SINGERS COLLECT
Shuter’s Hill Ecumenical Carollers sent $1,034 to Children’s Hospital after their annual trek on the hill, the thirty-ninth occasion of the effort.
Don Mela played his accordion while his grandson Larry Dow supervised collection efforts by Emma Swindell, 4; Dakota Kelso Hunt, 4; Gabriel Qualiana, 5; and Wyatt Qualiana, 7. Larry counted the money, too.
Everyone then ate a great pot-luck supper and listened to highly accomplished piano concert from Rachel Bussey, who has been participating in the event since she was 7. She is now a piano major at Northwestern University.
MARTIN LUTHER KING REMEMBERED
To the strains of ‘Lift Every Voice’ and ‘Sing and We Shall Overcome,’ people from all over Alexandria celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a moving service at Shiloh Baptist Church.
As always, a group of very charming, very young people acted as hosts and hostesses, escorting clergy and dignitaries to their seats. One of them, George Lewis, a senior at West Potomac High School and a football player, was honored with a special award for nine years of service.
The Roberts Memorial UMC combined choir sang splendidly, sparked by an electrifying solo from Kim Young.
Mark Beerthuis, lay representative from the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, was Master of Ceremonies, while the Rev. Carla Thompson of Meade Memorial Episcopal Church preached the sermon.
MORGAN CHAIRMAN
For the 32nd time, hard-working Alice Morgan chaired the event. Paul Glist of the Baha’i Assembly gave the invocation, Rev. Lee Earl of Shiloh, the benediction.
Vice-mayor Del Pepper welcomed the congregation, which included City Manager Jim Hartman and Councilmen Rob Krupicka and Paul Smedberg.
Others present were Bill Cleveland, Jesse Jennings. Lillian White, co-president of the League of Women Voters, F.J. Pepper, Mark Jenks and Anice Wilson.
Lawrence Robinson of the Departmental Progressive Club took pictures as usual: His pictorial record of previous memorial services was displayed downstairs at the reception.
Mike Oliver, Wilson Morgan, Melvin Miller were others in the crowd and vice-chairperson Jo Butler was present wearing a most impressive hat.