J.R. Green and his family made the trip to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration as well.

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Principal David Corley and the students ready to depart the hotel and explore Washington, D.C.

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Mr. Kenneth Lathan and students pose at the WWII memorial.

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Mr. Kenny Lathan, Tamia Brice, Joseph Delly, and Kenneth Crumblin play tourist at the WWII memorial.

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Kennth Crumblin and Coach Carolyn Conley are all smiles in front of the reflection pool and Washington Monument.

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Carolyn Connley snapped this picture of the Capitol Building at sunrise on inauguration day.

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Students enjoyed views like this one from the Lincoln Memorial.

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WINNSBORO — Fairfield Central High School students got to experience living history Monday as they attended the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Principal David Corley organized the trip, which the students paid for. He wanted to give them an opportunity to witness history in the making as the nation’s first African-American president was sworn in for a second term. That the event came on Martin Luther King Jr. Day made it all the more an educational opportunity.

“We set the trip up because we wanted students to witness history and to provide an educational opportunity to broaden views and prepare students for the global society,” Corley said.

Twenty two students went on the trip. It had a meaningful impact, in particular on a pair of seniors.

According to Senior Kenneth Crumblin, “this trip was important because I can look back on this experience and tell my kids about it. It was a tremendous honor to see all the politicians and celebrities.”

Senior Raheem McDaniel also enjoyed seeing celebrities but he understood the significant of the political event as well.

“We got to see Chris Tucker, Jamie Fox, Jesse Jackson, and Dr. Martin Luther King’s son at the MLK memorial,” McDaniel said. “I can actually say that I was there to see our first black president sworn in for the second time and all these famous black leaders were there to show their pride in that. It was cool.”

Historical sites they visited included The Washington Monument, the Smithsonian, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Capitol Building, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veteran’s memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Fairfield High School Coach Carolyn Conley believes the trip to D.C. was a success.

“The students got to take part in the presidential inauguration, they saw many historical sites, and they even learned to ride the subway,” Conley said. “It was a good group of kids and it was a lot of fun. We even held a Physical Education class in the 24-hour fitness center at the hotel.”

Corley was proud of his students and proud to be a part of the trip.

“I really enjoyed seeing everyone come together and loved that our students got to experience something like this,” he said.