Springfield ❖ ❖ Franconia Kingstowne Newington insideinside Young Patriot News, Page 3 Amy Peterson, 9, of Springfield, shows New Commander her patriotism while marching in the At Fort Belvoir Fourth of July pa- rade through her News, Page 3 Classified, Page 23 Classified, ❖ Springfield neighborhood. Sports, Page 20 ❖ Faith, Page 19 Golden Arches /The Connection Requested in home 7-11-08 Time sensitive material. To White House Attention Postmaster: U.S. Postage PRSRT STD PERMIT #322 News, Page 4 Easton, MD PAID Robbie Hammer Photo by Photo July 10-16, 2008 Volume XXII, Number 28 www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Springfield Connection ❖ July 10-16, 2008 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ July 10-16, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Photos by Photos Robbie Hammer /The Connection Residents of the Orange Hunt Estates and Winston Knolls neighborhoods watch the annual Independence Day parade from the Hunt Valley Elementary School to the Orange Hunt Elementary School. On Friday afternoon, Kathryn Miller, the Marie current Miss Greater Springfield Pre-teen, Laverdiere, rides in the Orange Hunt Estates and Win- 9, of ston Knolls Fourth of July parade. Spring- field, decked out in patriotic Flag Waving garb, waits for the start Two neighborhoods mark of the Fourth of Fourth of July with parade, July Ellen Keil, 4, and her friend, parade. Annette Wright, 5, enjoy some ice cream social. ice cream following the parade. Fort Belvoir Changes Commanders Col. Brian Lauritzen bids farewell, base IN ADDITION to relinquishing command benefiting both base families and the sur- of Fort Belvoir, Lauritzen was also retiring rounding communities. welcomes Col. Jerry Blixt. from 26 years of military service, which began with his graduation from the U.S. COMING TO THE MICROPHONE, By Chuck Hagee Closure Report (BRAC). Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. For Lauritzen warned the audience that they The Connection “Col. Lauritzen has overseen a near dou- that service, Lauritzen was awarded several might “see a grown man cry.” Noting that bling of Belvoir’s population and has set in honors during the the ceremony was a s of July 2, Fort Belvoir has a new motion construction of more than $4 bil- ceremony including particularly emo- Installation Commander. Col. lion in new facilities since his arrival three the Meritorious Ser- “This is a great day for tionally charged AJerry L. Blixt received the flag of years ago,” said Rogers, director, National vice Award and spe- event, Lauritzen command from Col. Brian W. Capital Region District, U.S. Army Installa- cial citations from thanked his wife, Lauritzen during an hour-long ceremony on tion Management Command. “Belvoir op- the President of the the Lauritzen and Blixt two children and the Post’s parade field that also saw several erates in many ways like a small city.” United States and families.” parents for support- troops in the Battalion formation need “This is a great day for the Lauritzen and U.S. Army Chief of ing his career. “My medical attention due to heat exhaustion. Blixt families and your presence is a great Staff Gen. George —Brig. Gen. Dennis E. Rogers wife and two chil- As the keynote speaker for the traditional gift to them of your time and respect,” said Casey. The audience dren are the lights Change of Command ceremony, the first Rogers. “Col. Blixt will continue the lead- also heard a statement praising Lauritzen’s of my life,” he said. thing Brig. Gen. Dennis E. Rogers did when ership Col. Lauritzen has shown over the guidance given by U.S. Rep. James P. Moran “The legacy of our military families dates he came to the microphone was tell the as- past three years.” (D-8) on the floor of the U.S. House of Rep- back to the Revolutionary War. Our nation sembled troops before him to flex their legs “This installation has experienced a dra- resentatives. has always benefited from our military fami- and move around in order to alleviate the matic increase in its mission and Col. Lauritzen’s wife Anne, joining her hus- lies. And, today I publicly thank my wife effects of the hot July sun. Then he praised Lauritzen has been at the forefront of that band on the parade field, was awarded the and family for the support they have given Lauritzen for his leadership in overseeing transition. His tenure has been marked with Outstanding Service Medal by the Depart- me throughout my chosen career. I have the dramatic changes brought to Belvoir as vision and creativity that will carry us well ment of the Army, for her leadership and a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and into the future,” Rogers said. volunteer service in an array of activities See Change, Page 16 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Springfield Connection ❖ July 10-16, 2008 ❖ 3 News Briefs News Biathalon Helps Local Family The Hunt Valley Swim Team is Aquino Meets President conducting its third annual swim/ run biathlon and blood drive on Wednesday, July 16, from 9-11 Herndon and Sterling. a.m., to raise money for Mark Springfield woman Rosaria Molina, a McDonald’s human re- Isabelle and his family. Mark is a source consultant for the Baltimore and Wash- 6-year-old from Springfield who is honored at White House ington region who has known Aquino for six in the three-year continuation years, said that Aquino has given back to the phase of his leukemia treatment. reception. McDonald’s community as well. He began Cycle 8 of 11 cycles on By Rebecca Koenig “She is very outgoing, and great with people,” June 30 and each cycle takes 84 The Connection said Molina. “She really cares about her em- days. ployees. She goes out of her way, doing what- The swim club is working with t was as busy as usual at Fe Aquino’s ever it takes to make sure they are taken care Mark Isabelle the Cool Kids Campaign McDonald’s restaurant in Chantilly when she of.” [www.bfpf.org/cool-kids-cam- received the call from the According to Molina, it was this dedication paign/connection.shtml] to support families who have chil- I restaurant chain’s human to her employees, dren with cancer. Club members are setting up a table dur- resources department. She was along with ing the biathlon to sell shirts, hats, buttons and decals with told that she was invited to par- Aquino’s commit- the slogan “Cancer Fears ME.” Those interested in helping ticipate in an Asian Pacific Ameri- ment to the local the organization can purchase the items, with 25 percent can Heritage Month celebration at community and to of all proceeds benefiting the Isabelle family. Hours for the her family that the White House to honor busi- by Photo blood drive are 7-11 a.m. ness, military and community earned Aquino an The Hunt Valley Pool is located at 7100 Sydenstricker leaders. Concerned about serving invitation to the Road, Springfield. her customers, she asked the White House. McDonald’s representative to call Rebecca Koenig When choosing Museum Contract Awarded again later. employees to He did call back, and Aquino at- nominate for the The first tangible evidence that the National Museum of tended the White House event on honor, Molina said the U.S. Army may come to fruition at Fort Belvoir occurred May 1, one of three McDonald’s that she and the recently when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore employees invited nationwide. /The Connection other human re- District, awarded a design-build contract to Manhattan Aquino has lived in Springfield source consultants Construction for a 124,000-square-foot Museum Support with her husband and two daugh- looked at store Center. ters for five years. She has been managers’ perfor- The $24.4 million facility, to be located on Fort Belvoir’s involved with the McDonald’s cor- mance with profits South Post at the corner of Thoete Road and Racy Loop, poration since she and her parents and sales, as well will serve as the Army Center of Excellence “to preserve, immigrated to Virginia from the as their community study and interpret the material culture and artistic record involvement. Philippines on Dec. 29, 1988. Fe Aquino displays the plaque of the American soldier.” It will provide museum-safe hous- Denise Gaynor, “The next day, I applied at she was presented at the White ing and multiple storage areas with varying climate con- Aquino’s former McDonald’s, but they didn’t accept House reception in May. trols and laboratories to treat and examine historic arti- me because I didn’t have enough operations man- facts, art and archive pieces. papers yet,” she said. To her, it seemed like an obvi- ager, said in an e- Although not part of the museum itself, the center will ous place to seek employment, since she had stud- mail that Aquino “was selected to attend be- provide collection support and additional services to the ied food technology at Bulacan College of Technol- cause of her overall contributions to museum system such as property accountability, a site for ogy and her cousins worked at a McDonald’s restau- McDonald’s and how she consistently goes scholarly research and hands-on museum professional train- rant in Alexandria. Once her immigration paperwork above and beyond the scope of her job. She ing relating to the collection, treatment, examination and was completed, she was hired as a crewmember. was also selected because of her being so ac- exhibition of historic Army property and art, according Corps The transition to employment was not easy, said tive in the community and spokesman Christopher Augsburger.