Oakton resident Gary W. Fuller, an American Field Service (AFS) host parent since 1999, had a reunion of his seven foreign exchange student "sons" in London over the Memorial Day weekend. What started out a year ago as an opportunity to celebrate one of his "sons'" 18th birthdays turned into a reunion when each of the young men decided it would be fun to meet each other, and see London as well. The so-called “Band of Brothers” flew into London on different flights and converged at a flat near Paddington Station in the City of Westminster that Fuller had rented for three days so that everyone could be together.
His "sons" are: Markku Penttinen (Finland), Eirik Stranne (Norway), Ralf Udally (Germany), Alex Mjelde (Norway), André Mateus (Portugal), Andreas Lyngbye (Denmark) and Tim André (Germany). The young men range in age from 23 to 17. André is currently living with Fuller now and will end his AFS year at the end of June. He will turn 18 at the end of July. Fuller will host a new student, Hanns Aquiar from Brazil, beginning in August. Once he has hosted 10 students, there is an unofficial plan to have another reunion — this time in Iceland.
Karen Whilden of Vienna and Diane Jackson of Silver Spring, Md., won their second consecutive gold medal at the Pan American Kata Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Saturday. Kata consists of demonstrations of detailed judo techniques. There were three katas contested this year in both male and female divisions: Katame No Kata, Ju No Kata and Nage No Kata. Whilden and Jackson won gold in the Katame No Kata competition and placed second in the Ju No Kata Division. The duo also finished seventh in Nage No Kata.
Fairfax County Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, chartered in Vienna, recently installed its new officers for the coming two years. The new officers are Laurie Nesbitt, regent; Ellen vanHully-Bronson, first vice regent; Judith Lalley, second vice regent; Diane Wright, chaplain; Elizabeth Bays, recording secretary; Jan Fauver, corresponding secretary; Louise “Penny” Chaboudy, treasurer; Jenny Inskeep, registrar; Gretchen Lindsey, historian; and Carol Whitton, librarian.
Jane Hansen of Annandale was recently inducted as the newest member of the chapter. Hansen is an eighth-generation descendant of Pariss Sims, a soldier from the Salisbury district in North Carolina.