MONDAY, 5/27: Boy Scout Flag Raising Ceremony

At 7.00 am on Monday May 27th, representatives of Boy Scout Troop 895 will hold a flag raising ceremony at Veterans Commons to honor of our veterans and would welcome all who wish to join them.

In keeping with the wishes of the late Lenard S. Michalowski, Troop 895 has adopted Veterans Commons which is located on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail at junction of Little Falls Street, and has been working to maintain the grounds preserving “Veterans Commons” as a place of beauty that all may enjoy.  Continuing the tradition started by Mr. Michalowski , the Troop has cleaned and mulched the site earlier in the year and will be raising the flag on a newly placed flag pole.

Later in the morning of Memorial Day, Scouts from Troop 895 will join those from other Troops in the George Mason District of the National Capital Area Council to replace the flags at the headstones of our fallen heroes in the National Memorial Cemetery on Lee Highway.

 

MONDAY, 5/27: Memorial Day Parade

The City of Falls Church will host its 32nd Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival on Monday, May 27. The event will be held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of City Hall (300 Park Ave.). Admission is free!

Festival-goers of all ages will enjoy amusement rides, pony rides, arts and crafts, food, civic and business booths, public safety tips, stage entertainment, and more. Live musical entertainment will be provided by the band Shenandoah Run and the City of Falls Church Concert Band.

The Memorial Day Parade and Festival is sponsored by the City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department. For more information about the event, call 703-248-5178 (TTY 711).

 

Schedule

9 a.m.

Don Beyer Volvo 3K Fun Run

Shenandoah Run Band (on stage)

9 a.m. – Noon

Lions Club Eye Van (free testing)

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Tours of 163-Year-Old Cherry Hill Farmhouse

11 a.m.

Veterans Ceremony – Those who have served in the armed forces will be honored at a Veterans Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in front of the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.). The keynote address will be given by Terry Shima, a WWII veteran who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated Japanese American infantry unit. Shima went on to serve in the field of foreign service, where he received many accolades for his work, and was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2011. The former Executive Director of the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA), Shima is now Chair of its Outreach and Education Committee.

12:15 p.m.

City of Falls Church Concert Band (on stage)

2 p.m.

Parade – The Memorial Day Parade steps off at 2 p.m. under the direction of Co-Grand Marshals, City of Falls Church crossing guards Audrey Luthman and Janet Haines. This year’s parade features civic groups, regional and City government officials, City departments including the Police and Volunteer Fire Departments, dance troupes, clowns, and much more.

The Parade will be filmed by Falls Church City Cable Television and aired on www.fcctv.net, Cox channel 11, Verizon channel 35, and RCN channel 2.

 

Road Closures

Several City of Falls Church streets will be closed to vehicular traffic, or will only be open to local or parade traffic, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27.

6 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (except for limited local and vendor traffic) Park Ave. will be closed from N. Maple Ave. to N. Virginia Ave. and Little Falls St. will be closed from Park Ave. to Great Falls St.

8:30 – 10:30 a.m. (Map: http://bit.ly/12m0qQO) Streets along the route of the Don Beyer Fun Run will be closed. The run begins at Little Falls and Great Falls Sts., then goes left (west) down Great Falls St., then left on Pennsylvania Ave., right on Fulton Ave., right on N. Oak St., left on Lincoln Ave., left on N. West St. and left on Park Ave. ending at Little Falls St.

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Parade staging areas will be closed to vehicular traffic on Lincoln and West Sts. and Park Ave.

 

Parking

Visitors to the Memorial Day festivities are reminded to NOT park in private parking lots with posted “no parking – towing enforced” signs. The private lots are for the customers of businesses only. Many businesses enforce “no parking” areas on weekends and holidays and may tow without notice. Free parking is available on many side streets. Please check signs for time limits.

 

Law Enforcement Presence

As part of new event protocol, both the City of Falls Church Police and Sheriff’s Office, along with their respective partners, will have an increased presence this year. The Sheriff’s Office K9 unit, comprised of Fany, a German Shepherd, will be on patrol alongside other K9 units.

 

For more information, visit www.fallschurchva.gov/MemorialDay

SATURDAY, 6/1: City Center Plan Meeting