Published: January 19, 2009 08:46 am      

Locust Grove students to witness inauguration

It’s a historical inauguration, and students from Locust Grove are excited about it.

Sandy Pierce, a seventh grade literature teacher at Locust Grove Middle School, has been planning the trip for months. Tuesday, Pierce and 52 other adults and Locust Grove students are

headed for the swearing in of America’s 44th president.

Pierce said the trip has been in the making for a year and a half.

“We had no idea who was going to be president when we started it,” she said. “We just knew we wanted to be there.”

Eighth grader Riann Collins said she is most excited about getting to see the World War II memorial. Collins said her grandfather fought in World War II.

“I’ve read the itinerary so many times,” said Collins.

Katy Cole, another eighth grade student, said she was going home to pack that very night.

“I’m really excited,” Cole said. “It’s just like an honor to get to see everything.”

Collins said she “really wants to see the Lincoln Memorial.”

Eighth grade twins Kylie and Chelsie Keener were equally thrilled about the Washington trip. Kylie said getting to see the inauguration is most exciting to her. Chelsie was looking forward to seeing Arlington Cemetery.

Pierce said Smithsonian Student Travel contacted her over a year ago to see if she was interested in a trip to the 2009 presidential inauguration. The plans began from there.

The group limit was 46, and 53 people signed up to go. High School Librarian Joan Bennett is taking Pierce’s overflow in a small group of seven. Bennett’s group consists mostly of adults.

Pierce is taking 10 high school freshmen, 18 middle school students and 17 adults.

“I’ve had nothing but cooperation from the administration,” said Pierce, speaking of Locust Grove school leaders. “They’ve encouraged the trip and supported it fully.”

With advance planning, the cost for each student was $1,138.

Collins acquired sponsorship from family members, Bank of Locust Grove, State Representative Ben Sherrer, Quanties NAPA, and Turner Propane and Turner’s Laundromat. Cole talked her aunts and uncles into giving $20 each month for a year.

The Keeners received money for the trip from parents and grandparents.

Daughters of the American Revolution and the Keetoowah band of the Cherokees donated lunch money for the groups’ first day of travel. Pierce said Congressman Dan Boren offered his staff to help the touring school groups at any time needed.

Pierce said the five-day trip includes “entrance into everything.” The group will attend the inauguration, the inaugural parade and an inaugural ball.

Saturday morning the groups

departed from Tulsa International Airport on three separate flights. They flew in Philadelphia, Pa., where they went on a day tour of the historical city.

On Sunday the groups will ride a tour bus to Washington D.C., then spend Sunday and Monday touring the U.S. Capitol. Pierce said Tuesday will be

totally devoted to the inauguration.

Pierce said the two groups will leave D.C. on Wednesday afternoon. The students will catch a night flight from Philadelphia and be back in school Thursday.

“They promised me they would be in school Thursday,” Pierce smiled.

Pierce said the security lines in Washington are expected to be two to three hours long. The travel company advised the groups they would be outdoors from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., when they will head for the ball. Washington temperatures are expected to be in the 20s.

Pierce said her concern was getting “46 people on a subway at one time.” The students and adults will be going straight from the parade to the inaugural ball. She said the two groups were able to secure a motorcoach that would hold 53.

Pierce said every day, the kids have been asking how many more days until the trip.

“No matter how old they get,” said Sandra Downing, middle school teacher, “they’ll always remember, Mrs. Pierce took them to the inauguration.”