RHS eighth graders take part in special ceremony
Pictured at a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington D.C. are Alex Haarman, Jenia Gump, Emma Merryman and Taylor Keffer. The Ridgewood High School students were taking part in their eighth grade class trip to D.C. and were selected through an essay process to take part in the ceremony. Contributed | Beacon
WEST LAFAYETTE – Ridgewood High School teacher Julie Feldner keeps making the eighth graders trip to Washington D.C. a little bit better each year.
This past May the school’s eighth graders took their second annual trip to D.C. and Feldner was able to arrange for the students to take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“We had to make a request to be able to do this 365 days out,” Feldner said. “We didn’t get to do one our first year, but this year I got started earlier on the trip.”
Only four students could take part in the ceremony and they were selected through essays they wrote on why they wanted to be part of the wreath laying ceremony.
“I didn’t want to just put names in a hat,” Feldner said. “I wanted it to mean something to them. They had to dress up and it’s a nerve-wracking thing to go through.”
She didn’t even put the names on the essays. Instead she numbered them and had fellow eighth grade teachers help her select the best essays.
In the end Taylor Keffer, Emma Merryman, Alex Haarman and Jenia Gump were honored with the pleasure of being part of the ceremony and laying the wreath with orange and black ribbon that said Ridgewood High School.
“Taylor and Emma got to walk forward with the officer and put the wreath on the stand,” Feldner said. “They then joined the other two and stood there while ‘Taps’ was played and they did the 21 Gun Salute. They were all right down in front for the whole ceremony.”
Feldner is hoping to have students take part in the ceremony again next year.
“It was quite the experience to be there, yet alone participate in it,” she said. “Emma and Taylor said they were nervous because the officer is right there in your face telling you directions and Jenna and Alex said it was an awesome experience. It’s something they will never forget.”
Category: Education
