Plaque dedicated to terrorism victims
A few hundred people stood in front of the neighborhood’s community center at noon to dedicate a plaque remembering the victims of terrorism.
“To All Victims of Terrorism Sept. 11,” reads the small plaque, flanked by two flagpoles bearing the flags of the United States and Virginia.
“We thought it important to honor not only the victims of Sept. 11, but all people who have suffered at the hands of terrorists,” said Suzanne Till, community manager of the Wellington Community Association.
City Manager Lawrence Hughes and Police Chief John Skinner attended the ceremony, which took place before the neighborhood’s annual July Fourth picnic.
Commissioner of the Revenue John Grzejka led the color guard, which was made up of members of Boy Scout Troop 670.
Speaking to the crowd, Skinner thanked the Wellington community for the monument.
“I would like to reassure our community that police, fire, rescue services, health department, city manager and city council are committed to caring for our residents, not only in ordinary times, but also in extraordinary times — and these are extraordinary times,” he said.
Suzanne Westre Seaberg, the chairwoman of the association’s community relations committee, hopes picnics in the future will be preceded by such gatherings.
“We started another tradition by giving a more patriotic event to the day,” she said.
Staff writer Chris Newmarker can be reached at (703) 368-3101.