First row, from left, are Nina Tisara, Mayor Bill Euille, Joyce Rawlings, Councilwoman Del Pepper; second row, Kathleen Baker, Kate Campbell Stevenson representing Marga Fripp, Fred Parker, Alice P. Morgan, Councilman John Chapman and Gayle Reuter. Photo by Steve Halperson/Tisara Photography
More than 200 people gathered for the 8th Annual Meet the Legends reception on March 19 at the Patent & Trademark Office Madison Building. Guests included the 2015 Living Legends of Alexandria: Kathleen Baker, Kate Campbell Stevenson representing Marga Fripp, Alice P. Morgan, Fred Parker, Joyce Rawlings, Gayle Reuter and Nina Tisara. Though City Council had a budget workshop scheduled that evening, Mayor Bill Euille stopped by to congratulate the Legends as did Councilwoman Del Pepper and Councilman John Chapman.
In the audience were staff, teachers, students and parents from Commonwealth Academy (C/A). Last April, Living Legends founder Nina Tisara attended a Holocaust Memorial program at Market Square and saw a quilt produced by students at C/A. She was so impressed with the student’s work that she contacted the school to ask about possibilities for collaboration. The outcome was the production of digital portraits, working digital clocks, unique silkscreen designs — all gifts for the Legends — and a tribute video. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2t0k1PLnsE.
Past year’s Legends in attendance included Mike Anderson, Rosa Byrd, Lynnwood Campbell, Rodger Digilio,Tony Gee, Carolyn Griffin, Arlene Hewitt, Bud Hart, Bill Kehoe, David M. Martin, Melvin Miller, Pat Miller, Mike Oliver, Lillian Patterson; Fran and Gant Redmon, Lonnie Rich, Joe Shumard, David Speck, Jack Taylor, Patsy Ticer, Marian Van Landingham, Connie West, Donnie Wintermute and John Porter who served as master of ceremonies.