his Administrative Director, and were shown his private balcony, which overlooked the Washington Monument and the Capitol’s Christmas tree set up in D.C. at the time. Speaker Boehner’s Administrative Director also allowed students to tour the Congressional women’s reading room, and sit on the very couch that President John Quincy Adams died on (after his presidency ended and he returned to Congress). Their private tour wasn’t over yet, and though most of the Capitol was closed to the public at this time, that fact did not seem to matter to the historically-enthusiastic employees there. Lastly, students were led down private steps to the tomb originally built for George Washington, before Washington’s wife refused to let his remains leave Mount Vernon. “I thought
this was just a trip to Washington, but these were amazing experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Junior Derek Wangler. The next morning opened with a trip to the Holocaust Museum, where Medaille students met with and spoke to two Holocaust survivors, Henry Greenbaum and Erika Eckstut. Their stories and recount of the Nazi’s effort to subjugate and eliminate all Jews will not soon be forgotten. Mrs Eckstut survived in a ghetto in the former Czechoslovakia, under unbelievable privation. Mr. Greenbaum, ripped from his family at a young age, was sent from the ghetto to Treblinka Concentration Camp, where two of his sisters were exterminated. He and another sister attempted escape but were caught; she was shot and killed, while a bullet grazed his head. Both Mrs Eckstut and Mr. Greenbaum emigrated to the United States for freedom after the war. That day, they both wore symbols of the Jewish faith on their clothing, a clear sign of pride in their heritage. Both survivors displayed an extreme sense of gratitude towards America.
“Six years of everything I have ever learned about history and government crammed into four up close and personal days; best trip ever!” - Senior Jackie Neal Page 13