Service member-tutors, students tour White House

By Jim DresbachJanuary 30, 2015

Service member-tutors, students tour White House
Arlington's Barcroft Elementary School fifth-grader Andrew Rasavong receives a White House challenge coin from White House Transportation Agency's Sgt. 1st Class Richard Murphy at the start of a tour of the executive mansion. More than a dozen servic... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

January 22 was an event-filled day at Arlington's Barcroft Elementary School. One group of students was heading to the Smithsonian for an educational field trip. Fourth and fifth graders were preparing for a Geography Bee. Some third graders were participating in a swimming event, but 23 of the luckiest students were heading to the District of Columbia address of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Third, fourth and fifth graders from Barcroft took a morning tour of the executive mansion, thanks to the Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall Tutor and Buddy program, the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Retention Office and the White House Transportation Agency. The students were accompanied by 17 Marine and Army tutors who volunteer for the Headquarters and Service Battalion Henderson Hall's Tutor and Buddy Program and four Barcroft Elementary School staff members.

Since 1980, H&S Battalion has partnered with Barcroft Elementary for Marines and Soldiers to tutor and mentor students with reading, writing and math schoolwork. But the Jan. 22 field trip had to do with wall-to-wall, White House history, and the kids weren't off the hook from learning.

The White House visit started with a presidential trivia contest outside the East Wing, where tour guide and WHTA's Sgt. 1st Class Richard Murphy quizzed the kids before a walk through the East Room; the Red, Green and Blue Rooms and the State Dining Room.

"The kids were great; it was a wonderful experience," said Marine Buddy liaison and Barcroft staff member Dora Sue Black. "I asked that the students remember two things from the rooms we visited. We wanted them to pay attention and not just to walk through but to observe what they were experiencing."

The visit was put together by the combined efforts of JBM-HH Retention Senior Career Counselor Master Sgt. James Meyers, the White House Transportation Agency and the MCCS offices.

"Myself and Jamie Albers [Henderson Hall Marine and Family Programs School Liaison Program Manager] brainstormed one day what kind of field trips the kids would enjoy," Meyers said. "We came up with the White House since not many kids had had the chance to go there."

Third grader Kamirah Watts was one of the fortunate kids. Her favorite room on the visit also happened to be former First Lady Nancy Reagan's most-liked White House room.

"I liked when we went to the Red Room," Watts said during the bus trip back to Barcroft. "There were all kinds of different pictures. I've been looking forward to this since Ms. Black gave us our permission slips. I've always wanted to come to the White House."

In all, close to 40 students, service member-tutors and school staff members took the tour. The group was also assisted and escorted around the White House grounds by WHTA's Master Sgt. Anitra Cruz and Master Sgt. Kenneth Daniel.

Following the tour, the kids were presented a presidential surprise.

"I think the highlight for the students was when they received their boxes of M & M's with the Seal of the President and the signed picture of President Obama," Albers said. "We were excited that we could make this dream school trip a reality. The students were actively engaged in learning about the history of the White House, and the White House staff treated the students like VIPs."