{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024000437/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398326", "The Blade: Star-spangled assembly kicks off students D.C. trip", "2014-10-20", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "DUNDEE, Mich. \u2014 A Dundee High School special assembly last week promoted an upcoming student trip to the nation\u2019s capital, featured a congressman as keynote speaker, and celebrated George Washington with the dedication of a portrait of the first president that came from his Mount Vernon estate.\nAbout a dozen students will spend the week before Thanksgiving in Washington catching the sights and learning how government works, said history teacher Paul Walters, who will accompany them.\nThe assembly kicked off with a performance of \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d by the school choir, with piano accompaniment by music teacher Haley Sulisz, that earned applause from the audience in the school gym.\nMr. Walters then explained Project Close Up, a national nonprofit program that helps finance field trips to Washington. The students, he said, \u201cget out of school for a week, but it\u2019s not a vacation.\u201d\nJon Vogt, another history teacher, who wore a George Washington T-shirt, spoke more about the project, and the choir launched into \u201cWhen Johnny Comes Marching Home.\u201d\nSeniors Holly Harnica and Kaitlin Symanns then recalled their experiences on the field trip to D.C. last year. Holly said she would remember the trip all her life and recalled visiting the Supreme Court. But the most memorable part, she said, was interacting with students from around the country.\nMr. Vogt then spoke of Mount Vernon and George Washington, telling the students \u201cthere\u2019s no one who exemplifies American history\u201d more than the first president. Mr. Vogt promised a box of candy to students who could explain five points from Washington\u2019s Farewell Address, delivered in 1796.\nThe extemporaneous keynote address was given by U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R., Tipton). He described the 7th Congressional District, which he represents and which includes Monroe County, as \u201cthe gateway to Pure Michigan\u201d and a place of rich history, including the War of 1812. He told the students they were as American as George Washington was, \u201cas American as anyone who came before you,\u201d and that this status carried responsibilities.\nThen the portrait of George Washington was unveiled. Mount Vernon also donated an American flag that flew over the estate.\nTo read the original article, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024000437/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398326"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3640017714351416, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}