Forty-eight students from Central Middle School in Nederland had the honor of visiting Washington, D.C. from June 10-13.

This was a fast-paced trip for these young Texans. Every morning they were dressed and eating breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and then off to make memories.

Those attending were: Chad Baumgardner, Miranda Brooke, Nathan Brucia, Brett Butler, Ricki Calvert, Jesse Cozad, Thomas Daniels, Tyler Daniels, Faraz Datoo, Danny De La Cruz, Michelle Do, Cierra Frederick, Jacob Frost, Stewart Gallander, Savannah Gilcrease, Brooke Hamilton, Marissa Hearn, Macie Ingalls, Samantha Kimball, Austin Leblanc, Juan Magana, Kayla Menard, Nathan Montondon, Matt Mullins, Edwin Nelson, Tyler Nelson, Stephanie Nguyen, Noah Ogrydziak, J. J. Petersberger, Allen Pham, Angela Pickard, Sarah Pontiff, Savanna Porter, Layla Rush, Christian Serrano, Tori Shelton, Amanda Smith, Jamie Stafford, Chris Stiles, Brittany Sullivan, Alexis Theriot, Alec Theriot, Brittney Thomas, Michael Underhill, Dylan Varella, Brandon Washburn, Lauran Wilson and Makinzie Zimmerman.

The sponsor of the organization is Candice Haggard. She and her husband, Randy Haggard, have been taking students to see Washington, D.C. for 20 years. The other chaperones were Leah Shoemaker and Catherine Hillsten.

A special part of the trip was made possible by Representative Ted Poe. Poe met with the group to tell them what was happening in Congress these days then spent a few minutes answering questions from the students. After taking a picture with the group, Poe’s staff took the group for a tour through the United States Capital building.

Some of the unforgettable places the group visited were the World War II Memorial, memorials to Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, the panda bears and white tigers of the National Zoo, the memorials honoring the bravery shown at Iwo Jima and in the Korean War, the Smithsonian Museums and the Vietnam Wall.

Other exciting sights included a guided tour through the home of George and Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, with its 10 bedrooms and view of the Potomac River, the 45 carat Hope diamond, the gorgeous National Cathedral and a tour through the magnificent White House.

Another memorable part of the tour was when the students went to the National Archives building. “There are no words to describe the feelings a person has when they are standing right next to the document that gave us our freedom from England, the Declaration of Independence, as well as our incredible Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Up to this time, these had just been pages of a textbook. Now they were seeing the real thing,” organizers said.

The highlight of the trip took place in the Arlington National Cemetery.

Then it was time for the outstanding girl and boy in Central's “Washington, D.C. Club,” Angela Pickard and Nathan Montondon, to place a red, white and blue wreath in honor of Central Middle School at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“It was such a beautiful, emotional moment as everyone stood completely silent and listened to Taps being played for them. It was a moment they will cherish forever,” according to the press release.