A Week in Washington, DC

This year 142 individuals from Bryce Valley, Panguitch, and Escalante were able to fly (many of them for the first time) to Washington, DC and tour the United States Capitol.

Pete felt that it was important that children have a larger view of the world than many students in southern Utah see. All of the sixth graders in Garfield County, if they chose to, had the opportunity to spend five days in Washington, DC during the month of December. They were each responsible for raising the money through fundraising efforts the school provided. Most of the students have a parent that goes with them which makes chaperoning an easy thing for those in charge.

The students have been thrilled experiencing the wonders of Washington at such an early age. When asked which monument he liked the best, Colter P. of Panguitch said, “Arlington National Cemetery.” He talked about the rows and rows of headstones that were there for the soldiers who had died in battle. It seems that most of the students were impressed by Arlington and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Colter also talked of other monuments that they visited and when asked about museums he said his favorite was the Holocaust Museum. He said it was dark but he was impressed by the message and the feeling there. Colter and his dad Charlie enjoyed the five days together.

Lily W. and her mother loved the trip and although it was exhausting she expressed that her favorite monument was definitely “The Lincoln Memorial.” The giant statue of Abraham Lincoln seated at the end of the Mall is truly a site to remember. According to Lily one of the highlights of the trip was the time they spent at Mount Vernon. She said “it was so beautiful. They felt like it was the perfect place to spend Sunday morning, as it was so quiet and peaceful.”

Koby Frandsen and her daughter Kinzli made the trip with the rest of the sixth graders and felt that the whole trip was “phenomenal.” Koby talked of walking to the monument of the Marines raising the American Flag over Iwo Jima saying that it set the tone for the whole trip. Because of a personal connection, she felt that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall was her favorite monument.

Koby said she relished the opportunity of attending the Washington, DC Temple and being able to go inside and do a little temple work while the students toured the grounds. 

Kinzli loved the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Vernon but her favorite was the Library of Congress.

All of the students liked going to the White House, especially because it was decorated for Christmas.

The Metro was a new experience for young children from southern Utah and it seems there was a lot of growth from all of the students I talked to.

Parents and students were impressed that Congresswoman Celeste Maloy took the time to take them to the Capitol through the underground tunnel. They also liked learning about how sound can travel in the nation’s Capitol.

Celeste also presented Pete Peterson with a plaque commending him for the years of teaching his students by bringing them to Washington, both students from Garfield County and Nevada.

Mr. Peterson became principal of Bryce Valley Elementary in the fall of 2020. Pete and Beverly Roe Peterson moved from Panaca, Nevada to Tropic, Utah to begin a new career and give some different opportunities to students in our district. 

Pete wanted to take the sixth graders from the Bryce Valley area to Washington, DC as he had done in his previous school in Nevada. As Covid was raging at the time, he did not try to take them that first year but the next year he organized Bryce Valley Elementary and for two years they went to Washington, DC. 

In 2023 and 2024 the opportunity was extended to the rest of the school district. 

Everyone hopes that this opportunity will continue for the sixth grade in the coming years.

– by Elaine Baldwin

Feature image caption: 6th graders of the Garfield County School District, parents and teachers gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on December 7.

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