Former City Council Member Del Pepper, between John Porter and Mary Wadland, was named a Living Legend of Alexandria, Oct. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Mayor Justin Wilson speaks at the Living Legends of Alexandria ceremony, Oct. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Former City Council Member Del Pepper watches a video at the Living Legends of Alexandria ceremony, Oct. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Retired Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne was honored as a Living Legend of Alexandria, Oct 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Carolyn Lewis, between John Porter and Mary Wadland, was named a Living Legend of Alexandria on Oct. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Former School Board Member Charles Wilson watches a video at the Living Legends of Alexandria reception, Oct. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Mary Wadland, president of the 2023 Living Legends of Alexandria board of directors, at the award ceremony on Oct. 18 at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial (staff photo by James Cullum)
Donita Greene accepts the Living Legends of Alexandria recognition for her husband Nelson, who died last year (staff photo by James Cullum)
Former Police Chief David Baker (on far right) is honored at the Living Legends of Alexandria ceremony, Oct. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Jack Sullivan is honored as a Living Legend of Alexandria, and is next to John Porter and Mary Wadland, Oct. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Kate and Patty Moran (center) are honored as Living Legends of Alexandria, Oct. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Susan Pilchard Oelze receives the Living Legends of Alexandria award on behalf of her husband, Gary, who died in January. Here she is pictured with John Porter and Mary Wadland (staff photo by James Cullum)
The prestigious annual honor was given to a dozen well-known former lawmakers, city employees, activists and business owners.
Mayor Justin Wilson said that Alexandria draws people who contribute to the greater good.
“This community has a way of just sucking you in to something great and it’s wonderful,” Wilson said. “But quickly, whether you’re growing up or you just got here, you start to realize that some of the same people are involved in multiple things, and… those are the kinds of people we’re honoring tonight. These are the people that make a lasting difference to our community. Decades from now when all of us are long gone, you will go around and you will say, ‘Wow, that happened because of them.'”
The reception was held at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial and was hosted by former Alexandria City High School principal John Porter. Three of the honorees who died recently were still recognized.
The 2023 Living Legends of Alexandria
Former Police Chief David Baker
Nelson Greene Jr., who died last year
Retired Sheriff Dana Lawhorne
Carolyn B. Lewis, founder of Project Discovery Alexandria
Patty and Kate Moran
Gary Oelze, who died this year
Colonel James Paige
Former City Council Member Redella S. “Del” Pepper
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.
