The following letter was addressed to the principal of George Mason Elementary School.
I am a longtime resident of Alexandria, and my daughters are alumnae of George Mason.
On Wednesday morning this past week, I stood in front of George Mason while about 70 of your students stood with their posters and held a demonstration on behalf of stricter gun control measures to increase school and student safety. The demonstration was quiet, restrained, respectful, and very poignant. Clearly the student leaders had done a thorough job organizing the event, as they had done with their presentations previously at the city-wide rally on the same issue.
My heartiest congratulations to you and your faculty for the job you did coaching and preparing the students. As I am sure you know, they received national coverage for their work that was well deserved. I know that in those hours these students learned many lessons in — among other things — civics, organizational management, human relations, communications, and public speaking.
You made the neighborhood proud. Thank you.
Kitty Porterfield
Alexandria