WAMU 88.5
: News
Don’t call today’s event in Old Town Alexandria a President’s Day parade.
“It’s not really a day to celebrate Zachary Taylor, is it?” asks Mike Oliver, Alexandria enthusiast. “Or Millard Fillmore or some of the other lightweights.”
Alexandria’s parade is called George Washington Birthday Parade.
Washington’s Birthday is one of the marquee events for Alexandria, where a young George Washington served as part of the surveying team that founded the city in 1749. These days, the city helps remember him by hosting the George Washington Birthday Parade – led by Town Crier Ben Fiore-Walker.
“Alexandrians love their history," says Fiore-Walker. "They love George Washington, so yeah. We get extremely excited about it.”
The parade featured Boy Scouts, Shriners, marching bands, firefighters … and even traditional dancers from Bolivia.
A Read Down Memory Lane: Lessons From Your Former Self
Writings from childhood — cards, stories and other notes — can hide for decades, like time capsules tucked away in boxes, old bedrooms, attics and journals. Writer Jim Sollisch talks about how old thank you notes from his youth foreshadowed his adult life.Inside A Tart Cherry Revival: 'Somebody Needs To Do This!'
The revival is partly based on the humble sour fruit's growing reputation as a superfood. And in Michigan, a scientist is on a quest to introduce a whole new world of hardier, tastier tart cherries by breeding American trees with ancestral varieties from Eastern Europe.Srinivasan's Confirmation First For D.C. Circuit In 7 Years
The partisan war over judicial nominees has accelerated in recent years. It took nearly a year to win Senate confirmation for Sri Srinivasan to the important federal appeals court for the District of Columbia, though he had no formal opposition.3-D Printer Makes Life-Saving Splint For Baby Boy's Airway
A 3-D printer is being credited with helping to save an Ohio baby's life, after doctors "printed" a tube to support a weak airway that caused him to stop breathing. The innovative procedure has allowed Kaiba Gionfriddo, of Youngstown, Ohio, to stay off a ventilator for more than a year.Leave a Comment
Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.
-
Deals For Developers
WAMU investigates city subsidies to developers and campaign contributions from the companies. more >> -
Spring Campaign
The Spring Membership Campaign is off and running! Donate today! more >> -
Have A Child With Special Needs?
The Kojo Nnamdi Show is exploring the challenges faced by parents and would like to hear from you. more >> -
Aging and Abuse
With an aging population, elder abuse is expected to increase. We look at the complexities of elder abuse in... more >> -
Half The Battle
A project, produced by journalism students at American University, about young veterans transitioning from... more >> -
Volunteer Recognition
The volunteer of the year award and special projects award are given to a WAMU 88.5 volunteer each year for... more >> -
Yesterday's Dropouts
This series examines the struggles adults face after they leave school without a diploma. more >> -
New Bible
Bill Cain isn't just an award-winning playwright; he's also a Jesuit priest. And he brings the two together... more >> -
Public Insight
Share your knowledge and insights about timely issues with journalists from WAMU 88.5 more >> -
In-Kind Donation Program
By providing an in-kind donation, you may be eligible for a tax deduction, without a cash commitment, and... more >> -
Follow Us On Twitter
To get the latest local stories from WAMU 88.5 News, follow us on Twitter. more >>
