Allamakee County 4-H Citizenship Club makes trip to Washington, D.C.

Thirty-nine 4-H youth in grades 7-12 and 15 adults from Allamakee and Howard counties participated in the 4-H Citizenship Club trip to Washington, D.C. March 19-25. The group enjoyed a five-day educational sight-seeing tour including a trip through the Civil War Battlefields of Gettysburg, PA and a tour of Mount Vernon, the home of President George Washington. The group also toured the Pentagon, where approximately 23,000 employees, both military and civilian, execute this nation’s defense.
The group also visited several memorials and monuments in D.C., including the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Roosevelt Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, and the Iwo Jima Memorial.  Other notable sites toured were the National Cathedral, the Old Post Office, Smithsonian Institution, the Holocaust Museum, Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, and America’s most famous theater, Ford’s Theater, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
“The highlight of the trip was laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” said Kris Fahey, Allamakee County 4-H Coordinator. “It was an honor to pay tribute to those who died in battle.” Involved in that wreath-laying ceremony were Allamakee County 4-H’ers Chase Pladsen, son of Steve and Michele Pladsen of Harpers Ferry, and Thea Meyer, daughter of Don and Mary Meyer of Waukon.  Representing Howard County in the ceremony were Skye Meinecke, daughter of Jeff and Cathy Meinecke, and Jason Malven, son of Tony and Bonnie Malven. The wreath was designed by Sherrie Hunstad of Waukon Greenhouse.
The Allamakee County 4-H Citizenship Club was organized in 2010 for youth in grades 7-12 to broaden their knowledge of citizenship. The Club was designed with a two-year projected plan. The first year, members learn about local and state government and travel to the State Capitol in Des Moines to meet with local government officials and learn about state government and how it connects to them.  During the second year, youth learn about federal government and travel to Washington D.C. For more information about the 4-H Citizenship Club, contact the Allamakee County ISU Extension Office at 563-568-6345.