Politics & Government

D135 Students Still Going to D.C. Despite Government Shutdown

Orland School District 135 8th graders will still be heading to the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 11, and the travel services company will be in touch with parents on how the itinerary might change, according to the district.

Orland D135 8th grade students are still scheduled to leave on Friday, Oct. 11 for Washington, D.C., even though a number of attractions they were hoping to visit may still be closed during the government shutdown.

Travel Services, the company handling logistics for the trip, will be communicating with parents as they make needed adjustments to the D.C. trip, according to Orland School District 135 Community Relations Coordinator Tracy Marc.

A meeting will also be held next week to bring parents up to speed, once any changes have been made to the trip, Marc said. A date for the meeting has not been scheduled as of Friday.

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Parents who want to check on the D.C. trip plans should contact Brian Mallow with Travel Services at 708-226-8263.

The Washington Post published an overview of D.C. attractions yesterday that aren't run by the government, including the Spy Museum, the National Crime Museum, the NewseumNational Building Museum and the National Geographic Museum. Unlike the free public museums and landmarks, however, these attractions come with a price tag.

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The military-operated Arlington National Cemetery remains open, though the cemetery's historic Arlington House is closed, according to the Washington Post.

The National Park Service made a special exception to the closure of the World War II memorial earlier this week, when groups of veterans on "honor flights" arrived in Washington, including several Illinois veterans.

Rep. Dan Lipinski was among other Illinois legislators that accompanied WWII veterans to the memorial, even though the general public was still kept out.

Patch Editor Charlotte Erickson contributed to this article.

Clarification: Eighth grade students from Jerling Junior High and from Orland Junior High will also be going on the Washington, D.C. trip.

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