Talk about going out in style!

The Washington Journalism Education Association, the Washington ACLU and Mountlake High School, in Mountlake, Wash., just north of Seattle, rolled out the red carpet for us May 1 — Law Day — as the final US stop on the 2013-14 Tinker Tour.

The Tinker Tour Finish Line. (Literally. They drew one for us!!!)

Mary Beth Tinker and Mike Hiestand cross the “official” Tinker Tour finish line at Mountlake Terrace High School May 1 as the pair make the final US stop of their 2013-14 international tour promoting student free speech, press and civics education. The tour began last fall.

The school was decked out in peace signs and armbands….

with cheering supporters waiting for us at the door.

And a packed house as Mary Beth and Mike shared their message with students here in America for the final time on the 2013-14 Tinker Tour.

The student media staff at MHS covered the event from all angles and — demonstrating just how smoothly, safely, effectively, powerfully and responsibly (yes, all of that!) media of all types can be integrated into schools — students at MHS and those watching the live stream were encouraged to ask questions via Twitter (You can watch live streams of the two MHS presentations here.)

Afterward, we visited MHS’s award-winning, 100-percent student-run newspaper, The Hawkeye, newsroom where we met with staff, and later enjoyed a lunch hosted by the Washington American Civil Liberties Union.

Mary Beth Tinker visits The Hawkeye newsroom at Mountlake High School May 1 as Vince DiMiero, the paper’s award-winning adviser looks on.

What a beautiful, humbling, love-filled experience. We are so grateful.