Everett students take D.C. shutdown in stride

EVERETT – Thirty-five students from a Catholic school in Everett came face-to-face with the federal government shutdown in Washington, D.C. And they went around it.

When the eighth-graders of St. Mary Magdalen School encountered barricades at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial last week they walked around them to reach the wall on which are etched names of those who paid the ultimate price for their service.

“I felt like we had the right to go and see it,” Dan Haub, 14, of Mukilteo, said Monday.

They committed their quiet act of protest again at the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

“At first it felt like we were breaking into something,” said Alexi Obillo, 12, also of Mukilteo. “But then there were other people there so it didn’t seem that big a deal.”

As students returned to class Monday, the partial shutdown of government entered its second week with no sign of ending. The U.S. House continued to insist that defunding or delaying the federal health care law be part of any negotiations with the Senate on a measure to fund government. Majority Democratic senators and President Barack Obama are unwilling to negotiate on the fate of the health care law as part of a deal.

Meanwhile civilian employees are getting called back to work at military bases in Washington state, and throughout the country. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel determined that an emergency law to pay military personnel, signed by Obama last week, covers many but not all, of the workers.

The Washington Military Department on Monday began notifying more than 700 furloughed federal technicians to return to work starting today. There remains roughly 80 furloughed employees, according to a press release. Federal funding is still not available for operations and maintenance, as well as to conduct regularly scheduled weekend drills of the Washington National Guard, the release stated.

The shutdown didn’t throw as much of a monkey wrench as feared into the plans of students who raised money for a year leading up to the five-day trip. The excursion, organized by school activities director Jolene Johnson, also included 15 parents and two teachers.

“Before we left I was thinking I hope it does not hurt our trip too much. It really didn’t,” Haub said.

Barricades and burly guards prevented them from getting close-up pictures of the Lincoln Memorial or wandering through Smithsonian Institute museums on the National Mall. Instead they wound up visiting the privately run International Spy Museum and the Newseum, which is a museum of the news business.

“We didn’t talk a lot about the shutdown because we were too busy doing other fun stuff,” Alexi said.

In another change in itinerary, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash. provided them an extensive tour Friday of the U.S. Capitol. It included stops in Statuary Hall and in the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives.

During the shutdown, the general public isn’t allowed inside the Capitol except to sit in the galleries. Tours are canceled unless a member of Congress is conducting it.

When Larsen brought them in through a side door, they passed by dozens of people sitting on the steps who could not get in.

“Everybody glared at us,” Johnson said

Inside, Larsen and the 53-person group were pretty much alone for nearly two hours. At one point House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, passed by and gave them a wave.

“It reminded me of a pop star waving to the crowd,” Alexi said.

Johnson couldn’t say enough about how it turned out to be an unforgettable trip for the students and the adults.

“We saw the best of the government and the worst of the government,” Johnson said.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.