Local students return from special history lesson

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A group of South Florida students got a history lesson they'll never forget by being part of President Obama's second inauguration. The lesson wasn't taught in a classroom, but rather in our nation's capitol.

Flags and inauguration gear in hand, a youth group arrived back home to Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday afternoon. Less than 24-hours ago, their flags were waving in the middle of a massive crowd in Washington D.C. "Overall this experience was breathtaking," said Nechelle Davis. "Words can't describe it," said Jaelyn McGee. "It was amazing."

The Mount Olive Baptist Church and Bell Glades Youth Group were in D.C. for President Barack Obama's inauguration celebration. "My sweater says earned not given," said Davis, "And I just think it means he earned his second term."

The group left early Saturday morning by bus. 7News caught up with them in our nation's capital. "We had an opportunity to do a lot of sight seeing," said Reverend James Melton. "It's just amazing that things just happened for us."

The President and First Lady walked down Pennsylvania Avenue right in front of the group. "When she first got out of the car," said McGee, "I thought I was going to faint. Her coat, it was like purple. And when she got out of the car, the sunlight hit it and it was so pretty."

"They got to see them face to face too," said youth leader Harry Gathers, who also joined the trip. "When she got out of the car to walk down to the parade, they got to see them not on TV but close up."

With smiles and lots of souvenirs from 3-D holograms to the hats and T-shirts, the group even snapped their own photos.

The youth group from Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale and Bell Glades arrived with souvenirs and flags in hand and said the trip changed their lives. "I have never seen the president that close," said Jamar Echols. "And it really did turn my life around."

So if they had to some it up in just a few words, Jamar said, "Pretty darn cool."

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