Plans to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday with a July 3 “civic jam” celebration are solidifying in Falls Church.
Rather than attempt to compete with national celebrations the following day, the Falls Church event will focus on citizen involvement.
“We want nonprofits and civic organizations — they’re going to be the ones highlighted at Civic Jam,” Elise Neil-Bengtson, executive director of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, told City Council members on March 23.
She was joined by Jim Coyle, who chairs the Falls Church 250 Committee. Coyle described the event as a “civic coming-together.”
“We’re starting to get a lot of volunteers,” Coyle said.
There will also be entertainment featuring local museums, he said.
To get the word out, the committee partnered with local Scouts, who delivered door-hangers with information to 6,000 homes in the city. The informational items were also distributed to all multifamily properties in Falls Church.
“Hopefully everybody who cares has seen the door-hanger,” Coyle said.
Following the presentation, Mayor Letty Hardi said the city leadership stood behind the efforts.
“We look forward to joining you,” she said.
In addition to the July 3 event, the Virginia 250 Mobile Museum Experience will stop in Falls Church on Memorial Day, May 25. It is traveling the commonwealth to tell stories related to Virginia history.
In other Falls Church news:
‘Watch Night’ funding to make a comeback: City Manager Wyatt Shields has proposed resuming the city’s financial support of Watch Night celebrations on New Year’s Eve.
The event still took place under private leadership, but on a more limited scale, after city officials pulled funding last year.
After considering the situation, Shields decided to propose a resumption of city involvement.
“I think it’s going to be reinvented and better than ever,” he told City Council members during his March 23 budget presentation.
The city manager said the decision reflected public input.
“It has been edifying to staff to see the community rally to that event,” he told Council members.
Portrait unveiling set for community center: The community is invited to the unveiling of a portrait of Edwin Bancroft Henderson at the Falls Church Community Center.
The event will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m. at the center. The main gym is named in his honor.
“All are welcomed. It will be a happy event,” City Manager Wyatt Shields said.
Henderson (1888-1977) was a civil-rights leader and educator who earned a doctorate in athletic training and became the first Black man certified to teach physical education in public schools. He was known as the “grandfather of Black basketball.”
Henderson also served two terms as president of the Virginia NAACP in the 1950s.
Henderson’s wife, Mary Ellen Henderson (1885-1976), was an educator and civil-rights advocate. Falls Church’s middle school is named in her honor.
The public is invited to the dedication. Attendees are asked to contact Cindy Mester at [email protected].
