Sixteen Cedarville High School students and six adult chaperones will witness history Tuesday, January 20 when they stand among a crowd likely to exceed one million in Washington, D.C., to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

The group will stand in the public viewing area on the National Mall as Mr. Obama is sworn in on the west steps of the Capital Building. They will be able to view his inaugural address projected on large screens set up along the mall for those not close enough to see the podium.

Cedarville High School social studies teacher Gretchen Storey began planning the trip in April 2008, before Mr. Obama was even selected as the Democratic presidential nominee. She proposed the idea to attend the inauguration to her students and got a positive response. The 830 mile trip was open to all ninth through 12th grade students, although many of those attending are in one of her classes.

"I just thought it would be a great way to teach [students] the history of the United States," she said.

The inauguration will not be the only piece of history the students will see while in the nation's capital. They will also visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, Mt. Vernon, and Arlington National Cemetery.

"We're really excited," Mrs. Storey said. "We're going to be all over."

The trip was organized by a Virginia-based student travel company and, with travel and lodging, will cost each student about $1,350. Mrs. Storey said about half the money needed was raised through grants, donations, and fundraising, including $2,500 from the Les Cheneaux Lions Club, $150 per student from the Les Cheneaux Education Foundation, and $2,000 from Les Cheneaux Community Foundation.

Adults will pay full price, Mrs. Storey said.

The group will travel to Saginaw Sunday evening, January 18, where they will then fly to Detroit, change planes, and continue on to the capital. After two full days of fun and learning, they will return home Wednesday, January 21.