“I am always asked if I am tired of leading trips and going to Washington, D.C. The answer is an emphatic ‘No!’ Every year is a new experience with a new class of students who are eager to have Washington, D.C., as their classroom.”
– Janis, Teacher

Your Stories: Inspiring Student Travel

Dress Shoes Required
A few students get the opportunity of a lifetime due to the kindness of others.
Discover D.C.
Bill, Teacher

I must say that over my 31 years of bringing kids to Washington, D.C., many wonderful and often funny stories have been created. In the early 1990s, our school was scheduled for a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The four students who were to participate in the ceremony had been selected by their fellow students. All involved knew this was a great honor and that they would be stepping into an area where few are allowed to go.

The kids were very excited and had brought along their best clothes for the ceremony. The two girls were decked out in new spring dresses. They looked great. The boys had slacks, shirts with ties, and both had brand new Nike white leather sport shoes, as was the style of the day.

The four students and I went to the guard room with our confirmation letter and were met by the military person in charge. He looked over my students and said that he would not allow the boys to participate because they had white shoes on, rather than dark dress shoes. I was upset, but knew that one does not argue with the officer. I said to the boys that I was sorry, but the two girls would have to go it alone. One of the boys said, "Mr. Duval, we're going to lay that wreath!" He immediately looked at our bus driver, J.W. Beale, who had accompanied us to the guard room. The boy's eyes met J.W.'s and then went immediately down to his uniform's black leather shoes. J.W. began to smile and one of the boys soon had some black shoes.

The two boys then said, "We need another pair." They went out into the crowd that was gathering to view the ceremony. They went in and out of the groups of people, asking men for their shoes. Finally, a perfect stranger sat down on the marble steps, took off his brown leather shoes, and gave them to a very excited fourteen-year-old boy.

My four students participated in the ceremony that day, two of them in borrowed shoes.

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“[Our son] learned a tremendous amount of information, not only about our nation's capitol, but much about our nation's history. WorldStrides was really easy to work with and the entire process was very seamless. I wish I could have gone! ”

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