Retired Sheriff and former ACHS principal named grand marshals of Alexandria Turkey Trot

Retired Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne and former Alexandria City High School principal John Porter have been named the grand marshals of the 48th annual Alexandria Turkey Trot.

Lawhorne retired last year after a 43-year career in law enforcement in the city, and Porter was a teacher for Alexandria City Public Schools for more than 20 years and the principal at ACHS (back when it was named T.C. Williams High School) for 22 years.

“It is an honor to announce that two of Alexandria’s most loved community members, Dana Lawhorne and John Porter, are this year’s grand marshals,” said Del Ray Business Association board member Gayle Reuter. “Both are lifelong Alexandrians who have dedicated their lives to public service.”

The five-mile race on Nov. 23 through the heart of Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood is expected to draw upward of 6,000 participants. It will start at 9 a.m. outside George Washington Middle School (1005 Mount Vernon Avenue).

On race day, the doors at GW Middle School will open at 7:30 a.m., followed by the invocation and announcements at 8:45 a.m. The race will start at 9 a.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 10 a.m.

Participants are asked to register and pick up their racing materials before the race.

Participants and spectators are also asked this year to donate two non-perishable food items on race day to support ALIVE!

“Most needed items include rice, dry beans, boxed mac and cheese, canned vegetables, canned soup, canned fruit, canned tuna and/or chicken, or boxed/bag baking mixes,” DRBA said in a release. “Last year, ALIVE! received 1,168 pounds of food and a $6,000 check from the Del Ray Business Association to support their food program.”