Inside Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper November 20, 2014 ‘When One of Us Captain II Willie Bailey (left), Erin McMullin with Operation Warm Hurts, We All Hurt’ (center) and Niko Chakos with FOCUS North 1,000 celebrate the life of Hannah America (right) distributed 2,200 Graham at West Potomac High. pair of shoes and est Potomac softball ents had flown over from England 2,000 coats Oct. coach Craig Maniglia to attend. 28 at Fire Station W knew Hannah Graham “The memorial was for them,” 11 with starting when she was 7 years old, said Maniglia, “for everyone who Firefighters and through being her coach on the knew Hannah to reminisce, and Friends to the varsity softball team. He was one try to move forward.” In addition Rescue. of 17 speakers at a closed memo- to speeches, the coach said there rial for Graham in the West was a slideshow of photos from Photo courtesy of Potomac High School auditorium when Graham was an infant and Elliott Rubino on Nov. 15. the West Potomac band played a “It was quite an event,” Maniglia short program. said. “It left you feeling sad, but West Potomac Director of Stu- upbeat, that this young lady had dent Activities Aaron Helmick Proof of Purchase so much and did so much in her planned the memorial, with help short time here.” Roughly 1,000 from Fairfax County Police and for the environment, education, animals or do- people came to show support and Fire and Rescue Departments. County-wide nonprofits mestic violence. reflect on Graham’s life. “The whole plan was to make it a “As you dive deeper, you can get involved and Ellis “Tuck” Bowerfind, Rector at special event,” Helmick said. “I’ve offer gift ideas and civic knock someone off your Christmas list as well,” St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Al- always felt West Potomac is a com- Lemieux said. exandria, moderated the memorial munity school: When one of us engagement. Charitable giving has become a major factor in that included stories and fond hurts, we all hurt.” the economy: “Donations, in the country as a memories from high school and Outside the school, a police By Tim Peterson whole, are now a $335 billion enterprise,” said college friends of the UVA sopho- motorcycle motorcade honored The Gazette Alan Abramson, director of the GMU Center for more, former teachers, members Graham. Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy and Policy. of the UVA ski team and Graham’s “Our agency worked closely n over 20 years as manager of Burke Lake He cited the latest report from Giving USA, a semi- parents John and Sue. John’s par- See Memorial, Page 8 Park, Charlie Reagle has seen a lot of annual public service analysis. Ibenches installed. So many in fact that he’s Abramson attributes a gain in giving over the running out of water view locations. And See Charitable Gift, Page 13 though many people choose to honor deceased family members with a bench, he’s had plenty donated in tribute to the living. One pair of sis- ters gave a bench as a birthday gift to their mother; it had two plaques, one of which was at ground level so the mother’s dog could see it. “Each one, working with a donor, I know the Members of the story with it,” said Reagle. “Going out, going UVA ski team around the trail, you wind up spending several came to Hannah hours with them over this whole time.” Graham’s While water view space may be drying up at memorial Nov. Burke Lake, there are plenty of scenic plots avail- 15 to share able throughout the 420-odd parks around Fairfax memories of the County. And there’s a collaborative effort under- West Potomac way to help populate that with tax-deductible alumna. gifts. It’s part of the county’s Office of Public Pri- vate Partnerships (OP3) “12 Ways of Giving” ini- tiative. In this instance, citizens can donate a new bench (around $2,000 for the installation), adopt an existing bench with a plaque ($800) or have a two-to-three-inch-calibre landscape tree planted. contributed Photo The donations to the parks go through the non- profit Fairfax County Park Foundation. OP3 is 11/21/14 Requested in home in Requested encouraging the public to help address civic is- material. sues by making charitable donations as gifts. Time-sensitive Postmaster: “The idea is it’s to be very easy, very engaging,” Attention said Wendy Lemieux, a spokesperson with OP3. #482 Permit Kay Fowler, executive director of Fairfax VA Alexandria, A single web page is a portal to donate to 12 dif- PAID ReLeaf, plants a tree at South Run Park. Postage U.S. ferent organizations that each satisfy a county goal STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ November 20-26, 2014 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ November 20-26, 2014 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Chamber Provides Spotlight on Area’s Needy Nonprofits discuss would serve. McNally is a 16-year veteran of United their services. Community Ministries and has served as deputy executive director since 2006. hat would it be like to live McNally put a face on the many programs in south Fairfax County and UCM offers by sharing stories of individual Wbe out of work, lose your clients served by UCM. From a five-year- house, and not have hope old child in the early learning center to for the future? adults who better themselves through the Three local organizations that work with housing assistance program, UCM serves the needy were the guest speakers at the individuals in need. November Business Breakfast of Mount Kincannon spoke of his mission to serve Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce and an- the homeless at Rising Hope by describing swered these questions while explaining one woman who came to the church home- how they help those in need. less and in great need. She was given help The chamber heard from Lt. Nathan and a job at the church and over time as- Bridges, commander of the Alexandria Cita- sumed greater and greater work responsi- del of The Salvation Army; Elizabeth bilities until she had developed skills to McNally, deputy executive director of become self-sustaining. Rising Hope also United Community Ministries; and Keary helps with Fairfax County’s hypothermia Kincannon, pastor of Rising Hope Mission program in the winter. Church. Chamber President Sean O’Connell, Photos courtesy of Jasmyn Hicks Commander Patty Veld of the American a partner with PBMares LLP a CPA firm, Sean O’Connell, chamber president, welcomes Nathan Bridges, The Legion Post 162 in Lorton gave a Veterans conducted the meeting. Salvation Army; Elizabeth McNally, UCM; and Keary Kincannon, Rising Day greeting to the attendees and the cham- Bridges spoke about the Angel Tree pro- Hope Mission Church to the Chamber Business Breakfast. ber recognized all veterans present. gram which allows The Salvation Army to provide holiday gifts for needy children and the Red Kettle bell- ringers who are visible during the holiday season. He also ex- plained the origins of The Salvation Army and how its purpose is to meet human needs wherever those needs might be found as they Keary Kincannon, Rising Hope Mission believe Jesus Christ Nathan Bridges, The Salvation Army Church Elizabeth McNally, UCM ‘Not Guilty’ Pleas in Fairfax Crimes was on her way home on foot, carrying her was made, tying the murderer of a college turn to Virginia to testify against him at Jesse Matthew slated groceries, when she was assaulted. student to the Fairfax woman’s assailant. his trial. According to City of Fairfax police, the That student was 20-year-old Virginia Matthew, 32, of Charlottesville, is for March 2015 trial. woman lived three or four blocks from the Tech sophomore Morgan Harrington, who charged with attempted capital murder, Giant, in the Oxford Row vanished outside a Metallica abduction with intent to defile and ob- By Bonnie Hobbs townhouses on Rock Garden concert in Charlottesville in ject sexual penetration in connection The Gazette Drive. She was walking down October 2009. Morgan’s body with her case. And last Friday, he pleaded her street and had nearly was found in a pasture, three not guilty to each offense. Judge Dennis n Oct. 20, a Fairfax County reached her steps when, said months later; and in summer Smith then set his trial date for March 9, Ogrand jury indicted Jesse L. police, a man grabbed her from 2010, authorities linked her 2015. Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Matthew Jr. in connection behind and carried to the park/ killer’s DNA to the person who Morrogh is the prosecutor; public de- with a 2005 attack on a 26-year-old City swimming-pool area. There, he abducted and sexually as- fender Dawn Butorac is representing of Fairfax woman. Last week, he officially choked and sexually assaulted saulted the Fairfax woman in Matthew. entered his pleas in Circuit Court, and her and then fled; he was last September 2005. He’s also charged in Charlottesville now the case against him is moving for- seen running south toward According to court records, with abduction with intent to defile UVA ward in the judicial system. Fairhaven Court. Matthew DNA evidence obtained from student Hannah Graham of Mount The crime occurred Sept. 24, 2005 Police investigated, but years one of the Fairfax victim’s fin- Vernon, whose lifeless body was found around 10 p.m. The victim had just fin- passed and – although the case remained gernails after her attack reportedly last month.