Report on Visit to the Pentagon in March by John Hunter and his 4th Grade Class

In March 2012 at the invitation of Pentagon official, John Hunter and his 4th grade class traveled to Washington DC to spend the day with officials and defense strategist at the pentagon. Below is John Hunter’s description of their visit.

Report on Visit to the Pentagon in March by John Hunter and his 4th Grade Class:

It was simply grand, as our visit exceeded our wildest imaginings. The Agnor-Hurt Elementary School WPG 4th grade delegation was in full formal dress, representing their positions in the World Peace Game, and their position on real-world regional and country desks. They had been requested to research each of the world’s economic, social and military hotspots, prepare a “white paper” and several high-level thinking skill questions for the Defense Department policy experts in preparation for their visit.

We met and had extended conversations and photos taken with 1, 2, 3-star generals from all branches of the services, saw the General Counsel to Mr. Panetta, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey (who knew who we were and shook our hands), and the kids had a long, fantastic discussion with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in his office about the World Peace Game, world problems, and how they solved them! They all were “coined” by him individually — something done in the military when a special commemorative coin is handed in a handshake to the one being honored.

The children’s press briefing was off-the-charts, as they stood in the very room used by the military and President Obama, and asked their practiced and substantive questions to the actual policy official who takes press questions. They even stumped him with a couple of questions about Iran’s nuclear capability and Taiwan-China relations!

Albemarle County Public Schools Superintendent Pam Moran and Principal of Agnor-Hurt School Michele Castner were on hand throughout, lending an authority and elegance from our side. Chris Farina the filmmaker of World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements, and Rachel Kranz, the distinguished writer who was covering the event for the upcoming book about the World peace Game also accompanied us as did classroom Agnor-Hurt teachers, Cheryl Brooks-Davis, Lisa Harris and Leslie Hunter of Venable School.

Middle school students with the World Peace Games visit the Pentagon on March 20, 2012. The students met with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta as well as taking part in a mock press briefing with Deputy Assistant Secretary (Spokesman) George LIttle in the Pentagon Press Briefing Room.(DoD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo)(Released)