2007 Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia
The National Society of the Washington Family Descendants enjoyed a wonderful meeting in mid-October, 2007. Our headquarters was the Holiday Inn Historic District Hotel in Alexandria with emphasis on Mount Vernon.
We gathered at the registration area in the hotel lobby where we greeted family and old friends. An early buffet was served before we boarded the busses to be driven to Mount Vernon. On arrival we were divided into small groups , each with a docent, and we had a most delightful private candlelit tour of the house. After the tour was completed, we gathered for a group picture on the large staircase in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum.
On Saturday we were again taken to Mount Vernon where we were free to explore the wonderful new facilities that have been built there. It was such a treat to see the museum and the added educational exhibits. We also held our memorial service at the mausoleum. In the afternoon we toured Woodlawn, the property given by George and Martha Washington to their granddaughter, Nellie Custis, on the occasion of her marriage to Fielding Lewis. The land was a part of Mount Vernon, and in the early days you could see the mansion from Woodlawn.
Our banquet was held at the hotel on Saturday evening. The guest speaker was Ellen Clark, formerly librarian at Mount Vernon and now serving in that capacity at the Society of the Cincinnati. We enjoyed meeting many new members and guests and visiting with all of our friends and cousins in our group.
Sunday morning many of us attended church at the National Cathedral, where we were welcomed by the Dean. We returned to the Mount Vernon Inn and were entertained during lunch by a young George Washington interpreter, Brian Hilton. As is our tradition, the meeting was closed with the singing of Blest Be the Tie That Binds.
Submitted by Barbara Hopper, 2007
Mount Vernon
Memorial Service
More photos of our visit to Mount Vernon and Woodlawn