The "Art" of War Course: Avila University: April 2015

Monday, April 13, 2015

Spring 2015 - DAY 4

Another bright and sunny day to take on the capital. Our group started out at the Newseum, an interactive museum whose mission is "to help the public and the news media understand one another better" and to "raise public awareness of the important role of a free press in a democratic society."

Viewing the moving exhibit of Pulitzer Prize winning photographs.

A significant portion of one floor of the Newseum is devoted to the issue of civil rights.

"Should citizens be able to take photos or video of confrontations with police? Yes or no?"

College students utilize their First Amendment rights and MAKE SOME NOISE.

After a few hours in the Newseum, the day was open for students to journey to last minute destinations and other DC "must-sees." Below is a sampling of what they experienced.

Museum of Natural History.

Couple of shady characters.

A little colorful culture.

First Ladies' dresses.

Exhibit on the secret life of roots at the botanical gardens.

American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Spring 2015 - DAY 3

Day three dawned sunny and breezy. We hopped the metro over to Arlington Cemetery and the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.

Walking through Arlington National Cemetery.

View of General Lee's plantation home. Below is President Kennedy's grave.

Dueling Washington Monuments.

Cherry trees, cherry trees, and more cherry trees.

Changing of the guard and placement of wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

At the Women in Military Service to America Memorial writing a note to the many women who have served,

Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.

Lonely red carnation floating beneath one of the 184 memorial benches.

On the steps of the Supreme Court.

Dr. Milakovic explains what we're about to see at the Library of Congress.

President Jefferson's personal library.

Main hall of the Library of Congress.

Spring 2015 - DAY 2

In an attempt to beat the crowds, we embarked on an early start to Capitol Hill. We didn't leave soon enough.

Professor Winter waits patiently in line for the group tours of the Capitol interior.

The true beauty of the blooming trees cuts through the gloomiest of days. Did someone say rhetoric?


Some people aren't happy, no matter how many food trucks there are on the street.

After the Capitol tour, the group headed down the National Mall en route to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the many, MANY, presidential and war memorials.


Group shot before heading into the Holocaust Memorial Museum.


Holocaust Museum exhibit of shoes confiscated from Jews forced into concentration camps.

View of the Jefferson Memorial across the tidal basin.

No caption needed.

Do the clouds match Dr. King's mood?

A haunting look from the Korean War Memorial.

Mementos left at the Vietnam War Memorial Wall.

A few students and faculty ventured out to explore the same sites after dark. To many, DC at night is an even higher impact experience.

Standing at the location of Dr. King's famous "I have a dream..." speech.

Quote from the FDR Memorial

Jefferson from a distance.

Spring 2015 - DAY 1

We arrived to a cloudy and CROWDED D.C. Unknown at the time the course travel was scheduled, this week happens to be one of the busiest due to spring breaks in the Northeast. Battling the crowds will be a challenge, to be sure, but our group remains flexible and upbeat. After checking into the hotel, we walked a short distance to the Whitehouse. Many of the students enjoyed role playing in the souvenir shop. Crowds and gloomy weather won't keep us down!