I (Jazmin) can’t believe it’s over! Although I’m exhausted, our time in Washington DC really flew by. We’ve created so many memories, and I know I’ll cherish them forever.
This morning, we checked out of our home for the last five nights… Good bye Hyatt Regency Crystal City! We got on the odd bus, which rules by the way, at 9:30 am and counted off to make sure everyone was on board Mr. D’s bus. After setting another Youth Tour count-off record we took off to headed north toward the Baltimore Airport. Along the way, we drove by the Iwo Jima Memorial, next to Arlington Cemetery. It was inspiring to see the famous statue of three troops raising our flag after a hard-fought battle.
Finally, we arrived at the airport in Baltimore at 11:45 am. After going through security about a dozen times and getting patted down by the TSA they finally let us go through. Mike gave us some more money to purchase lunch in the food court. Looks like a lot of the delegates chose the pizza or sub shop.
We get on the Southwest airplane… Well some of us got on. Jill and a couple of other delegates had an issue with their tickets. Mike Marsch to the rescue. He really is Superman! A few minutes later and several stand-by passengers removed from the plane and our friends boarded the plane.
All Youth Tour delegates and chaperones accounted for. Take off around 2:50 pm. St. Louis here we come!
I must say the flight from Baltimore to St. Louis was an experience. Let’s just say it was a little bumpier... If you can call it that. Oliver just said it was turbulence. Whatever it was it was not expected. However, the view was spectacular! This made up for the rough sections. Yes, this is only my second flight!
Everyone was having a fun time and the Southwest Airline Flight Attendants were a blast. We were taking pictures and moving around when the seatbelt sign was off. We were now free to move about the cabin... Sounds like a commercial. Ha Ha!
Enjoyed a Coke with a smile at 36,000 feet. Shared my peanuts with my new friends. Even traded a few for some of their cookies.
An hour and 40 minutes later, we touched down in St. Louis. I hugged many of my friends and said goodbye... Several times! I really can’t believe how close this group has grown in such a short time! We saw so many unbelievable sights together, experienced new things and laughed through most of it. I plan to keep in touch with many of them, and I hope we have a reunion one day soon.
Here is a picture of our Cuivre River Electric Cooperative Youth Tour delegates (minus Jazmin) at the baggage claim. Jazmin left Baltimore and was heading to Wisconsin to compete in the Junior Dance National Championships. Good Luck Jazmin! We will be cheering you on!
Lonnie picked us up and took several pictures of our group. Mike Marsch was great! He made everyone feel like one huge family. We really appreciate all of the work Mike, Chris and Nikki put into making this the best trip ever!
Hey Missouri! Hey Mike! 1, 2, 3, 4... We loaded up the Yukon and hit the road. We talked about everything we saw while in Washington, D.C. WOW! I still can't believe we spent a week in our nation's capitol!
Time for one more picture with our new friends. Ok maybe a few more. Maybe a few more with this person. Now I need a picture with that one and this one... Just one more picture Lonnie!
Okay. Maybe one more picture of our 2011 Youth Tour name badges. They have been with us every step of the way for the last seven days and six nights. From Jefferson City to St. Louis to Baltimore to Washington, D.C. Every monument and museum. The White House and U.S. Capitol. Not to mention, just about every sidewalk in the D.C. area and stairs, stairs, stairs and more stairs. Did I mention stairs!
Our name badges are covered with Youth Tour state pins that we traded with the other delegates during the Youth Tour Conference. Let’s see if you can find the California pin? Only a few people found this one!
I’ll (Oliver) also forever be grateful to my electric cooperative, Cuivre River Electric, for giving me this opportunity. Thank you to the Cuivre River Electric Board of Directors, General Manager/CEO Dan L. Brown, Mary Jane Clark and the 59,500 Cuivre River member/owners. I now know and truly understand what a cooperative is all about. I hope to one day become a cooperative member/owner and share in this amazing principle. A special “Thank You” goes out to Lonnie Tucker for making our summer one of the best times ever! Thanks to Mike and everyone at the Association of Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives for making this trip to Washington, D.C. possible. It was truly the trip of a lifetime! Thank you!
Your 2011 Youth Tour Delegates: Jazmin Gac, Dana Heggemann, Jill Jarvis, Christian Jacquez, Oliver Lamping and Emily Mauch.