Friday, May 24, 2013
Memorial Day weekend celebrations Friday through Monday in Northern Virginia.
Memorial Day 2013—the unofficial kick-off for summer—is Monday, May 27, but concerts, fireworks and other events last all of Memorial Day weekend throughout Northern Virginia. Here’s a round-up of what’s happening locally. American Legion Riders Run to the Thunder 2013 The American Legion Riders, Post 177 in Fairfax will host its annual ALR Run to the Thunder 2013 in association with Rolling Thunder. The ride raises awareness regarding those military veterans who may still be prisoners of war and/or missing in action and encourages the public and government to take action in their recovery. Funds raised will benefit the American Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund. Sunday, May 26, 7 a.m. Memorial Day 5K Run/Walk to Honor the Fallen Be sure …
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Who’s NOT planning a BBQ this weekend? If the weather holds and you’ve got propane or charcoal, chances are you’re grilling something with your friends and family. Here are Memorial Day recipes and ideas for keeping costs down. Sponsored by Home Depot.
Here at Patch, we like to be thrifty, so we talked to two barbeque experts and uncovered some really good ideas to help you save money on your next outdoor party. 1. Start with a marinade. This means planning ahead -- say, Friday. But it’s worth it, says Rick Browne, host of Barbeque America on PBS, because you can pass up that well-marbled ribeye steak and buy a less tender and less expensive choice to grill like a flank steak or chuck steak. Just marinate it or brine for one or two days and then cook long and slow on the barbeque grill to break down tissues but maintain moisture. “You need to include an acid in the marinade --perhaps juice, vinegar or soy sauce -- but avoid cola, which is so acidic it can turn meat into a soggy mess…
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
You could win a family four-pack of tickets courtesy of Six Flags America.
Memorial Day is a day to remember the men and women who died while serving in the armed forces. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the United State following the Civil War and was made an official federal holiday in 1971. Many people commemorate Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials to pay tribute to those who served. At Patch, we encourage our readers to remember those serving our country this Memorial Day by sharing a memory of your favorite military service member or veteran. Enter Patch’s Memorial Day sweepstakes and you could win a Family Outing at Six Flags America in Mitchellville, MD, just 15 miles east of Washington D.C. The Family Outing is valued at $350 and includes: To enter, comment below with …
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Remembering soldiers just once a year is not enough, speaker says
Tens of thousands of residents across Northern Virginia marked Memorial Day Weekend at the Viva!Vienna! festival in downtown Vienna. On Monday, local officials paused amidst the food, fun, rides and entertainment to remember the true motivation for the holiday: the fallen soldiers who, along with their families, make sacrifices to give all Americans the freedom they enjoy every day, Mayor Jane Seeman told a crowd gathered on the Town Green. Seeman was joined by members of the Vienna Town Council and town staff, Rep. Gerry Connolly (Va-11th), Dels. Mark Keam (D-35th) and Barabara Comstock (R-34th) and County Sup. Cathy Hudgins (Hunter Mill) at the annual Memorial Day Ceremony, which featured performances by the Madison High School Madrigals…
Annual motorcycle ride passes through Vienna enroute to Rolling Thunder
More than 4,500 motorcycles gathered Sunday for the Annual Ride of the Patriots, a procession to the 25th annual Rolling Thunder Ride in Washington that honors veterans each Memorial Day. During the ride, in its 14th year, motorcyclists started on Lee Highway and headed down Nutley Street before merging onto I-66 and riding to the Pentagon to join Rolling Thunder, which attracted more than 400,000 motorcyclists for a ride through D.C. The first Rolling Thunder ride was held on Memorial Day weekend 1998, when Vietnam veterans organized a demonstration to raise awareness about Prisioners of War/Missing in Action Soldiers. They unified on roaring motorcycles, "a sound not unlike the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam dubbed Operation…
Monday, May 28, 2012
Ceremonies planned at Flint Hill Cemetery, Town Green throughout the day
Vienna's American Legion Post 180 has several events planned for Memorial Day this year. The day kicks off with the legion's annual ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. at Flint Hill Cemetery in Oakton. The legion auxiliary will place flags on the graves of veterans at Flint Hill Cemetery and will also host a performance by the Vienna Community Band. It will also conduct its annual Poppy Promotion throughout Vienna during Memorial Day weekend, with proceeds going to veterans’ hospitals in Virginia. Viva!Vienna! festival goers also have a chance to honor the armed forces in another ceremony at 3 p.m. on the Town Green, in the heart of the festival. Several officials, included Mayor Jane Seeman and U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly are expected to speak…
Share a picture and story about your favorite veteran this Memorial Day.
Have a favorite story about your favorite veteran you want to share? We want to hear all about it. Upload a picture and caption here on Patch about a fond story you remember about that special veteran that was in your life. Throughout Memorial Day, you can check back to see pictures and read stories from others. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed May 5, 1868 by Gen. John Logan and first observed May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Annual event starts at 8 p.m. Sunday
The 23rd annual National Memorial Day Concert, scheduled for 8 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, has another stellar lineup this year, including performances by rock band Daughtry, Grammy Award-winner Natalie Cole, country singer Trace Adkins, American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez and the National Symphony Orchestra. The show will be co-hosted by actors Gary Sinise and Joe Montegna, who are teaming up for the seventh year hosting the event, which remembers the sacrifices of veterans, service members and their families. Tips if you plan to go: Temporary street closures, which started on Friday, will continue through Tuesday at 4 a.m.: Concert-goers will enter the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol from: North Side South …
Friday, May 25, 2012
More than $380,000 raised in "Kyle's Kamp," a baseball tournament honoring 8-year-old leukemia patient
At this time last year, a few dozen teams from across the D.C. region were taking to fields in Vienna and across Fairfax County to play in the first-ever Kyle's Kamp Wood Bat baseball tournament, in honor of Kyle Hahne, a now-8-year-old diagnosed with leukemia in the fall of 2010. The three-day tournament for Kyle, the son of local baseball coach Rob Hahne and Madison High School teacher Kieran Hahne, raised more than $10,000 in its first run for the Children's National Medical Center for pediatric cancer care through individual and team donation and wood bat, T-shirt and food sales. Most of the teams gave a team tournament donation of anywhere between $75 to $300 in place of a tournament registration fee. What a difference a year can make…
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
About 100 students surprise festival goers with "Thriller" dance
Tens of thousands of people attend Viva!Vienna! each year, so it wasn't a surprise when pedestrian gridlock started to build around 2:45 p.m. Monday near the heart of the Church Street vendor booths. What festival goers weren't expecting was the group of about 100 Vienna Elementary School students that suddenly dropped to the ground in unison, launching into a choreographed dance as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" played from a stereo. Led by Vienna Elementary School music teacher Dave Reynolds, the students danced for about three minutes before dispersing into the crowd as quickly as they appeared. Watch our video of the dance in the media player above.
Peter Quantock
10:41 am on Friday, May 24, 2013
Or instead of all of that...go to someone elses BBQ!! more ›