Pentagon Police Host Virtual Tour for Elementary Students

 Oct. 9, 2020

The Pentagon Police pride themselves on protecting those who protect our nation. Now, during the pandemic, they're also reaching out to those who are the future of our nation. 

On Wednesday, Pentagon Police Officer Christopher Nation led students from Hugh Mercer Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on a virtual tour of the Pentagon reservation.

For Nation, it was a way to help students adversely affected by the pandemic and give back to the community. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency isn't staffed to conduct virtual public tours on a regular basis, but Nation offered the tour after getting to know one of the school's teachers. In the spring, Nation and some colleagues helped the school raise money to continue funding a food truck hired to feed children whose families were struggling over the summer months. 

The tour was a hit for everyone. For the teachers, it was a way to liven and enrich their students' education at a time when onsite classroom learning has been halted because of COVID-19. For the students, it was a chance to learn about the nation's preeminent military command center.

But most of all, for the first-graders in attendance via Zoom, it was a chance to see the Pentagon Police K-9s — or at least one K-9, Reisja, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois — in action.

"The kids all love the dogs, and that's why they're part of the tour," Nation said. "We want it to be fun, memorable and educational. At a time of crisis like this, we all need to do our part and lend a hand."

The virtual tour was the latest in a series that Hugh Mercer Elementary has conducted in lieu of onsite field trips, since those are no longer allowed because of COVID-19.

"We've had a realtor, a dental hygienist, a rock band and, now, Officer Nation and the Pentagon Police," Jodi Ehlen, a first-grade teacher at the school, said. "Especially with everything that's going on today, we think it's important that our kids get to see a positive view of the police."

"We enjoyed doing this, and I think it went well ...The kids learned something, and they seemed to have a good time." 

Pentagon Police Officer Christopher Nation

More than 170 students watched the virtual tour, which only highlighted the outdoor areas of the property due to the need to maintain unclassified internet connectivity. Officer Nation Zoomed in via iPad while using his iPhone as a hotspot.

The virtual tour began at the Pentagon Memorial and included the Pentagon Metro and bus terminal, which are used by thousands of commuters each day. Then, they got to see the Pentagon parade field, which overlooks the U.S. Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument and offered a spectacular and majestic view for the Zoomed-in students. The kids were even interested to hear there's a McDonald's inside the building! 

"We're not staffed to offer virtual tours on a regular basis, PFPA Director Daniel P. Walsh said. "But maybe this can serve as a model for how the Department [of Defense] can safely and securely share the history and majesty of this building with the broader public."

When the virtual tour ended, Officer Nation, K-9 Cpl. Keith Wilson and Sgt. William Kraft took questions from the students.

Not surprisingly, most of the questions concerned the dogs: "What do you do if they run away?" one first-grader earnestly asked. The officer's answer: "We make sure the K-9s are well-trained so they don't run away!"

"We enjoyed doing this, and I think it went well," Nation said of the tour, which lasted a little more than an hour. "The kids learned something, and they seemed to have a good time."

"They've really been through a lot because of the pandemic," he added. "They don't understand what's going on. Seeing smiles on their face, seeing them laugh — that makes it all worthwhile."