The students gaze on the Rotunda of the United States Capitol as they receive a tour and hear about the rich history of the building.

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks continued the groundbreaking CitizenTrip^® that began in 2019 as part of its Patriotic Education Program. The College sent 40 students on a three-day, two-night intensive trip to Washington, D.C., at no cost to the students, Sept. 26-28.  

Accompanying the students was Earl “Hap” Culp, Vietnam Veteran, who spoke to the students at the Vietnam Memorial. Culp shared about his time as a tunnel rat and encouraged students to continue to learn about the Nation’s Veterans and its history.

“The CitizenTrip^® was such an amazing experience,” said Lizzy Silver, senior special event management and hospitality management major. “I was very thankful to have the opportunity to learn more about our Nation’s history. We had an amazing Veteran, Hap, who inspired us with his tales of being a tunnel rat in the Vietnam War. This trip gave me a small glimpse of how America was founded and the hardships it has gone through to become the great nation it is today.” 

History Comes to Life

Olivia Moss, junior video projection major, reflected on her time in D.C. and how the trip changed her view of history.

“This trip has changed my outlook on history and the way I view my country,” Moss said. “We hear so often about figures like the Founding Fathers, Abraham Lincoln, and others in history books and classrooms that they start to feel like storybook characters. Getting to see Mount Vernon, the Capitol building, the Declaration of Independence, and so much more showed me that these great figures truly lived and breathed, and the proof still exists today.”

The CitizenTrip^® is an awe-inspiring experience for many of our students. For Moss, the CitizenTrip^® served as a catalyst in her understanding of America’s legacy of greatness.

“I am proud to live in a nation that honors these great figures, as well as those who have given their lives for what America stands for. This trip showed me that I truly do live in the greatest nation on earth.” 

Brigadier General James Schreffler, vice president for patriotic activities, shares with the students about those who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Section 60 of the Arlington National Cemetery.

The College of the Ozarks Patriotic Pillar

Faith Wunderlich, senior family studies and social services/social work major, was impacted by the College’s Patriotic Pillar while in D.C.

General James Schreffler, vice president of patriotic activities, spoke about the value of patriotism on the trip, which resonated with many of our students, including Wunderlich.

"The CitizenTrip^® truly allowed me to see the College's Patriotic Pillar lived out,” Wunderlich said. “While at Arlington National Cemetery, General Schreffler said something that stuck with me. He said, ‘If not me, then who?’ This resonated with me because the luxuries we experience in America are due to the brave men and women who answered the call to serve.”

The trip inspired a thoughtful consideration of patriotism and sacrifice.

“The trip allowed me to examine my selfishness and longing for comfort and realize that the success of America and history throughout time is because of those who sign up to be in dangerous situations.” Wunderlich said. “This was particularly evident in the Holocaust Museum as it showcased individuals who were willing to hide Jews even though they knew if the Nazis found out, it would end in death for them and possibly their families. The CitizenTrip^® overall allowed me to visually see and reflect on our Nation's story and why it is important to keep sharing it."

This year’s CitizenTrip^® included stops at Arlington National Cemetery, the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, the White House, the United States Capitol, the National Archives Museum, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Smithsonian Museum of American History, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students also visited the National Mall, which includes the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington Monument, and World War II Memorial.