Gratitude for Patriotic Sacrifices

Posted: November 1, 2024 at 3:44 pm

Memorable Youth Tour immerses Thomas Harper in nation’s history and current political process

By Dianna Troyer

A hush and sense of solemnity enveloped Thomas Harper and other teens during a summer tour of Washington, D.C.

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union raised $200,000 to purchase George Washington’s home and 200 acres, overseeing the preservation of the estate since 1860. PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS HARPER

“Arlington National Cemetery and the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon were unforgettable,” says Thomas, a senior at Raft River High School.

In mid-June, several historical sites were on the itinerary of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour.“Those sites especially gave me a full appreciation of the sacrifices people have made for our country,” he says. “I’m grateful for what they’ve done.”

Thomas was among 2,061 youth delegates, chaperones and staff from 44 states who participated in the NRECA annual weeklong summer tradition of representing rural America in the nation’s capital. They toured museums, historical sites, national monuments, the Pentagon, the Capitol and federal offices to learn about U.S. history and government policies.

Since the late 1950s, more than 50,000 rural teens have participated in the program. It was organized so high school students could see their nation’s capital, learn about the political process, interact with their elected officials and understand their roles as citizens and the global impact of cooperatives.

Thomas tours historic sites in Washington, D.C. PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS HARPER

Last year, during the Idaho Consumer Owned Utilities Association Youth Rally, Thomas was selected to represent Idaho at the national event. Twelve students and six chaperones, representing cooperatives from Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Alaska, made the trip together this year, waking up at 3 a.m. to catch a pre-dawn flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Washington, D.C.

“At Arlington, the magnitude of the headstones representing those who sacrificed their lives for our country was memorable,” Thomas says.

Established in 1864, the cemetery encompasses 639 acres and overlooks the Potomac River. More than 400,000 people are buried there.

“I’ll always remember seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, too,” he says.

At the cemetery’s center is the tomb, the final resting place of an unidentified World War I soldier in 1921. Nearby are three marble slabs of crypts of soldiers from World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Pentagon Memorial, Shanksville Sacrifice
A memorial at the Pentagon honors 184 people who were killed when terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 and crashed it into the west side of the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.For each victim, a memorial bench with a reflecting pool has been erected. They are arranged in a timeline of victims’ ages from 3-year-old Dana Falkenberg to 71-year-old John Yamnicky. Surrounding the benches, 85 crepe myrtle trees were planted to impart serenity.

A sarcophagus stands above the tomb of a soldier who served in World War I. Nearby are three marble slabs of crypts of soldiers from World War II, Korea and Vietnam.PHOTO COURTESY OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY — A sarcophagus stands above the tomb of a soldier who served in World War I. Nearby are three marble slabs of crypts of soldiers from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Another hijacked jet—an 18-minute flight from Washington, D.C.—was intentionally crashed by passengers near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, following a revolt against the four terrorists on board.

“We were told investigators later found emails sent between the terrorists that showed that plane was originally headed to the White House,” Thomas says. “But the terrorist pilots changed their minds and were planning to hit the Capitol instead. Those passengers were incredibly brave to rush the terrorists and take down the plane.”

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was also sobering.

“It was hard to see,” Thomas says. “But it’s important to know and understand what happened.”

A contrast to the acts of the terrorists and the Holocaust was found at Washington National Cathedral.

“People of all religions are welcome to worship there,” Thomas says.

A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier marches 21 steps, turns then faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then must take 21 steps and repeat the process. The number 21 symbolizes the honor of a 21-gun salute. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Teens were told the cathedral is a place where people can connect with God in hopes of changing the world for good. Making the world a better place and establishing a country founded on freedoms motivated President George Washington, whose home at Mount Vernon impressed Thomas.

Teens also met with staff members of their federal congressional delegation to learn about and discuss issues impacting cooperatives, especially those affecting the affordability and reliability of electricity.

As part of the NRECA program, Thomas will also represent Idaho on NRECA’s Youth Leadership Council in Atlanta, Georgia, in March 2025. NRECA’s YLC program is a networking opportunity curated to build leadership and public speaking skills and enhance the delegate’s knowledge of the energy industry and the cooperative business model.

To go on the Youth Tour, Thomas took a break from working on his family’s farm north of Malta, where he and his siblings help their parents raise sugar beets and wheat. After graduation, Thomas says he plans to study electrical or nuclear engineering in college.

“We had an awesome, friendly group who was willing to do a lot,” he says. “It was a great and unforgettable week.”