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May 27, 2026



Despite the rain, I joined many others who came out to celebrate the ViVa! Vienna! festival this weekend.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Vienna, it’s a weekend-long event that offers family friendly fun, entertainment, food and beer, and the festival’s proceeds support the Rotary’s many charitable and educational activities.

Over the past 42 years, the festival has generated more than $3 million that the Rotary has returned to the community, such as purchasing bicycles for the Vienna Police Department.

However, the festival is also a solemn occasion — it honors Memorial Day. During a ceremony on Monday, we paid tribute to the more than 1 million Americans who have died in service to our country since the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775.

In addition to honoring Memorial Day, various speakers from the Rotary Club also recognized this year as our nation’s 250th anniversary and the 85th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, marking our nation’s entry into World War II. At the ceremony, we recognized Vienna’s contributions to our nation’s victory over the Axis powers and fascism.

We remembered Velta Benn. Born in Vienna, she served with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (better known as WASP) who tested, flew and ferried planes in non-combat missions. During the war, she flew pilots and planes around the country, and she taught male pilots how to fly by instruments alone. Among her many accomplishments, Benn was also the first woman to qualify to take off and land a military jet on an aircraft carrier, and she was inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame in 1983. (Watch this video to learn more about this remarkable woman.)

Along with Benn, more than 1,000 women took flight as WASPs— but they served as federal civil service employees despite flying military missions. This meant they didn’t qualify for military benefits until President Jimmy Carter recognized them as veterans in 1977. More than 30 years later, the remaining WASPs, including Benn, received a Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the U.S. (You can see this medal on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center.)

While the contributions of the WASPs aren’t as well known, these courageous and accomplished women deserve greater recognition.

To help shine a light on their wartime efforts, the forthcoming documentary “Coming Home: Fight for a Legacy” shares their stories (watch the trailer below).

Regards,

Walter

• Recognizing Shyamali Hauth's Appointment
• Apply for Fairfax Tree Rescuer Invasive Removal Grants
• Exchange at Spring Hill Station Housing Waitlist Opens
• Stop the Bleed Class June 2
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

What's happening: I'm thrilled to announce that Shyamali Hauth, a valued member of my office, has been appointed to the nonpartisan Virginia Council on Women — a prestigious state body that advises the governor on issues affecting women and works to advance their educational, professional, cultural, and civic standing throughout the Commonwealth.

Shyamali brings dedication and insight to everything she does for Hunter Mill District residents, and I have no doubt she will be a powerful voice for women across Virginia. Please join me in congratulating her on this well-deserved appointment!

Fairfax Tree Rescuers Offers

Invasive Plant Removal Grants

What’s happening: Nonprofit community associations and faith communities may apply for up to $5,000 matching “mini grants” from Fairfax Tree Rescuers PRISM. The grants will help groups to pay for the professional control of invasive plants threatening trees on common land they own or manage.

Application process: Learn more about the eligibility requirements and application process and/or watch this video.

Before applying, you must submit a pre-application form to set up a site visit with an experienced Fairfax Tree Rescuer volunteer.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis starting June 1.

For questions or more information, contact Fairfax Tree Rescuers by email.

What’s happening: Apply to join the initial waitlist for affordable housing at The Exchange at Spring Hill Station starting Monday, June 1 through Sunday, June 7. Waitlist applications will be accepted for project-based housing vouchers for one, two and three-bedroom units at these new apartment buildings in Tysons.

This property offers a limited number of project-based voucher units. Under the Project Based Voucher Program, households pay a portion of the rent (typically up to 35 percent of their adjusted gross income) while the county pays the remainder.

Who’s eligible: Eligible applicants for these voucher-supported units must be adults who earn less than 50% of the area median income ($57,400 or less for an individual or $81,950 or less for a family of four).

Applications submitted will be selected at random and placed on the waitlist. Once a unit becomes available, waitlist applicants will be contacted, screened and determined eligible based on income level, household size and size of the rental unit.

How to apply: Apply through the county’s RentCafe system. Watch this video for instructions on how to set up an account

More units to come: The Exchange is the first 100% affordable apartment development in Tysons, and the two buildings, which are currently under construction, will provide more than 500 affordable units by next year. Applications for other rental units at The Exchange — including the larger tranche of units supported by tax credits which will have a threshold of 60% of the area median income — will become available in the coming months.

Questions and help: Call the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority at 703-449-9050 or visit their office at 3700 Pender Drive in Fairfax from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

What’s happening: Learn how to stop bleeding — the No. 1 cause of death after an injury — during a free course on Tuesday, June 2 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston.

During this class, you’ll get a formal presentation followed by hands-on practice of applying direct pressure, packing a wound, and using a tourniquet to stop bleeding. This class is sponsored by the Reston District Police Station and Reston Hospital Center.

The Forgotten World War: Author Talk May 31

What does Bunker Hill have in common with a jungle in Central America, a fort in India, and the towering Rock of Gibraltar? The answer: they were all battlefields in the Revolutionary War. Learn more at the next Vienna250 Author Series event on Sunday, May 31 at 2 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center.

Derek Baxter will reveal lesser-known facts about the Revolutionary War as he discusses his new book "The Forgotten World War: Exploring the Secret History of the American Revolution, from Spain to India and Back Again.” His book also will be available for purchase and signing.

Freeman Store’s New U.S. 250^th Anniversary Exhibit

Visit the Freeman Store to see it’s new exhibit celebrating our nation’s 250^th anniversary: “Making a More Perfect Union.” It explores our nation’s founding, as well as describes what Vienna was like on the eve of our independence movement. Located at 131 Church Street, N.E., the museum and used bookstore are open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

🍫Experience Hershey Super Sweet Adventure at Tysons Corner Mall.

📚 Find your next read at the Tysons-Pimmit Library Book & Media Sale on May 28-31.

🧘🏾Enjoy an immersive sound bath during “The RESET” on May 29 at Filene Center.

🎭Watch the musical the “Music Man” on May 29-31 at Capital One Hall.

🎸Pat Benatar tribute band plays on May 29 for the first Summerbration Fab Friday concert at Reston Station.

🎥Watch a free screening of the documentary Death by Numbers about gun violence on May 29 at Reston Hospital Center.

⚽Join the COPA Tysons Launch & Watch Party on May 30 at Starr Hill Biergarten.

🥎Attend Swing Into Summer, a charity softball event, on May 30 at Capital One Park.

🎶Listen to the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s free, fundraising concert on May 30 at Emmaus United Church of Christ.

😄Be entertained by comedian, TV host and emcee Murray Hill on May 30 at Reston Community Center.

🤠Country cover band Delta Spur performs on May 30 at Reston Town Center.

🐕Attend Woofie’s Paws in the Park on May 30 at Frying Pan Farm Park.

📖 Join author Derek Baxter’s talk about his new book “The Forgotten World War” on May 31 at Vienna Community Center.

🎤Attend the DMV Summer Kickoff Music Fest on May 31 at Lerner Town Square in Tysons.

🛸Take the Ghost Doctor’s UFO Tour on May 31 at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

🎷Support the James Madison High School Jazz Band at their fundraising concert on June 2 at Jammin Java in Vienna.

💸Attend the “Money Matters” seminar on June 3 by The Women’s Center in Vienna.

👩🏽‍🎨Meet the South Lakes High School STEAM Team on June 3 at the school’s lecture hall.

🎭Watch 1^st Stage’s presentation of “Indecent” starting June 4 in Tysons.

🧘Join a free outdoor yoga class on June 4 at The Boro in Tysons.

⛵Get mellow with Yacht Rock tribute band The SideMen on June 5 at Reston Station.

🏳️‍🌈 Attend the Loudoun Pride Festival on June 6 at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg.

🎺Latvian band Big Al & The Jokers performs June 6 at Reston Town Center.

🎸Experience Double Duran, the Duran Duran tribute band, on June 5 at Capital One Hall.

🎺Trombone band Matt Niess and The Capitol Bones plays June 5 at Reston Town Square Park.

🖼️Visit the “CoLab Collage Artists” exhibit starting June 6 at the Reston Art Gallery.

🍺Compete in team challenges during the Summer Beer Olympics on June 6 at ShipGarten.

🐶Bring your furry friend to Paws on PenFed Plaza festival on Jun 6 at Tysons Corner Mall.

🎤Listen to Neil Forever, a Neil Diamond tribute band, on June 6 at Capital One Hall.

👸Join an evening with Cary Elwes for a behind the scenes look at “The Princess Bride” on June 7 at Capital One Hall.

🐱Participate in Animal Expedition with pet vendors, exhibits and entertainment on June 7 at Reston Town Center.

🩸Donate to the Red Cross Blood Drive on June 10 at Reston Hospital Center.

🕺Dance at “Party in the Park” silent disco on June 10 at Reston Town Square Park.

🎸Rock out with Germany’s Herr Metal on June 13 at Reston Town Center.

🎭Watch NextStop Theatre’s performance of “Once” through June 21.

Find all events for these local organizations: Reston Community Center, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Programs, Tephra ICA and Arts Fairfax. Find other community events in the Reston Letter.