Day 10 - New York

All eyes are opened or opening to the rights of man. . . that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few, booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.  These are the grounds of hope for others; for ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them. 
- Thomas Jefferson, the toast he provided for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, he died later that afternoon of July 4, 1826.

Not much sleep last night and we had to be packed and be ready for the bus by 7:30am for our ride to Battery Park Harbor. We are going to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, after which, we walked to Wall Street and toured the area around Ground Zero.

We had some kids with blurry eyes (adults too)  and it took a few minutes to shake the cow webs loose.  We arrived at the ferry and boarded Miss Liberty for the short boat ride to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty.

I tried to imagine what it must have felt like for the immigrants, after traveling for weeks upon the ocean and seeing the Statue of Liberty in the distance.  They must have crowded to the ships rail to get their first glimpse of this symbol of hope, freedom and opportunity – it must have been a thrill. Cory has seen the Statue of Liberty before, but this was the first time for Jordan, Mia and Nathan.

The Statue of Liberty is made from cooper and was given to the United States by France.  As I walked the grounds I heard many foreign languages – French, German, Italian, Russian and English (a guy from Mississippi that I could barely understand!).

After walking the grounds around the Statue of Liberty and getting hot chocolate from the snack shop (it was very cold outside), we boarded the ferry again and traveled to Ellis Island which was the first stop for immigrants coming to the United States.  This would be the first view that passengers would see.

The immigrant ship would dock at Ellis Island and proceed with the immigration process.  Jordan, Mia, Nathan, Hunter and Austin pretend like happy immigrants that just landed on Ellis Island. 

This is the main processing hall for the newly arrived immigrates. My Grandparents and my dad immigrated through Ellis Island and this was the process they had to follow:

Step 1:  1^st and 2^nd Class passengers were examined abroad the steamship.  Steerage passengers were ferried to Ellis Island for medical and legal inspection.

Step 2:  Ellis Island - Officers would then direct immigrants from the ferries to the main building. 

Step 3:  Medical Inspection - Doctors scanned the moving passengers for signs of Illness.  Healthy were allowed to pass.  Those that appeared ill were marked with chalk and sent for further medical inspection.  Doctors would then give a more complete physical and mental inspection.  Some were given a clean bill of health and sent back to the inspection line.  Others had to be sent to the Ellis Island Hospital and when they recovered , they could proceed with their legal inspection, others with incurable or disabling aliments were sent back to their homeland.

Step 4:  Legal Inspection - Inspectors asked immigrates a series of questions to determine their eligibility to land.  Most past and were admitted.  Others whose answers aroused inspectors suspicions were allowed a hearing before the Board of Special Inquiry.  The board allowed friends and family members to testify and most were admitted. Others were sent back to their homeland.

After touring the sights of Liberty and Ellis Island we boarded our ferry and motored back to Battery Park Harbor. We walked, in mass, through the streets of New York toward the financial district on Wall Street. We walk past this bronze and metal sculpture that was designed and placed in the World Trade Center courtyard.  It signifies World Unity.  On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center was attached and destroyed, this is the remains on the World Unity sculpture.  Now, it sits in Battery Park with an eternal flame burning in remembrance of the people who lost their lives that day.

One of the iconic symbols of Wall Street is the large Bronze Bull that is out front of the building.  I would have loved to get a close up picture of it, but I took this photo instead to show the crowds.  A tour bus must have just unloaded a bunch of tourist and they were swarming.  Everyone loves to see the Bull, and not many people like to see the Bear.  Maybe that is because we like to make money and not to lose money!  Our founding fathers wanted a free market, capitalistic society and that’s why there is a Wall Street.  I think Benjamin Franklin said it best, “…it seems contrary to the nature of Commerce, for Government to interfere in the Prices of Commodities.  Trade is a voluntary Thing between Buyer and Seller, in every article of which each exercises his own Judgment, and is to please himself . . . I propose, to take off every restraint and limitation from our commerce.  Let trade be as free as air.  Let every man make the most of his goods in his own way and then he will be satisfied.”

This was a tree that was uprooted at Ground Zero and it has been placed in the courtyard of First Trinity Church.  It now serves as a work of art that reminds us of the devastating terror attacks that was perpetrated on our country.  Ms Calvert poses for a quick picture.

St Paul’s Chapel is a block from Ground Zero and it became a staging area for medical assistance and relief.   The pews became the refuge for many of the firefighters, police and others.  Some came to sit quietly, others came to pray, many came to sleep.  In 2002 the chapel was cleaned and refurbished, but it was decided not to repair the pews, but leave the marks in them as a witness and a tribute to the workers.

It was getting late and we needed to have the bus pick us up, however, New York traffic can be troublesome.  Our bus was stuck in traffic, we were waiting and waiting and the temperature dropped and the wind increase and was swirling so much that you can see what it did to Mia’s and Jordan’s hair. 

Others were huddled on the leeward side of the building.  Welcome to New York in April!  Since Thomas Jefferson recorded the temperature, wind speed, barometric pressure almost every day of his adult life – I thought it would be nice to know the temperature and wind speed while we were waiting for the bus.  42° F with a 23mph winds out of the Northeast and gusts up to 32mph.  Wind chill was 34°F.  Derik, our bus driver, arrived just in time!

We boarded the bus and made a quick stop at Central Park and onto JFK Airport.  It has been a very busy trip and I know we have learned a lot more about our American History and the founding of our country. I want to give a special thanks to the individuals who made this possible.  Ms Calvert and Mrs. Brewer for shepherding this trip and Al Baeder and Danny Lee for being the tour guides and imparting their love of history to us.

I have a better appreciation for our founding fathers and the principles of independence and liberty that they established.  If we are true to our principles, we will never be untrue to people.  They taught us the power of the phase, “We the People.”

John Adams died on July 4^th, 1826, the same day as Thomas Jefferson.  For the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the organizing committee also asked John Adams, as well as Thomas Jefferson for a quote that they can deliver.  His toast was much more curt than Jefferson's.  John Adams boldly proclaimed,

“I will give you INDEPENDENCE FOREVER!”

Since we finished our trip in New York, I thought I would finish with a quote and warning from

Daniel Webster.  On February 22, 1852, he delivered a speech to the New York Historical Society and said, “. . . if we and they shall live always in the fear of God, and shall respect his commandments . . . we may have the highest hopes of the future fortunes of our country . . . But if we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us, that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” 

Thanks to the faith based teaching of Cornerstone Christian School, our youth will be well prepared to defend the constitution and lead our country into a secure and prosperous future. Until the next History Studies Trip, I bid you farewell.

Day 9 - Philadelphia and New York

The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Suspicion, but at an Epoch when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period.  -  George Washington 

Wow, we have had a full day!  We started in Philadelphia, seeing the sights of the founding of our nation and then traveled to New York to see a Broadway musical. 

Our first stop was the visitors center across the street form Independence Hall to pick up tickets for a movie about our nations independence that would be showing at 10:00am.  We then walked the most historical mile in the United States.

Here is where it all started, Independence Hall.  The bell tower is being restored so they had construction equipment around it.

Did you know that wealthy men donated stones and bricks to the construction of roads and buildings? They would have their name etched into one of the stones so people hundreds of years from now could read their name.  Well, when we were walking to Independence Hall, this is one of the stones we saw.  Mr. Stack and Austin should do some genealogy and find out if they are related to this person.

We strolled pass the Betsy Ross House.  This is the front entrance to her house.  Notice the number of stars on the flag.  

We walked to Elfreth's Alley, which is the oldest continuous living street in America.  See how narrow the roads were back then.

 Esther and her mom pose for a picture under the British flag. 

 Adele and Kayla turned around in the middle of the street.  We tried to be quiet, because these are residences.

This is Christ Church.  Benjamin Franklin attended this church when he was in Philadelphia and he and his wife, Deborah, are buried here.

 I don't know which bench Benjamin Franklin sat in, but all of them were equally beautiful.

 This is the oldest Post Office in America and it still is a working post office today.

The lines were too long to see the Liberty Bell (about 50 minutes) so we decided to take a picture through the glass window.  Cast in the upper part of the bell is this quote from Leviticus, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” (Leviticus 25:10)  It was this proclamation of liberty that fanned the flames of Independence.  The bell rang for the last time in February, 1846 in the celebration of George Washington's birthday.

Did you know that Independence Hall was the name we gave this building many years ago?  The true name of the building in The Pennsylvania State House.

 This is the court room inside Independence Hall.

This is the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed, as well as the Constitution.  This is where history was made and a nation was born.  Back in the 1700’s, they called a meeting a "Congress" – it is not how we think of it today as a body of elected officials making laws.  This is the original room with original furniture.   

Behind the desk in the front of the room is the actual chair were George Washington sat.  A sun is carved in the top portion of the chair.  Benjamin Franklin always wondered if the carved sun was a setting sun or a raising sun.  After the Declaration of Independence was signed as well as the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin said that he now knows that it is a raising sun!

After Independence Hall, we walked to the Constitution Visitors Center to see a dramatization dedicated to “We the People.”  After which we toured the museum and they had a special exhibit of bronzes depicting our founding fathers.  Ben Franklin was in the room with us.

Signing the Constitution with George Washington accepting your signature.

We must always be vigilant in safeguarding the liberty and freedoms that our founding fathers worked so hard and fought so long for us to obtain. James Madison warned that the loss of freedom through gradual erosion should be guarded against.  Madison said, “ I believe there are more instances  of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those powers, than by violent and sudden usurpation . . . This danger ought to be wisely guarded against.” 

We left Philadelphia and travel by bus to New York City, to see the Broadway Musical - Wicked.

 Inside the Gershawin Theatre waiting for the play to begin.

After Wicked, we wanted to go to the top of the Empire State Building, so we walked down Broadway, past Time Square and couldn't resist taking some night photos.  Taylor was a real trooper in her wheelchair.

 It was getting pretty chilly and Jordan was glad she had a sweatshirt.

Inside the lobby of the Empire State Building.  Since we were there at 11:30pm, we didn't have many long lines to deal with.  There observation deck is open till 2:00am.

It was much colder and the wind was blowing harder at the top of the building than at street level.  This is a BIG city!

 Can you see the Statue of Liberty in the distance?

 Trying to stay warm on the observation deck.

They did 5 laps around the observation deck to keep warm and they were full of energy.  We are in the town that never sleeps.  (1:00am)

We got hungry on the walk back to the hotel (about 10 blocks), so we stopped for a pretzel at one of the many street vendors.   

Well, it is time to sign off.  We will pay the price tomorrow for such a late night tonight.  I didn't proof read this so I hope there's not too many mistakes.  All the best.

Day 8 - Gettysburg and Amish Country

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.  It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before use – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. – Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863

We started by visiting the Gettysburg Museum and watching a film on the historic battle and seeing the exhibits.

Many original artifacts were on display.

Inside the visitors center there is the large painting by Paul Philippoteaux named, “The Battle at Gettysburg.”  They told us how tall and long it was, but I can’t remember because I didn’t have pen to write it down.  This is an oil painting on canvas and it is the biggest one in the world.  It is so big it forms a circle around the room.

This is a Confederate cannon pointed at Little Round Top where the Union Army had it’s left flank.

Walking the battlefield of Gettysburg.

This is a monument is to the Maine 4^th Infantry who, on July 2, 1861 held the left flank until they were pushed back to Little Round Top.

The view from Little Round Top. The Confederate soldiers would have been at the tree line below.  Several times the grey coats would charge up the hill and each time, the Union soldiers would muster enough troops and munitions to stay their charge.  This was a very important piece of real estate to the Union Army. 

A quick pose with some Union Soldier and their cannon. 

About 30 yards to the south was a monument constructed for the 44^th N.Y. Infantry and it is built like a castle with small winding stairs.  It gave us a good view of the battlefield. There are total of 1,400 monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield.

Don’t trip while descending this monument's spiral staircase.

This is the Monument to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, also called the Lincoln Speech Memorial. It is unique because it commemorates the speech Lincoln gave here and not the man himself. It is one of the few memorials in the world dedicated to honor a speech.  Lincoln was not the main speaker that day, it was Edward Everett who was a former governor, congressman, senator and secretary of state.  The invitation extended to Lincoln was to deliver, “…a few appropriate remarks.” 

By assignment, the 8^th grade class is to memorize the Gettysburg Address by the end of the Historic Studies Trip.  Here, they stand in front of the Lincoln Speech Memorial and recite the most famous speech in United States History.

Now, we are off to see the Amish country.  Anton poses in front of the pasture and farm houses typical of the Amish area.  Notice the lack of electrical wires or poles throughout the area.

We saw many of these horse drawn buggies throughout the countryside.

We met with one of Al’s good friends, Emanuel and Rachael Smuker, and they let us tour their farm.  They call themselves Amish-Mennonite because they are not in total compliance to the Amish way of life.  For example, Emanuel will drive a car and have a cell phone.    

They showed us how to milk a cow by hand and Seth had a try at it.  He did really well.

This is the area is between the barn and house.

Rebecca Parr and her mom pose for a picture with Emanuel and Rachael.

Emanuel is trying to convince Seth that he would be a good Amish farmer because Seth was a natural at milking the cow.

It was time to go so we headed to an old fashion Dutch smorgasbord named Miller’s.  It was fantastic!

Only a couple of days left!  We are off to Philadelphia and then to New York.  Hope all is well in California.  Until tomorrow, good night.