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(Editor’s note: This is the first of two articles detailing the recent trip to New York city by students from Blacksburg High School. Part two will be published next week.)
A group of 50 Blacksburg High School seniors and juniors, along with their teacher chaperones, traveled to New York City for a trip of sightseeing and cultural education. The group left Saturday evening, March 21 and returned Wednesday evening, March 25.
The group arrived in New York around lunchtime on Sunday, March 22, 2009, and boarded a ship for a luncheon cruise around Manhattan Island. During the two-hour cruise, the group enjoyed seeing the skyline of New York, Liberty Island, and the Statue of Liberty. The on-board deejay made sure the students enjoyed their cruise. Two other student groups from Missouri and Illinois on the cruise joined the Blacksburg group. The students line-danced and entered a limbo contest. BHS senior Tanner Hughes took third place in the limbo contest. The ship docked at the famous Chelsea Piers where the television show “Law and Order” is filmed.
After the luncheon cruise, the group toured the famous World War II battleship, the USS Intrepid. Students were able to board the ship and go through all levels. They also had the opportunity to board a Concorde jetliner on display at the Intrepid museum. The group finished their first day in New York with authentic Chinese or Italian cuisine and shopping in Chinatown.
The second day of their tour, the group picked up a step-on tour guide for a guided walking and riding tour of the city. Avi, a native Israeli who has lived in New York for over 30 years, provided historical and cultural details about the places the group visited. The group visited Strawberry Fields in Central Park, a memorial to slain Beatles legend and songwriter John Lennon. The Central Park visit included locations where several films have been made.
The most meaningful visit of the day was to Ground Zero, where the group paid homage to those slain in the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Avi told the story about the massive destruction that was done to multiple buildings around the site of the Twin Towers. He then pointed out St. Luke’s Church, directly across from Ground Zero. This church was untouched by all the explosions and debris. Not so much as one stained glass window on the church front was even broken or scratched. This is the church rescue workers used as a base during the days immediately following 9-11.
The group then traveled into the Financial District, seeing the larger-than-life statue of the Wall Street Bull. The tour continued through famous city landmarks such as the Plaza Hotel and the Waldorf Astoria. The guide told the group that the Waldorf Astoria was used by many United States presidents because of its underground connections. He said President Franklin Roosevelt especially used the hotel’s underground train connections and entrances to help conceal his dependence on a wheelchair.
After a New York pizza luncheon, the group disembarked at Rockefeller Center where they saw TV personality Mario Lopez filming a segment for Extra! Several BHS students were able to hold signs during the filming. Seniors Elizabeth Cox, Sarah Pennington, Sara Alexander, Brittany Babb, and Candice Alge were treated to photos with Lopez once the filming ended. While none of the BHS student footage made it to the small screen, the students were excited to see a true TV personality in person.
The students also enjoyed watching the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center.
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