What a DAY!
I’m going to warn you … it’s a long post… but it was an amazing day…
The student’s responses below are for the parents… everyone else… enjoy what you want…
It was a stellar day! As we were walking off the metro this morning Mr. Iverson shouted, “There it is!” The Discovery Space Shuttle was circling the National Mall! We got some great pics! Mr Smith claimed, “This class has a first and only!” Indeed!
We headed over to the American History Museum … AMAZING! Old Glory, the spy glass that George Washington used in the Revolutionary War AND one of his uniforms AND his military camp set! The top hat Lincoln was wearing when he was shot … just to mention a few of the things… many of us are hoping we can go back before the end of the week.
Next was lunch then the Holocaust Museum – the 1st person series.
The Holocaust Exhibit and the Propaganda Hall!

We ended our afternoon with Colonel Randy Mauldin! He has been such a blessing to Summit students whenever he has been able to join us and speak to our group. Randy shared how the core values of Military service are:
- Integrity
- Service before Self
- Excellence
He shared how even though these are military values they are also core values of believers. He shared the scriptures God has given us as examples of each of the same core values!
Randy then shared about how God is truly involved in every aspect of our lives. He shared about the time in his life he thought he’d be a geologist and was going for his PHD and then through circumstances ended up in the military and then later, while serving, a time when he was away (Desert Storm) and truly felt discouraged. Through God’s word Randy was immediately comforted, encouraged and empowered to do what God had placed him there at that time to do… and it really was a ‘life changing moment’ for his continued relationship with Christ and his ability to confidently lead where God has placed him! To have someone like Colonel Mauldin take the time and share his own personal battles and victories with our students… truly a gift and a blessing. An American Patriot!
As we debriefed tonight the students each shared about insightful and meaningful moments they experienced throughout the day
Snippets from the Students”
Taylor – The Holocaust – ‘voices of the people’ – it touched my heart – listening to them put you in touch with what they were feeling and how they handled it …
Christina – The Holocaust – my great grandparents were involved with it… the exhibit was cool and really heavy to see what kind of stuff they went to … the kind of people that they had to be to get through that and then live lifestyles after that
Nick – The Holocaust – so eye opening I knew about it but saw stuff I hadn’t seen before – artifacts – shoes –
Cory – The Propaganda Hall exhibit – unbelievable to see how they manipulated the people , just sucked them in with their propaganda-
Nathan – The Holocaust Museum – the concentration camps info – what they went through – hard to see it and be truly affected by it… we get desensitized with all the studying we do about it at school … but the visual images – shoes rail cart – also made me realize how grateful I should be.. not having to be in that situation ….
Christian – Jefferson bible – George Washington’s uniform – I was awed at the handwriting in the Bible – wondering – what would they think about how I was marveling at an object like that – the object makes us think about what they did – At the Holocaust – I felt like when we stepped off the elevator – I felt like a heaviness – never had that happen before – never had that happen before –
Kim –The Holocaust – In school the more we learn the more it turned into facts, it seemed less real – but seeing the videos – it’s about real people – it actually happened – I knew it was horrible but you really get it. I loved all the quotes on the walls , I felt like I connected with the people – it really affected me a lot
Chris – The Holocaust – I was glad they didn’t sugar coat it – through the videos – their faces – the whole event was really life changing for them –so the museum, it’s a testament to how they really wanted to bring change through it
Zack – Colonel Mauldin’s talk – because his education funding got cut off – it seemed like a horrible thing… yet it wasn’t … he’s a Colonel now … almost a general in the air force what was a bad thing, really wasn’t, it was God’s plan, that was really cool
Deanna – The Holocaust Museum – When you were in the elevator then stepped off on the top floor, there was such a heavy solemn feeling – the doors open – you hear the German chanting – you see the big word… holocaust – this is what really happened . What really showed me the whole realness was the shoes – the quotes were very powerful – then the shoes – people really did wear them and went through all that
David – The Museum of American history – Jefferson’s bible – Washington’s life – Jefferson had favorite verses in the Bible and he put them in a special book to read them when he wanted to. Then when you first walk in – turn left – giant statue of Washington – looked like his super muscle man… yet with the Washington Monument, it wasn’t about him… it was built for God’s glory .
Barret –The Holocaust – horrified me – during Isak’s speech when he talked about the door… how people came to his door at 2:30 to warn him that the German’s were coming and (he and his dad were able to escape and hide because of the warning)
Then the Huge burning pits – Jews going to the gas chamber – Nazi’s telling them they were going to the showers to be de-loused when they were taking them to the gas chambers.
Brandon – The Holocaust – it was so realistic – the worst humanity could do or lowest – reading the stuff over the walls – it makes me really want to pay attention to history so it doesn’t repeat itself – if that were to happen again – no matter what we have to do something.
James – The History museum – made me look at history in a different perspective – recognizing certain parts of time – Abraham Lincolns face – others looked at that too – for me to look at that is crazy – how powerful he was –yet humble
September 11th the ID’s they found of the guy there at the Pentagon – the phone from the plane – hit me really hard – that was a last thing they were holding on to.. even seeing the pillars – made is more real
Saranee – The Holocaust Museum – The Voices – listening to their own personal experience – I can’t imagine what they went through – now we don’t think about stuff like that– it’s really easy today – they had to give up so much – really you got to connect with them personally –
Taylor – The Holocaust – I understand now that there’s a reason you tell us you won’t bring us in middle school – it disturbed me, they didn’t honestly care about what was going on – they were loud and running the wrong way – such waste to come
Nick – At the last – hall of remembrance – they were reading the names – video in the museum – hitler giving a speech to kids wearing school uniforms – he went to their school – an event for students – recruiting – scared me but made me appreciate where I am right now
Christina – holocaust – videos of survivors – a lot of them talking about they wanted to give up but they didn’t have enough food – wanted to give up – pushed through it – we give up if something is remotely difficult – made me realize how much easier life is .. how lazy we are … we don’t want to struggle
The quote from a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.
Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out–
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out–
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out–
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me–and there was no one left to speak for me.
It was a moving day… pray that the things we saw and heard will change us, and because of that change … we will impact our world …
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