Franklin Students Attend the Inauguration

Twenty one Franklin students traveled to Washington, D.C. to witness history January 17th to the 23rd. Students attended all the Inauguration activities including the Rock Concert the Sunday before the Inauguration and the actual swearing in of the new president Barack Obama. Franklin students also got to participate in democracy workshops, a mock election, visit all the famous monuments and museums in D.C. and of course shop for all those historic t-shirts. There was an Inaugural Ball and dance. Franklin students met and participated in activities with other students from California, Texas, Louisiana, the Virgin Islands and Rhode Island. Jack McShane commented that, “though it was freezing I would not have missed it for anything.” “The speeches and events were so uplifting and hopeful. I feel so good about my country”, said Trey Gibson. The Franklin students also got to meet and speak with Representative Cao, Representative Scalise, Senator Vitter and Senator Landrieu. Senator Landrieu announced during her visit with the students that she wanted to visit Franklin in March. The students were overjoyed at the prospect.Flags that have flown over the Capitol building were presented to the students from each of the congresspersons. Each congressperson also gave a letter of congratulations to the students on Franklin being voted the 16th Best High School in the Nation by U.S. News and World Report.The trip was coordinated through the Close-Up Foundation which furthers the understanding of democracy among young people.