Wally Experiences Tours and Traditions

It’s Day 2 for the senators in Washington, D.C. We started out with a beautiful and solemn tribute to fallen servicemembers at Arlington National Cemetery. Did you know there are more than 400,000 people buried there?! The land used to be General Robert E. Lee’s home, thanks to his wife Mary Custer, but they left it when Lee joined the Confederate Army. The Union Army later took this land to bury their dead, which I’m sure didn’t make Lee too happy.

After our tour, the senators had the privilege of laying the poppy wreath they made at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You have to be very quiet and show your utmost respect to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, yet were never identified. The guards have a very regimented routine of 21 steps in each direction, which alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. The guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Can you imagine doing that during a storm?! That’s major dedication!

After our Patriotic Service in the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater, we returned to our temporary home for the start of Senate. I did some light reading and learned all about something called Robert’s Rules of Order. I’ve been told that following these rules can avoid embarrassment, hard feelings, and possibly even legal troubles. Madam President, I rise to a point of order! 

I continue to meet so many wonderful young ladies. The girls here are so smart and talented. They enjoy taking pictures with me, but I think I like it more than they do. Keep watching to find out what tomorrow’s adventures will bring. I have a feeling I’ll get the chance to finally debate my bill!

XO
~Wally

Wally Goes to Washington - Senator Arrival Day

Hey all. Wally Koalie here. Today was a very exciting day here at ALA Girls Nation. The senators finally arrived at the 4-H Center! They came from EVERYWHERE!! They all had different looks, different accents, and different ALA Girls State t-shirts from back home. I took pictures with them, helped them get their name badges and carried in their heavy luggage for them. I haven’t met all of them yet, but definitely looking forward to doing so. 

I learned more interesting info today. Do you know what a poppy is? They are pretty! But they also have a great history. I found out that a lady named Moina Belle Michael, a schoolteacher from Georgia, started this tradition. When American soldiers fought in World War I, Moina worked hard to make the red poppy the symbol that honors and remembers veterans. The American Legion Auxiliary has been connecting the visual image of the poppy with the sacrifice made by our veterans since 1921. I also discovered that the four petals represent dedication, sacrifice, responsibility and compassion. The red petals are for the bloodshed, the black stem symbolic of mud and darkness of battle, and the green stem is courage and determination of our fallen warriors. American Legion Auxiliary members distribute poppies to remind us that freedom comes at a dear price. We got to place poppies into a wreath and it sure looked beautiful!

The girls were officially sworn in as ALA Girls Nation Senators, the Junior Counselors illustrated how to properly act, and of course, we ate more ice cream.

I look forward to visiting Arlington National Cemetery tomorrow, starting our first senate session and sharing more fun facts and adventures with you. A JC told me that the wreath we all made together would be used for something special tomorrow. That makes me super excited for our adventure! I best get some sleep so I am ready!

XO
~Wally

Wally Goes to Washington

Greetings from ALA Girls Nation! My name is Wally. Wally Koalie. I am an unprecedented special guest, sent by a very special 6-year-old girl who is missing her mommy. Do you remember a book called Flat Stanley? He has shared some of his adventures with me and I am so excited to share my adventure with you! During the past few days I have been watching all of the ALA Girls Nation staff as they prepare for the week. The American Legion Auxiliary has been working so hard over the past year to make this experience possible. I’ve met so many fun people already. Did you know that tomorrow morning rising seniors from 49 states will arrive at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center to spend the week?  

Most of my time so far has been spent in the PR office and I must say, these women are the most accommodating and talented group I’ve met so far (but it’s still early). Speaking of meeting people, I hope that I get to help interview some of the Senators and share their stories! The office has been buzzing with talk of places that we’ll go and see over the next seven days. I hear that we will get to visit some historic monuments and meet some important people! So far I’ve been to the dining center, staff meetings, and I’ve settled into my habitat here at the 4-H Center. Every place is wonderful. The best thing to date is this wonderful machine in the dining hall. They call it the “ice cream machine.” It’s fabulous!

I am excited to meet the 2015 Senators and learn about this program, our government and the American Legion Auxiliary. Over the course of this 69^th session of the best immersive government learning experience in the world, I will be posting pictures of my adventures, here and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ALAGirlsNation. I hope you’ll follow along with me and join me in this experience. Below are a few highlights of my time so far. 

~Wally