Voices of Freedom Students Experience Nation’s History Firsthand During Washington, D.C. Trip

Article presented by Pickaway Ross Career & Technology Center-Adult Education …

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Voices of Freedom students from Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center honor veterans and study American history inside and outside the classroom.

At the conclusion of the school year, six students — Makenzie Hoffman, Laila Hoffman, Adreannalyn Payne, Abigail Palumbo, Austin Bartchy, and Paisley Welsh — traveled to Washington, D.C., with instructor Ms. McCaulla and Ms. Widdig as part of the program’s annual trip connected to the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

Throughout the school year, Voices of Freedom students interviewed 41 veterans, documenting their military service and individual stories through recorded oral histories. During their visit to the nation’s capital, they submitted 37 completed interviews to the Library of Congress, helping preserve these stories as part of the national historical archive. Students also received a private tour of the Library of Congress after their presentation.

The trip included a full schedule of educational and memorial visits intended to deepen students’ understanding of American history and service. Stops included Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, along with tours across the city.

Students visited the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Women’s Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial. At Arlington National Cemetery, the group participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, paying tribute to service members whose identities are unknown, but whose sacrifice is not forgotten.

At the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, students took part in a guided remembrance activity in which they were given photos and details about individuals who died in the attacks. Each student located the corresponding memorial bench and placed flowers in honor of those lives. The activity was designed to help students connect personally with the individuals being remembered.

Additional visits included the Air Force Memorial, the Marine Corps War Memorial, several Smithsonian museums, and the National Archives.

For Voices of Freedom students, the annual trip culminates months of research, interviewing, and reflection. It provides hands-on opportunities to explore history while strengthening the importance of service, remembrance, and civic responsibility. By preserving veterans’ stories and visiting historic sites, students gain a stronger appreciation for the individuals whose sacrifices have built the nation.