Walking through history

July 24, 2026
All News
Seven youth leadership participants wearing matching light green T-shirts and conference badges pose beside a large bronze statue at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. The group stands in front of a stone wall engraved with one of Roosevelt's quotes, while a bronze sculpture of Fala, Roosevelt's Scottish terrier, sits in the foreground.

For more than 40 years, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation has sponsored high school seniors on the Washington Youth Tour, a weeklong experience in our nation’s capital organized by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.

From June 13 to 19, Addison Funderburk, Noah Mayfield, Anna Fawcett, Brooklyn Dunn, Aaliyah Shell, Harlee Johnson and Lily McCaig joined 140 students from Tennessee’s electric cooperatives on tours of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Museums, the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery and more historic sites. They also toured the capitol, met with their U.S. senators and learned more about electric cooperatives.

But the most lasting memories made are the friendships. Below, Gibson Electric students share reflections from the trip.

Noah Mayfield
Crockett County High School
“I am so glad I went on the trip because it felt like I was walking through history. My favorite experience was the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. Although we don’t know the soldiers buried in the tomb, we honor them because they gave their lives for our freedom.”

Addison Funderburk
Dyer County High School
“This trip was truly amazing. Before visiting, I had only known Washington through textbooks and classroom lessons. Seeing the historic buildings and landmarks I had read about brought history to life in a way I never expected. Experiencing these places firsthand opened my eyes to the past and sparked a much deeper interest in history.”

Lily McCaig
Gibson County High School
“I had so much fun seeing all the wonderful things in D.C. with people my age. I’m glad I chose to come, especially on America’s 250th anniversary, because I have made memories that will last a lifetime. My favorite part was the Sunset Parade. It was amazing to see the Marine Band and infantry perform.”

Aaliyah Shell
Lake County High School
“The Washington Youth Tour meant everything to me. It was so cool to see a lot of things I’ve only ever seen in a textbook. I loved making new friendships that will last a lifetime. I had so much fun!”

Harlee Johnson
Obion County Central High School
“I learned about our nation’s history while also creating memories with people I may have never gotten to know otherwise. I loved making new friendships and strengthening relationships with people in my co-op. This trip is something I will always remember because of both the places I saw and the people I shared it with.”

Anna Fawcett
South Gibson County High School
“This trip has brought me joy in so many ways. Between the people, the things I have learned and the impact of seeing our history in person, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. This experience is something I never thought I could receive, and I thank God for every moment of it.”

Brooklyn Dunn
Carlisle County (Ky.) High School
“As a Kentucky girl, I was skeptical about going on a trip to Washington, D.C., with a bunch of Tennessee kids. I did not know just how much one week could change my life. I have gotten to meet some of my best friends and understand that co-ops like Gibson Electric do so much more than just supply energy.”

Seven Washington Youth Tour participants and their chaperone wearing gray polo shirts stand on the lawn in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with the Capitol dome rising prominently behind them under a clear blue sky.
Noah, Addison, Lily, Aaliyah, Anna, Brooklyn, Harlee and Gibson Electric Member Services Specialist Sarah Williams in front of the U.S. Capitol
Seven Washington Youth Tour participants wearing matching light green T-shirts and conference badges pose for a group photo at night, with the illuminated Washington Monument visible in the background.
From left, Noah, Aaliyah, Lily, Brooklyn, Anna, Harlee and Addison with the Washington Monument in the background
Seven Washington Youth Tour participants wearing light blue event T-shirts stand in front of a Vietnam-era Marine Corps helicopter exhibit featuring life-size military figures at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
From left, Noah, Addison, Aaliyah, Harlee, Anna, Lily and Brooklyn at the National Museum of the Marine Corps
Six Washington Youth Tour participants wearing green event T-shirts, conference badges and Tennessee Youth Tour caps pose around a NASA astronaut suit exhibit displayed against a dark tiled wall.
From left, Aaliyah Shell, Anna Fawcett, Lily McCaig, Addison Funderburk, Brooklyn Dunn and Harlee Johnson surround the Apollo 11 50th anniversary statue at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
Seven young people wearing matching coral-colored event T-shirts and conference badges stand together on a shaded walkway at a memorial site. Rows of trees, visitors, and dark statues are visible in the background.
Gibson Electric’s 2026 Washington Youth Tour delegates, from left, Harlee Johnson, Aaliyah Shell, Addison Funderburk, Anna Fawcett, Lily McCaig, Brooklyn Dunn and Noah Fawcett, tour the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Seven Washington Youth Tour participants and their chaperone wearing matching coral event T-shirts gather for a selfie outdoors on a sunny day, with rolling green hills, trees and a distant water view in the background.
Aaliyah snaps a group shot with Anna, Harlee, Brooklyn, Addison, Noah, Gibson Electric Member Services Specialist Sarah Williams and Lily at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

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