WASHINGTON, D.C. — He spelled sarcophagus on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial. (“Sarcophagus? Phagus? Phagus.”)

He confirmed a few letters at the Capitol, where the next American president will be sworn in this January. (“Is that a K? C?”)

And every so often, Edmonton’s Austin Davis stopped to snap a few photos. But he was mostly spelling.

It was hard to ignore the looming Scripps National Spelling Bee on Monday as the spellers visited the Vietnam War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol and the White House.

Even Tony Pitch, who has given the tour since Canadians arrived on the spelling-bee scene four years ago, couldn’t help himself.

“I just know a Canadian has got to win it this year,” he told the spellers. “I’m going to be rooting for you Friday night.”

“And even for those who don’t make it. Just being here is an accomplishment.”

Ottawa’s Emma Brownlie and Tegan Odland, from Lethbridge, Alta., weren’t too worried. They made plans to go swimming after they finished the written spelling test.

It was mostly the boys — Saskatoon’s Anqi Dong, Calgary’s Cody Wang, Jonathan Schut from Cornwall, Ont., Spencer Warriner from Alameda, Sask., and, of course, Austin — who quizzed each other.

When the 22 Canadians, regional winners in the Canwest Canspell National Spelling Bee, weren’t fretting about words, they learned quite a bit of U.S. history on a very poignant Memorial Day tour.

At the Vietnam War Memorial, Winnipeg’s Chris Sigurdson looked at the small mementos that were scattered to honour the 58,000 dead. There were homemade cards, a few cans of Bud Light, photos and handwritten notes.

“There are 58,000 stories here,” Pitch told the spellers.

The group also heard about White House ghosts, terrifying assassinations and the “candy desk” at the United States Senate. Whoever sits in the famed spot has to provide candy for all, regardless of political stripe. It was an especially tasty run when a senator from Pennsylvania brought in Hershey Kisses, said Pitch.

At the end of the day, it was hard to decide what the coolest site was.

“Is that a trick question?” asked Logan Turner, an 11-year-old speller turned diplomat from Thunder Bay. “I liked everything.”

The spellers take their oral test Thursday.

Their success there, combined with the score of the written qualifier, will determine who makes the stage for Friday’s semi-final rounds.

The championship will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET Friday on ABC.

— Ottawa Citizen