June 10th-Capitol Hill Day

On this lovely Wednesday morning, all of the Nebraska CWF 4-H groups aroused early to gather at Capitol Hill for the Nebraska Breakfast. We arrived on the hill at approximately 7:15 a.m. When we got the chance to enter the building we entered underneath the capitol and bravely faced our first security check. As I approached the metal x-ray detector, I politely asked the security guard if I needed to remove my belt. He replied that I did not. Then as I went through the door like structure, I had set the alarm off. I had to return to the other side of the metal door frame, remove my belt, and once again walk through security. Of course my large belt had set off the metal detectors. After we all braved the scary looking security guards, we proceeded to the breakfast line with the marble floor. As we all assembled our meals from the cafeteria buffet line, the Nebraska State Delegates were speaking to those who had already gotten their meals. During the breakfast, Mike Johanns, Adrian Smith, and Ben Nelson spoke to us about the Nebraska way of life, and energy efforts to better the state, the country, and the economy. Our local CWF group presented Ben Nelson with a CWF 4-H Trip t-shirt.
After the Nebraska Delegate Breakfast we were allowed to watch the 111th Congressional Senate in session. We were escorted through large columned hallways, with shiny marbled floors to the Senate House. There we went through not one, but two security checks in order to be admitted into the Senate. Once again, I had to remove my belt for the scary security men. When in the Senate we all sat in amazement at the ornately decorated blue room. In the ceiling of the room there was the symbol of the Senate. We witnessed three men state their opinions on various topics to the Presiding Officer in the Senate.
There after viewing the Senate in session, we went for our tour of the Capitol. We watched an orientation meeting, and then were escorted as a group to the Rotunda of the Capitol Building. As we walked into the Rotunda, I stared up at the ceiling in awe at the beauty of the architecture of the room. Also, around the room were eight paintings depicting our nation’s history from the time of the Spanish explorers to the Civil War time period. The rotunda was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen, and one that I wouldn’t mind seeing again. After viewing the Rotunda we then walked through an adjoining hallway to the room where the original House of Representatives once was. I stood on the spot where Abraham Lincoln’s office once sat, without realizing whose footprints I was following. We then went down to the Crypt of the Capitol and saw where the Obama’s stood when they walked out onto the back balcony of the Capitol Building overlooking the National Mall.
Now, after a long morning in the Capitol Building we walked to Union Station, the train station for Washington D.C. and ate lunch.
Then we visited the Supreme Court, where I once again had to remove my belt to pass through security. We briefly saw the nine chairs where the Supreme Justices all sit.
After visiting the Supreme Court we went to my favorite place of the day, The Library of Congress. The library is an actual library where citizens are allowed to check out library books. The architecture of the building was stunning. There were engraved quotes high on the walls and paintings everywhere. We saw all of Thomas Jefferson’s books which were books that were donated by Jefferson himself to start the library. Then as we continued to explore the library, my friends, Mackenzie and Andy, and myself, found a room dedicated to George Gershwin, a famous jazz pianist and composer. I, myself play the piano, and was in love with the room. This room was one of my favorite parts of the trip thus far.
Now we were re-loading the bus, dragging our feet and complaining of the heat and humidity, and lack of wind, as we headed to the famed “Twilight Tattoo.” Twilight Tattoo is a military pageantry performance. When we arrived we were told of severe weather in the area, and the event was cancelled. Norma our lovely sponsor was very upset that she didn’t get to see anything; the band played a quick number before we left and Norma jumped for joy.
All of us 4-Her’s were somewhat upset that we were not able to watch the performance, but were delighted that we were able to get out of the humidity and sit in some air conditioning, and be able to enter a building without security checks.
Written by: Abby