After a whirlwind week in Washington D.C., DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

Many of you are aware that the DHS Close Up Club recently spent a week in Washington, D.C.  I was unable to provide daily updates because of network problems but the following is a summary of the Close Up and DHS activities of our week in D.C.  To my blog friends, sorry for the late news.

Sunday, April 11- Students and parents arrived at DHS at 3:00 A.M. to make a 6:00 early bird flight.  We eventually arrived at Hartfield, moved through security, and made it to our gate with time to spare. The flight was a very smooth one.   The United flight stewards treated us, especially the girls, like first class passengers.

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Mr. Billingsley writes in…

The Decatur High School Close Up Club will send 15 students to Washington, D.C. on April 11 for a week of government policy making and citizenship training. One of my goals is to connect the 9th and 10th grade students to past events that played a major role in the history of the United States.

On April 11, at 3:15, students will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The wreath will be dedicated to LCDR Harry S. Edwards and SGT Jonathan B. Shields. These former DHS students were killed in action while serving in the military(Edwards in Vietnam and Shields in Iraq).

Later in the week, we will visit the Gettysburg National Battlefield to lay a wreath on the 11th Mississippi monument. Ms. Clyde McCarty, a Decatur homeowner and retired teacher,is one of the few living descendants of Pvt. Joseph Gates Marble. During Pickett’s Charge, Pvt. Marable carried the colors of his unit closer to the federal troops than any other Confederate unit before being captured. Dale Gallon who personally dedicated a copy of his work to Ms. McCarty shows that event in a painting. Marable was her great uncle. The event and painting can be viewed at http://faculty.swosu.edu/scott.long/11thmiss/homepage/11thmiss.htm

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DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

The Decatur High School Close Up Club had its first meeting of the new year Thursday evening. Students and parents are very excited that this year’s trip will include a day trip to visit the Gettysburg National Battlefield. Through the fund raising efforts of students and the generous support of many citizens in the City of Decatur, the Gettysburg trip will be free! The Decatur Craft Beer Festival has also awarded us $1,500 to help pay for the trip. Thank You Decatur!

Club members will be participating in the City of Decatur MLK Service Day on Monday. If you would like to sponsor the service work of one of the DHS Close Up members, or make a contribution to help pay for our trip, please contact Mr. Chris Billingsley (cbillingsley@csdecatur.net) for more information.