Daily Independent (Ashland, KY)

May 21, 2009

Safety Patrol Trip: Day 2


WASHINGTON. D.C. — Because they've been doing this so long, those who make the decisions on the annual Ashland Safety Patrol trip are ready for anything.

When President Obama scheduled a press conference at the National Archieves on Thursday, the ASP team went into Plan B mode. The patrols were supposed to visit the archives on Thursday morning but moved it to the early afternoon.

It was another day in the life for director Mark McDowell, who has seen his share of curveballs during three years of directing the tour of 200-plus in the nation's capitol. The weather has been picture-perfect and the safety patrol students and adult chaperones are watching and reliving historic moments.

The patrol group visited the FDR Memorial, the World War II Memorial, toured the National Archieves, the Pentagon Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Air Force Memorial and the National Police Memorial all on a busy Thursday.

Up next for Friday: the White House grounds, the Capitol building and Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.