RUFF boys tour D.C.
The RUFF group (Ready yoUrself For the Future) from Heritage Elementary School recently toured Washington, D.C.
“The trip’s purpose was to expose 42 young men to outstanding leaders in U.S. history and give them an opportunity they might never get to experience again,” Graham said.
On their first day in Washington, they visited the Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute and then attended a Washington Nationals major league baseball game.
On day two, they visited the U.S. Capitol; Daniel’s Story, a children’s exhibition about the Holocaust; Korean War, Vietnam War, World War II and Iwo Jima memorials; Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. monuments; and the Pentagon 9/11 memorial.
Arlington National Cemetery was their stop for day three. “The Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Memorial were very powerful for our young men,” he said.
“Our group had a very inspirational leader for the three days. There were many moments when he became very emotional. He had such knowledge of our visit sites,” Graham said.
The RUFF boys most enjoyed their meal at the food court at the Pentagon City Mall.
Their most memorable moment was the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. About 30 World War II Veterans from Florida were visiting with an Honor Flight. “Everyone of our boys and chaperones took a minute to shake every one of the veteran’s hands and tell them, ‘Thank you,'” Graham said.
When the veterans’ bus departed Arlington, the RUFF group gave them a heroes’ exit. “No one told the boys to do what they did,” Graham said. “It was powerful!”
Graham thanked each company and resident that supported the trip. “We raised nearly $20,000 in about two months,” he said. “We plan on making this trip an annual event with a special event. Our goal will be to have 10,000 RUFF on the National Mall.”
