Manassas honors its volunteers at the Hylton

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When Nancy Hersch Ingram moved to Manassas, it was an agricultural town where farmers came on Friday nights to buy supplies for their ranch.

Much has changed since she moved to the area nearly 60 years ago and met her husband at the “old” Manassas Airport, where the Manaport Shopping Center, across from Manassas Mall, sits today. What hasn’t changed is Ingram-Hirsch’s willingness to volunteer. She’s served on the city’s Architectural Review Board of 14 years.

“She’ll tell you what she thinks, and then she’ll tell you what she thinks about you,” joked Manassas Councilman Ian Lovejoy who introduced the volunteer.

Ingram-Hirsch joked with the audience about her age.

“Since I moved here in 1956, it’s astonishing that I just had my 38th birthday,” said Ingram.

Several volunteers were recognized April 30 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center at the city’s annual Volunteer Recognition Program. It was hosted by Mayor Harry J. “Hal” Parrish II, and a crowd packed the Gregory Family Theater for the dinner reception.

“Thank you to all of those who are here, and to the two to three times more of you who aren’t here,” said Parrish. “We could not provide the services we provide without you.”

The man who has played the city’s Santa Claus, Joe Nelson was recognized. The Manassas native and Osbourn High School graduate talked about his job interview for Santa, where he’s seen at the city’s annual Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony.

“I don’t have a red suit,’ I told them. ‘That’s OK,’ they said, ‘we have that’ they told me,” explained Nelson. “I don’t have a beard, either’ But then they said ‘that’s OK because you have a big ‘ol round fat face, so you’re our guy.”

Other award winners included Jeanette Smith for her work on the city’s cemetery committee, and Patrick King, who sits on the Historic Manassas, Inc.’s Board of Directors.

The city has about 900 volunteers that volunteer in all areas of government, to include law enforcement, fire and rescue, arts, and to organize the city’s annual festivals, just to name a few.

The annual volunteer appreciation ceremony is organized by the city manager’s office. Each volunteer was given the gift of a portable cell phone charger as well as dinner.