Reston Commu- Nity Center for the First-Ever Tour De Hunter Mill

On Saturday, May 15, Chairman of the Fairfax County A Perfect Day for Board of Supervisors Jeffrey C. McKay (D-At-Large) and Su- The Pedal-Happy pervisor Dan Storck (D-Mount Vernon News, Page 7 District) gather with others in front of the Reston Commu- nity Center for the first-ever Tour de Hunter Mill. Classifieds, Page 10 Classifieds, v Opinion, Page 4 Memorial to Suffragist Women Dedicated Page, 2 News, Page 3 Requested in home 5-20-21 home in Requested Time sensitive material. material. sensitive Time Attention Postmaster: Postmaster: Attention ECR WSS ECR Meet New Sully District Customer Postal permit #322 permit Easton, MD Easton, Police Commander PAID U.S. Postage U.S. News, Page 6 STD PRSRT Photo by Mercia Hobson/The Connection by Mercia Hobson/The Photo May 19-25, 2021 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com Celebrating Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Importance emphasized in context of recent discrimination and hate crimes. Photo by Mike Salmon/Connection By Marilyn Campbell The Connection Pit stops like this one from years’ past will not be as social this year. ducational videos and online trivia questions, organized by the school’s Biking and Trail Use EAsian-Pacific Islander Heritage Committee, are giving Montgomery College students an Continues to Grow opportunity for reflection, while food, music and film offer students at Marymount University in Pit Stop gathering is out, Arlington a glimpse of a different culture. These experiences are in but Bike to Work Day is Still on observance of Asian/Pacific Island- er American Heritage Month, cele- for May 21. brated each May. “It’s a time to reflect and cele- By Mike Salmon brate the contributions of the Asian The Connection Pacific American community who Courtesy of Marymount University Washington Area Bicyclist Asso- shaped and influenced the history Marymount University’s first Cultural Graduation Reception ac- t’s been 20 years since Bike ciation, Bike to Work Day is run and culture of the United States,” knowledges the accomplishments of first-generation college grad- to Work Day began, and it by the Metropolitan Washington said Tait Brooks, Associate Director uates from underrepresented groups in an intimate and inclusive Igrows each year showing that Council of Governments’ Com- of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and environment. Graduate Anna Moon, center, receives her Cultural there is another side to commut- muter Connections program. Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Ma- Graduation certificate alongside Dean Brooke Berry, right, and Asso- ing that uses no gas, has health WABA is part of the steering rymount University. ciate Director Tait Brooks. benefits and is fun, even if it’s committee and manages the The importance of this year’s only one day a year for many. registration process. Although it observances, in em- As with everything else in the was cancelled last year to com- phasized by growing “Educate on Asian covid year of 2021, it’s going to ply with CDC recommendations evidence of discrim- be a little different this year but about gathering, participation has ination and hate American history and a good thing nonetheless. There grown every year. In 2018, about crimes targeting Asian will be tee shirts with the skyline 17,000 people signed up for the Americans. Educators experience and show logo, like years past, but at the event and in 2019, just under are using the month pit stops, it will be a quick stop 20,000 people signed up. This to address and work support to the Asian for the tee shirt, and onto points year is impacted by the pandem- toward solutions to beyond - no convoys, no chit chat ic with offices closed and many some of these current American community by at the pit stop or a local mechan- working from home, although issues. ic checking the brakes as seen in people working from home can “The recent violent standing against racism.” previous years. Since many are still ride up and get a tee shirt. actions are steeped working from home still, it will “We’re expecting 10,000 or so rid- in xenophobia. Edu- — Dae Young Kim, Ph.D., be grab the tee shirt and head ers this year, as many people are cation and learning George Mason University Dae Young Kim back to the home office. The Bike still working from home, and pit their history and its to Work organizers are fine with stop activities have been scaled significance to American history is the solution,” said that, it says on the website. back,” said Browne. Brooks. “Once we know more Asian history, we will community, celebrations this year’s observances are One change is the “pit stop,” understand their plight.” accompanied with fear. name, it’s now called “tee shirt Trail Use and the Pandemic “Schools and universities can pursue inclusive “It is clear that many Asian Americans are feeling pickup point.” At the stops, The Capital Trails Coalition curriculum that fully integrates the experiences and that they are not immune to acts of violence and bias there will be a strict covid pol- looked into trail use, and found contributions of Asian Americans,” added Dae Young and social media is helping to increase awareness of icy, which includes a mask re- that across the nation, trails are Kim, Ph.D., associate professor of Sociology and An- such incidents, which is prompting more conversation quirement, no hanging out and seeing more users than ever be- thropology at George Mason University. His message: and action,” said Kim. “We are feeling fearful of vi- socializing, any food is required fore. According to data provided “Educate on Asian American history and experience olence directed against us. This is what makes this to be pre-packaged and not con- by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and show support to the Asian American community month different from previous years.” sumed on the premises, and no nearly every week in 2020 saw by standing against racism.” In recent weeks, Kim has engaged in dialogue and live raffles. “The emphasis will an increase in trail users com- For Kim O’Connell, author of “Echoes of Little Sai- outreach aimed at helping others understand the ex- be on bicycling for exercise and pared to numbers of the same gon,” a booklet on the Vietnamese immigration to Ar- perience of Asian Americans now. “I’ve participated mental well-being,” the Bike to week in 2019. Several weeks lington, May is a monthlong opportunity to use edu- in a roundtable conversation with Governor [Ralph] Work website said. Cyclists will in March and April even saw as cation as a vehicle for reconciling some of the wounds Northam and Asian American community leaders travel on a one-way path to pick many as 1.5 – 2 times the num- incurred through recent racial turmoil. about hate crimes against Asian Americans,” he said. up the tee shirt and each rider ber of trail users as the year be- “I hope that people will realize that Asian Amer- “I was on a panel organized by Inova … to talk about will be socially distanced. fore. In Arlington at the W&OD icans are as diverse as any other group,” she said. the Asian American experience.” Bon Air Park counter, there was “They can’t be characterized in one simple way and “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contrib- Hitting the Trail a 37 percent increase in bike they definitely should not be subject to the racism that uted to American culture, society and history in im- According to Colin Browne, use, and a 23 percent increase we’ve seen in recent months.” measurable ways and I encourage everyone to learn Communications Director at the in people running and walking. For some in the Asian-American and Pacific Islander more about these contributions,” said O’Connell. 2 v Oak Hill/Herndon / Reston / Chantilly Connection / Centre View v May 19-25, 2021 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Memorial to Suffragist Women Dedicated Photos by Susan Laume/The Connection To educate, inspire, empower present and future generations. By Susan Laume The Connection or more than seven decades, millions of American women sought the right to vote. On May 16, the first monu- Fment in the country to commemorate their struggles, to tell the lengthy story of the suffragist movement, and to celebrate suffragists’ accomplishment - the passing of the 19th Amendment - was dedicated in Lor- ton. Located on the grounds of Occoquan Regional Park, not far from where suffragists were incarcerated and tortured for peaceful- ly picketing on the sidewalk in front of the White House, the Turning Point Suffragists Memorial was dedicated in a small ceremo- ny, live streamed across the country, in ad- vance of its public opening. Jane Barker, Vice Chair/CoFounder of the memorial association, shared the early humble vision, first discussed by League of Women Voters with NOVA Parks staff, to tell Association members, NoVA Parks Board members, State legislators, and County Supervisor cut the Turning Point Suffragist Me- the local story of the suffragists imprisoned morial ribbon in front of the entrance replicating the White House gates where suffragists maintained their “silent sentinel.” at the nearby Occoquan Workhouse. They discussed “a brick wall with a few picture plaques of the women, …on a small brick- paved area that would be called the Turning Point Plaza; the projected cost was $25,000.” They soon real- ized “telling just part of the 72 year long strug- gle wasn’t enough - we needed to create a nation- al memorial that was befitting their sacrifices and accomplishments.” The nearly $3 mil- lion dollar memo- Re-enactrist Lynne rial, designed by Garvey-Hodges, as Robert E.

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