Opinion
Passion and Commitment. These were the two words that helped shape my military career. After retiring from serving 23 years in the United States Army and serving as the first African American Command Sergeant Major for the Army National Guard, it had always been a childhood dream of mine to become a fireman.
I joined the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department in December 2011. Once I completed the fire academy, I was assigned to Station 10, Battalion 2 and my Officer in Charge was Jeremy McPike, who is now running for the Democratic nomination in the 29th Virginia Senate district.
I could not have been assigned to a finer officer. I’ve been leading troops for over 15 years and it’s easy me to recognize great leadership when I see it. Jeremy McPike is clearly a leader.
What I recall most of Jeremy is his commitment to his community and the people he serves with. He is thorough in all that he does and ensures that his crew is just as prepared as he is. His passion shows through on every call I’ve been on with him. I truly loved watching him in action.
My most impressive memory of Capt. McPike was my first fire as a lead firefighter, which happened to be a four-alarm apartment fire. There was nothing simple about this situation, but when I looked over at my officer, he was calm as a Sunday afternoon in the park. My adrenaline was through the roof, and it looked as if his hadn’t even kicked in yet.
That’s what I love about McPike, his calmness and strength in what others would see as a chaotic situation. There is no doubt in my mind that he will take that same levelheaded and capable approach with him as he addresses the tough issues our community faces today.
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In a letter addressed to the Chair and the Supervisors of Prince William County, Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth outlined her intention to withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges, effective May 1, 2024, if she doesn’t get her money.
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To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
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Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
