August 2007 | Alabama Living
Local Youth see the past, prepare for the future at Electric Cooperative Youth Tour
More than 40 high school students from Alabama’s rural electric cooperatives represented our state at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., Saturday, June 9 through Thursday, June 14.
Representing Clarke-Washington EMC was Katie Simon of Thomasville High School and Tyler Chastain of Leroy High School. They were chosen to participate in this trip by winning the Clarke-Washington EMC Youth Tour con-test, held in the spring. Their week long trip to D.C. included visits to the Iwo Jima Memorial; the WWII, Vietnam and Korean War Memorials; and the Lincoln, Jefferson and FDR Memorials all on the first day. They also toured Mount Vernon, Washington National Cathedral, the Smithsonian Institute, the U.S. Capitol, Union Station, the Pentagon and the Holocaust Museum and they watched the Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
“Youth Tour was an awesome experience for me,” Katie said. “It was inspiring to see all the historical monuments and learn more about the electric cooperative way of life. I made so many new friends and great memories. I had the time of my life.”
On their visit to the Capitol Alabama U.S. Sen. Jo Bonner took time out of their busy day to meet with the group of students from Alabama. He, along with other Alabama U.S. senators and representatives talked to the students about the importance of being involved with their government on all levels.
“I was excited about the trip to D.C. before we left home, but I was blown away by how awesome and even educational this trip was,” Tyler said. “Youth Tour has been an unbelievable experience. It was inspiring to see all the sites and I have made many life-long friends on this trip.”Katie Simon is the daughter of Mark and Marsha Simon of Thomasville and Tyler Chastain is the son of Greg and Becky Chastain of Leroy.