Lakewood Ranch Imagine Schools students prepare for Washington D.C. trip

For the second year in a row, Imagine Schools of Lakewood Ranch is sending its eighth-grade class on a week-long field trip to Washington, D.C.

Before leaving, however, the students listened to a presentation to give them a more personal understanding of the sites they will see when they visit the nation’s Capitol, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Robert Rehmer, a retired sentinel of the Tomb, talked to the class Monday about his service at the cemetery. Rehmer grew up in St. Petersburg and joined the U.S. Army in 1963. After training, he was approached by the Sergeant of the Tomb and asked to become a sentinel. He holds the distinction of holding the longest continuous sentinel duty for the Tomb—he served 18 months compared to the typical nine-month tour.

After his tour he served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves for more than 23 years.

Rehmer showed the students videos about the Tomb and the meaning of the sentinels, which guard the monument 24 hours a day and also guide tours. The tours are very strict on respectful behavior, and Rehmer warned the students to listen to the guide.

Roger Meadows, the eighth-grade social studies teacher, will lead the field trip to D.C. from Saturday, May 9 to Friday, May 15.