interesting between the early mornings and the late night I learned what the true meaning of this trip. At first glance it means being free of your parents and hanging with your friends for 7 days straight. But under the surface it means sooooo much more. We learned what the symbols of freedom and why the were Important to the young USA and what it means to each person in their heart. Also we learned what others have done to protect the freedoms we take for granted and even abuse. So if i were to tell you what freedom means to me it would never end just like the freedoms we have here in the USA. This is the great understanding I received from this trip along with great friends and even greater memories.
During our trip I got to do many things that I never would have done this summer. However, one of my favorite activities was when we went to the Air and Space Smithsonian Museum. While we were there Hunter and I experienced a phenomenal flight simulator which allowed for an emersive realistic ride. It was amazing and I couldn't believe I got to go on something so exciting.
The 2015 freedom tour was an experience that I will remember for a lifetime. In just seven days we traveled through 11 states (including DC) and toured the most major land marks along the east coast.
In school teachers educate us about the major events enveloped in the American history: events like the battle of Gettysburg and 9/11. However, learning about these places in a classroom and visiting them in person are two entirely different realities. This tripped turned everything we learned in school alive.
Looking back on the tour, there are two places that truly impacted my perspective on what it means to live in America. The first, was visiting Gettysburg. We spent several months learning about it in the Brunswick School system, but only standing there looking at some of the bomb shells that were still stuck in houses did I truly realize that this actually happened - right here - on American soil. The other place that left me astonished was the national cemetery. We all know that many people died for our freedom, but seeing all those graves was... breath taking; especially since that's only a small percent of Americans that sacrificed their lives for us. It made ALL of us realize that we are so lucky to be living in the greatest country of the world and how blessed we are to be free. This trip truly gave us a taste of America.
On this trip I learned how horrible the holocaust was. In school they teach us all about the holocaust things they did to them, the reason why they did it, (even though there was no really clear answer) they taught us the horrible evil Adolf Hitter possessed,and of course you learn about the family of Anne Frank. So with all of this information that I already knew I thought I was totally prepared to go into the memorial. But the truth was I wasn't, when I went in there was this tiny little room with all of the voices of some of the survivors talking about what they endured at the camps some things I never knew happened. One thing one of the lady's said was the Nazis would take people to medically experiment on them, they would lock them in cages and turn the air pressure up to see how high an altitude pilots could go. They would even make them drink salt water all day for several days and give them nothing else to eat , the purpose was to see what affects it has on your body if you had to drink salt water to survive. I think this was an amazing place for anyone who doesn't know much about the holocaust to go and learn.
On this trip I learned a lot about immigrants, not only about how challenging it was for them to get into the United States, but about the difficulties the faces while in their new home.
Before this trip, I had never been to Washington DC, so that entire part of the trip was new to me.
My group really wanted to go to the Botanical Gardens in Washington DC, and I personally didn't want to waste my time seeing flowers. It ended up being very fun and I enjoyed our time there. Not to mention I got some really good pictures out if it.
During this trip, I learned about what it is like to live in the big city. First of all, everything you need is in that city; you can go shopping for clothing, find restaurants et cetera. Also, it is very crowded. In Brunswick, you can still walk down the sidewalk with plenty of room on a crowded day -- it is not the same for New York City. In addition, there are very few houses and green spaces. No one has large yards, and big trees are only seen in parks. The waterfront is also all commercial; there are no beaches and even very few restaurants on the water. Cities are very different from Brunswick in so many ways, and because of that, I would not want to live in a big city.
I have learned many things throughout this awesome trip. However, I would say that I learned the most information in the 9/11 and Holocaust Memorials. Besides being informative, they were interesting as well. This has also been my first time in a hotel. I found the hotels enjoyable in the long run. Overall, this whole trip has opened my eyes about history and our freedom. I would love to go on this trip again.
This was an amazing trip. From the preparatory meetings throughout the Spring to the mini meetings at night to the wonderful direction from our bus leaders, this was a wonderful orchestration of the simple trickle down effect of gentle yet strong leadership. What a perfect ending to the eighth grade year and an amazing beginning to the students meaning of Freedom as a citizen of the USA. Throughout the entire trip, I felt extremely happy to be part of their journey. I truly enjoy being able to participate in shaping the life of young people. It was evident that the entire leadership team was interested in the same goal. I enjoyed the guest led bus tours at Amish Country and Gettysburg. I enjoyed making lunches with the kids and the dinner theater experience with these wonderful kids. I was proud to be traveling with such a great group and enjoyed the many adults whom I can now call my friends. Thank you for putting together such am amazing fun-filled educational Freedom Tour 2015.
Fender Bender at Lincoln Tunnel
A driver was texting and scraped the blue bus. All is well. No one was hurt. We are on schedule. It's worse for all the cars in the tunnel that will get to New York several hours from now.
Marybeth and Phil take a selfie while investigating the scene of the crime.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Freedom Isn't Free by Delaina
The Freedom Tour is all about freedom, and how much it has
cost Americans. We have been asked questions about what freedom means to us
individually. Most of us have said being away from our parents, and yes, that
freedom has been very nice. Some have said other things, like freedom of
speech, press, religion, and more. The answers have been spread out and diverse,
yet we have all learned one true thing: freedom isn’t - and never will be - free.
We take it for granted that we have democracy rather than a monarchy or
communist government. We take it for granted that we can say what we want, post
what we want, and be ourselves whereas elsewhere the tables are turned. I’ve
learned to appreciate my writing more not as a hobby, or a possible career, but
as a true freedom. I enjoy writing, and have now realized how much I am
thankful that I can write on a blog like this, freely, without fearing punishment.
Many have lost
their lives to help aid our country in being free. All the memorials, from the
ghost statues of Korean soldiers, the endless wall of names for Vietnam, the
Revolutionary War, Civil War, and more have helped Americans living today be
free, even though it meant them dying. Also, all the presidential memorials. Lincoln, JFK, John D Roosevelt, the Clintons, and more have given empowering
speeches to make sure we know we are strong, free, and can do anything we set
our hearts to, as long as we do it united. Where would we be without the Civil
Rights Movement? What if we had never had the Sit-Ins, or the Freedom Rides, or
MLK Jr.? Where would our country stand? Free? Maybe not so much. United?
Definitely not. I think I have realized that in our to have freedom, you have
to be united. You have to have someone to back you up, and be there for you.
Memorials by Hannah
Today, we went to a lot of really cool memorials in Washington DC. I hung out with Hope, Faith and Charity today, as well. Those three ladies represent what women did to help during wars. Hope was looking at the sky hoping for the war to end, Faith was praying to help the men survive, and Charity was caring for the men. We also went to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and this was cool because I was Eleanor Roosevelt in something at my school called biography day. I found out a ton of information about this person and pretended to be her for a day.
We also went to the holocaust museum. This was really interesting and my favorite museum we've gone to so far. There was this one section that was about a boy who went from living a normal life to going to a ghetto and then being moved to a concentration camp. He survived the camp but his mother and sister didn't. He had written a diary but it was taken away once he entered the camp. This was extremely interesting. I really enjoyed this day and I thought it was very interesting.
Resurrection of the Ghost Solders by Ainsley
Today our first stop was the Korean Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The solders were like ghosts against the gray sky above and the green foliage below. The wall of the names carved into the granite stone reflected our faces symbolizing that they were all people just like us. They were willing to fight forces who were oppressing the people of Korea. The faces of the statues reflected what was in their souls pain, sadness, and fear. Even with such things embedded into their heart and soul they were also strong, brave and determined to survive and help these people.
I realize just what freedom means to me. Freedom means having an education and not forced to stay home. It means not giving up on people that others have, and fighting for them. It means that the revolting amount of blood shed and killing was for the freedom we hold dear to us.
'FREDOM IS NOT FREE'
Pentagon Memorial by Jacob
Today we went to the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. When we got there we had a guest speaker who told us about the day that 9/11 happened, and how he had to fly president Bush from The Pentagon to The White House. Before Mr. Bush had arrived he heard that the North Twin Tower had been hit by a plane and then 15 minutes later a second plane flew into the south tower. He said that before the president had arrived he had to go to the helicopter pad and start the helicopter. As he was setting up for the president he heard on the radio that an airplane had crashed into the Pentagon. When he was finishing up he noticed that there was burning paper and ashes floating through the air around him. When he was ready he went back to the Pentagon to see if the radio was right, and sure enough it was. He had just seen the destruction caused by the terrorist gang know as Alquada.
When we had a chance to go and witness the memorial it was much different than we all expected. When we got to look at the ages of the people that had been killed and their names it felt like we had been there at that time. When we looked at the year our parents were born and traced the date back to the people that had died the day of the attack it was very eye opening because we were all wondering what it would be like if our parents were harmed in that attack. In school they always talk about the number of casualties and just the basics of what happened. But when we talked to someone who witnessed it first hand it was a whole different experience.
Watch Kitty Donohoe at the 2008 Dedication of the Pentagon Memorial
Kitty Donohoe - "There Are No Words" - Written On 9/11/2001
there are no words there is no song
is there a balm that can heal these wounds that will last a lifetime long
and when the stars have burned to dust
hand in hand we still will stand because we must
is there a balm that can heal these wounds that will last a lifetime long
and when the stars have burned to dust
hand in hand we still will stand because we must
in one single hour in one single day
we were changed forever something taken away
and there is no fire that can melt this heavy stone
that can bring back the voices and the spirits of our own
we were changed forever something taken away
and there is no fire that can melt this heavy stone
that can bring back the voices and the spirits of our own
all the brothers, sisters and lovers all the friends that are gone
all the chairs that will be empty in the lives that will go on
can we ever forgive though we never will forget
can we believe in the milk of human goodness yet
all the chairs that will be empty in the lives that will go on
can we ever forgive though we never will forget
can we believe in the milk of human goodness yet
we were forged in freedom we were born in liberty
we came here to stop the twisted arrows cast by tyranny
and we won’t bow down we are strong of heart
we are a chain together that won’t be pulled apart
we came here to stop the twisted arrows cast by tyranny
and we won’t bow down we are strong of heart
we are a chain together that won’t be pulled apart
Marine Memorial by Kayla
Today we visited a memorial for six brave Marines. They risked their own life for the freedom of our country. They were in WWII. Three of them died in Iwo Jima and three of them came back to America. They were very young when they risked their own lives for our country. They were around the ages of 18-25. The youngest to die was only 18 years old. They were still kids with a lot left to do in life. Their story is very heartwarming. When hearing their story it brought tears to my eyes, as well as the reader of their story. They were the ones who raised the flag for our country on the island of Iwo Jima. They didn't think that the flag was big enough, so they sent a Marine by the name of Renee to get a bigger flag. Renee was young man from New Hampshire. He is from New England just like most of the people reading this. Another very heartwarming story is about a man named James Bradley. He made it back to America after Iwo Jima. He never talked to the press or said that he was a hero. He would tell his son that he was just like everyone else. After he died, later in life his son wrote a book about his father and the other 5 men. Each one of their stories is truly amazing. They were very different yet so much alike. I know they had one thing in common and that was to protect our country. They were very brave young men who sacrificed their precious lives for us. -Kayla Ruona
Monday, June 29, 2015
Freedom is not free by Anna
I really enjoyed going to the national cemetery this morning to see the changing of the guards at the tomb of the un-known soldier. It was a very Solemn ceremony that changed everyone's perspectives on freedom, and made us all reflect on what it means to be an American. Everyday we wake up, we are free. We are free to say what we want, worship what we want, love who we want, and are titled to many other freedoms. What we tend to forget is all the people who have died to give us these freedoms. Seeing all the graves was just astonishing. It was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that at each grave rest an individual person who died for my freedom. Nobody will forget those who died for us, and we must all remember that freedom isn't in fact free.
Sculpture Garden by Ainsley
Dear Brunswick Freedom Tour,
Today we traveled all over Washington, D.C. What I chose to to write about was the sculpture garden. After splitting into different groups I went off with Delaina,Makayla,and Isabella. My mother's favorite sculpture was the silver tree. Del was the "The Thinker Rabbit". My personal favorite was the Optical House. It was my favorite because it could look 3-D at one angle and them look flat at another. One off the best parts was when the group decided that they wanted to put their feet in the fountain. The water was cool compared to everything around us.
Today we traveled all over Washington, D.C. What I chose to to write about was the sculpture garden. After splitting into different groups I went off with Delaina,Makayla,and Isabella. My mother's favorite sculpture was the silver tree. Del was the "The Thinker Rabbit". My personal favorite was the Optical House. It was my favorite because it could look 3-D at one angle and them look flat at another. One off the best parts was when the group decided that they wanted to put their feet in the fountain. The water was cool compared to everything around us.
James D. Debeuneure 1943-2001 by Rachel
I
sit here on the bench of James D. Debeuneure, under a tree, and just
think. This man was on the plane that
crashed into the pentagon. Water
trickles underneath, and a clear blue sky scattered with cotton balls floats
overhead. On the day of September eleventh,
Mr. James woke up, and began his daily commute.
He probably made contact with a loved one that day, or maybe not. But whomever he was loved by, they were not
to hear from him again. On this day Mr.
James would be one of the many people to bring a nation together in a time of
heartache and heartbreak. As far as
anyone knows, his story could be just another entangled in a larger tale of our
nation’s history. But Mr. James, I look
up to the heavens, and I promise you: I will never forget you.
The Soldier Standing in the Sun by Delaina
He’s a solider, and he is also a guard. Dressed in his
uniform and FBI looking sunglasses, and shiny black shoes, he stands in the
sweltering sun guarding the unknown solider. This solider is indeed unknown,
but he doesn’t need a name to hold such representation and fame. The solider
represents those who have been lost in war, found or not. Respectful visitors,
there to pay their respects to those fallen, stare admiringly and respectfully
at the tomb shining in the summer sunshine. As we waited for the changing of
the guards, I noticed how the marine saluted the tomb. It felt different than
most salutes I’ve seen. Serious, true, real, and that isn’t to offend anyone. I
was just really struck at the seriousness and overall…well, brotherhood. That’s
how I would describe it. The phrase “Never leave a man behind” ran through my
mind all day long. Never forget a man either.
The tomb of
the Unknown Soldier made me reflect on this trip. Freedom, friendship,
kindness, respect, bonding…all made me really think. Never forget your friends,
and never leave them behind. Because in the end, they might be the only ones
there for you.
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