Alexandria Town Crier Benjamin Fiore-Walker and his assistants ringing in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Spectators at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Girl Scouts march in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Emcees John Porter and Janet Barnett at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
The 1st Virginia regiment marches in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson (on left) with U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
The Kena Shriners in their mini Corvettes at the the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Morteza Loghmani (on left) at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
(Left to right) Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown, Sheriff Dana Lawhorne and Fire Chief Corey Smedley at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Miss Ireland International 2020 Julie Wilson at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Members of the 1st Virginia Regiment march in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Benjamin Franklin at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Cub Scouts at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Magnus Temple No. 3 marches in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
George and Martha Washington wave at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)
The sun was shining on Alexandria on Monday, Feb. 17. The annual George Washington Birthday parade was accompanied by 50+ degree weather, and went off without a hitch.
The parade, which has a nearly a one-mile route through Old Town, finished off a long weekend of activity that included the George Washington Birthnight Ball at Gadsby’s Tavern.
The Presidents Day holiday started with a scavenger hunt, the laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House and ended with the parade itself, which is the oldest George Washington birthday parade in the country.
The event was attended by thousands, and this year’s theme was “selfless service to country.”
The parade grand marshal was retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Robert Shumaker, who spent eight years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The parade was dedicated to Kathleen Kelly, a longtime volunteer with the Office of Historic Alexandria, who passed away last year.
PARADE :: APD didn’t miss out on this weekends festivities at the Presidents Day Parade in Old Town, Alexandria.
Thank you to our motor unit for keeping the route clear, the honor guard for proudly presenting the colors, and all the officers who worked to keep the parade safe! pic.twitter.com/VdppKeobKU
Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.
