Chiefs in the White House

What an exciting morning we had today! After a bumper to bumper ride into DC from our hotel with the bus driver worried to death about getting us to our appointment on time, we arrived without a moment to spare at the White House security gates. I have to pause here to say that everyone who knew we had a White House appointment wanted to know "who we knew" as only a few groups are being allowed to tour...only one other group yesterday! Thank you Mrs. Paige Smith who was an aide to Senator Shelby in her beginning professional days...she got the ball rolling at the beginning of school in August and it was his office who was able to schedule it for us. The students will be writing Senator Shelby on Monday to thank him for this once-in-a-lifetime experience and I hope some parents will too.
Security was a breeze except for Evan Faircloth...for some reason they pulled him to the side and he had to give name, date of birth, and home city and state which was punched into a computer before he was "cleared". We couldn't take anything in...cell phones, bags, purses, nothing. So though we took no pictures, to be inside the East Room, the State Dining Room, the Green, Red, and Blue Rooms, to see the Cross and Entry Halls where President Obama addressed the nation about Bin Laden a few weeks ago was impressive. To be on the inside looking out on the front lawn is indescribable.
One interesting moment and in drastic contrast to our students, another group who was touring at the same time was scolded and warned by the security guard in one of the rooms that the actions they had just committed (kicking and shoving each other) could be prosecuted under federal statute as assault and that they were being disrepectful of the House in which they stood!! Our students were appropriately impressed by the guard, ashamed of the students from the other school, and will be long remembered by all!
As we reluctantly exited the White House and finally the grounds, we were able to stand on Pennsylvania Avenue and take pictures from the outside.