Local residents are invited to stop in Tuesday to hear local high school students talk about what many would consider a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — traveling to Washington, D.C., to see the leader of the nation sworn in.

    Hill County Democrats are starting their monthly meeting an hour early with a potluck at 6 p.m., followed by a presentation by the students who traveled to Washington to see Barack Obama inaugurated for his second term as U.S. president.

    Havre High School government teacher John Ita, who repeated in January his action taking students to the inauguration four years ago, said one of the students, Hope Proctor, is working on a slide show presentation for Tuesday’s event.

    The trip is very memorable, and helpful, he said.

    “It’s just a great opportunity for the kids,” Ita said, adding that the touring of D.C. can be a little overwhelming, “like drinking out of a firehose.”

    And the inauguration itself is memorable. He said it gives the students the chance to see the peaceful transition of power in the United States, from one administration to another four years ago, and from Obama’s first administration to his second this time.

    “It’s a real awesome event … ,” Ita said. “It’s just kind of a neat event to witness. The kids who went really took it in.”

    He said the students — 14 students and three adults, including Ita, went on the trip — were a credit to the community, even when things, as they will, didn’t go as planned.

    “Havre can be really proud of their kids,” he said.

    Hill County Democratic Chair John Musgrove said everyone — regardless of party — is welcome to come to Tuesday’s presentation.

    “It’s fun to see the enthusiasm that they have for everything they gained,” he said.

    Musgrove also applauded Ita for spearheading the trips.

    “I think it’s wonderful that we have school teachers that are interested in the political process and instilling in our children that the government is important,” Musgrove said.