Garden Valley sends Grygla student to our nation’s capital

We left from the Bemidji Airport at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 2 and arrived at Arlington, Virginia at 2:00 p.m. We checked into our hotel the Hyatt Arlington Crystal City, shopped for a short time and met during dinner to discuss our plans for the trip. The next day it was pouring rain and there were coastal flood warnings. We visited the Arlington National Cemetery where we watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I was impressed how precise and dedicated the guards were, even during the rain storm. There were rows and rows of soldier’s graves. It made a moving impression on me. We also saw President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite and visited Arlington House.

Next we visited the Smithsonian. We first viewed the National Museum of the American Indian. Then we went to National Gallery of Art. There we saw a painting by Leonardo DaVinci. Next we visited the Museum of Natural History and saw the Hope Diamond valued at 250 million dollars. Our next visit was to the National Museum of American History.   That evening we took pictures in front of the White House and took the Washington City Night Tour. The night tour included the White House, WWII, Vietnam and Korean War Memorials and the Lincoln and Washington Monuments. I really thought the Washington Monument was impressive.

On Monday, June 4 we went to the Capitol for a tour and for educational sessions. It’s a beautiful building and one we should all be proud of. We also took the tunnels to the Library of Congress. The next stop was the Jefferson Memorial, followed by the Franklin Memorial. That evening we went bowling.  

On Tuesday, June 5 we visited the FCC where the staff talked to us about networking and how telecommunications work. Next we visited the Newseum which is a museum of news happenings in America, such as the 911 attacks. There we saw huge wreckage from the NYC Twin Towers. Later, we went by bus to Mount Vernon the home of President George Washington. I also got to see the Washington’s burial crypt. That night we had our farewell dinner and dance and said our goodbyes to the friends we made from all over to country.

I returned to Bemidji on Wednesday about noon and visited with my parents, brother and grandparents over lunch. It felt good to sleep in my own bed again that night.

I was most impressed by the National Monuments, The Capitol Building, the people I met, and friendships made. This was an experience I will never forget and I am very grateful for this opportunity.  I would encourage anyone who is able to visit our nation’s capital. We have much to be grateful for.

About FRS

The FRS (Foundation for Rural Service) Youth Tour provides high school students from across rural America a chance to visit our nation’s capital and learn about rural telecommunications – and to tell their community’s story. Since 1995, the tour has hosted thousands of students and provides a forum for teens to meet and interact with their peers from other rural communities as well as key legislative, regulatory and government figures.

Two high school students, age 16 or 17, who receive services from Garden Valley, were eligible to win this all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the FRS Youth Tour.

Kiesow will be a senior at Grygla High School in the fall. He is the son of Trevor and Keri Kiesow.