From left: Mount Vernon school board member Dan Storck, CSM Scott Guillory, Ashley Behrens (USHII and MVL Chamber of Commerce) and Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander Col. Michelle Mitchell standing with the renewed Army Community Covenant. Photo by Tim Peterson.
Julie Divine’s daughters are scrambling up a rock wall in the middle of the Inova Mount Vernon Hospital grounds.
The Fort Belvoir resident and Army wife said a friend sent her a Facebook invite to the second annual Celebration! Mount Vernon and Lee community party, held Sept. 27.
“It’s a great day, lots to do,” said Divine. “We got the kids IDs. I’m entertaining girls today.”
The event was organized by the Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce and featured lots of activities for children including an inflatable slide and the rock wall, live performances from community groups like the West Potomac High School Orchestra and Terry’s School of Dance, food vendors and an expo of booths with local businesses.
“Our area hasn't had a community event, we need one,” said Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce executive director Holly Doherty. “We just wanted people to have fun and meet these great businesses. Everything's free.”
Doherty said the number of businesses and community groups participating was about twice the size of last year.