By Tim Cherry
Belvoir Eagle Staff Writer
Thursday, February 16, 2012

The military community throughout the National Capital Region is invited to participate in the 280th annual George Washington Birthday Celebration in Alexandria, Va., Monday.

People can enjoy food, entertainment and neighborly bonding as the Fort Belvoir and Marine Corps Base Quantico installation commanders sign the first Armed Forces Community Covenant in Market Square at 11:30 a.m.

Col. Daniel Choike, Marine Corps Base Quantico commander, will join Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander Col. John Strycula, and Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington, commander of the Military District of Washington, to sign the document which embodies the military’s commitment to sharing quality relationships with its surrounding civilian area.

Belvoir Soldiers are also participating in the Washington birthday parade in Old Town Alexandria at 1 p.m.

The events honor Washington and the many servicemembers who have safeguarded the country.

“The celebration has been taking place since Washington was alive in Alexandria.” said Sharon Sobel, George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee chair. “The covenant signing is happening for the first time this year as a way to honor the military Families and communities that call Alexandria home.”

Community members can take advantage of a free shuttle travelling from the Fort Belvoir Community Center and the Market Square in Old Town Alexandria. The 57-passenger bus will leave the community center at 10 and 11 a.m. and depart the market square at 1:30 and 3 p.m.

The Quantico/Belvoir Regional Business Alliance sparked the idea of the covenant signing which honors the nation’s veterans, active-duty servicemembers and Military Families, and it recognizes the community’s support of Soldiers.

The Alliance is a non-profit organization whose mission is to position the Northern Virginia Region as a welcoming and supportive community to the military and their business partners.

The event includes entertainment, games, military vehicles, demonstrations and informational booths for participants.

The City of Alexandria’s birthday parade is the largest celebration of Washington. Marching bands, community organization and political figures will all be on display during the two-hour spectacle.

Belvoir is featuring Advanced Individual Training Soldiers from Echo Company, 169th Engineer Battalion and the Army Color Guard from the Military District of Washington.

“We’re honored and privilege to represent Fort Belvoir in this parade,” said Capt. Matthew Miller, 169th Eng. Bn., commander.

The City of Alexandria has been celebrating Washington’s Birthday throughout February with events such as 18th century dance classes, tours of historic facilities and swordplay.

Future festivities include food tasting, a 10-K race and a revolutionary war reenactment. Sobel explained that Washington attended some of these events during his lifetime.

“The City believes that the memory of George Washington is so important to Alexandria that they created a committee solely for the purpose of organizing and running events that honor that memory. George Washington always considered Alexandria his hometown, and although he slept at Mount Vernon, he spent much time in the city itself,” Sharon said. “People should come because it is a hometown event steeped in tradition, and is lots of fun.”

See event flyer online at http://bit.ly/xV2gUX. See also http://www.washingtonbirthday.net/events for more info on the day’s events at the site