JOSH ’26
Today, Deerfield Academy saw the most visited memorial on the national mall: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial—a memorial with solely the names of the soldiers who died during the events, arranged by when their lives were lost, rather than their ranks. The consensus was that the meaning of the memorial was simply the lack thereof. The memorial was only the names of the deceased, open for interpretation. With only names, it is up to the viewer of the monument to give it meaning. During the lunch that followed, Deerfield students further discussed their interpretation of the memorial, however they noted in unison that their interpretations of the meaning of the monument was particular to them—given anyone’s circumstances of life, we agreed, different meanings will be derived from the memorial. Students noted that it had a direct contrast to the nearby Korean War Memorial, which had a specific message for the viewer. It featuring the names of only soldiers who fought with the United States, and having the names of the soldiers in order by rank, led the students to agree to this memorial aimed for passers-by to see the soldiers as though they died to help others—heroes of war, rather than victims of it. Through the memorials of the day, one major question was posed: how should history be portrayed, or should it not be portrayed at all beyond simple facts?
Jeremy ’26
After a delicious lunch, we started walking through the city, appreciating the different architectural styles of Washington, D.C.—from neo-classical to neo-gothic wonders. Our destination? The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the fifth-most-visited museum in the world, and the second-most-visited museum in the United States. As someone with a passion for STEM,I found the museum a source of incredible inspiration. From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted by a mesmerizing collection that showcased not only the evolution of aviation but also the giant leaps humanity has taken: full-size airplanes, jets, space suits, the iconic Space Shuttle Discovery, and the sleek Concorde SST. Getting up close to the first airplane at eye level was amazing, and the last World War I-era Sopwith Camel reminded me of the sacrifices and innovations of that time. Yet, it wasn’t only about the machines that defied gravity. It’s also about the human touch, the dreams, and the indomitable spirit that has evolved over time.
Grey ’27
After a long walk and a delicious brunch, we headed over to the National Air and Space Museum. The first thing I noticed about the museum is that it was giant, so in my interest I searched up how big it was, and it’s actually the world’s biggest collection of air and space artifacts. But it was not just the humongous planes hovering above me that took my interest, but the little things as well. My favorite exhibit “Destination Moon” featured tiny moon rocks with big stories behind them. Every piece of the moon had the voice recording of the astronaut picking and inspecting them, giving each little rock a life. Not to brag, but this exhibit was curated by a Deerfield alumnus! Speaking of alumni, our lunch tomorrow will feature a few Deerfield alumni, most of them currently enrolled at Georgetown.
Yong ’27
For dinner today, we went to Chinatown in DC. Upon arrival, the first sight that caught my eye was the large fan crafted by chopsticks, positioned beneath the Chinatown sign in the metro station. In that moment, it felt like I had been transported somewhere entirely different. Exiting the metro station, we were greeted by an old-fashioned, China-like gate with the words “Chinatown” at the top. Passing through the gate, it felt like I’m back home. The street was filled with flashing, shining signs in red and yellow with Chinese characters, and the delicious smells of food filled in the air. Chinatown in the States always holds a certain appeal for me; I’m always amazed by how such a different space exists within a completely different country; it’s like an oasis in a desert! After wandering around for a bit, my friends and I chose a restaurant that seemed the most inviting. The moment we stepped inside, the waiter welcomed us in a warm, kind voice, speaking Chinese. Viewing menus with Chinese names, being served hot tea instead of cold water, and using chopsticks instead of knives and forks always give me a sense of home. After dinner, having a milk tea was, as always, the right choice.
