November 7th also began MIlitary Family Appreciation Month.  President Bush signed this into law in 2006.  This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Diversity of the Military Family”.  Fort Belvoir will be hosting a dinner event on Thursday, November 20, 5:30-8:00PM.  The event is open to all Military Families on or around the Fort Belvoir area and will include fun and games for the entire family.  Tickets are on a first come basis.  Go to FortBelvoirMWR.com for more details. 

I had the pleasure of being in a young military familys’ home last night.  They had a plaque on the wall that said “Home is where the Army sends me”.  Have you thanked a Veteran and his family today?

“Divers located Second Lieutenant Frank Stecco at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. He was found in Pohick Bay approximately 100 feet from the point at which he was reportedly last seen. Boats, dogs and divers were actively searching when the discovery was made.

The murky waters and the contours and make-up of the bottom of the bay made this a particularly difficult search. The use of technology aided in searching potential areas where Lt. Stecco may have been. Divers turned to meticulous hand-by-hand searches within a grid pattern. Divers likened this search to dropping a quarter on a football field and attempting to find it by hand.

Colonel David Rohrer, Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, confirmed the recovery saying, “My heart goes out to Frank’s family; my heart goes out to his police family; and my heart goes out to the community Frank worked in and loved.”

Chief Rohrer called Lt. Stecco a highly decorated member of the department. Lt. Stecco was transported with full honors to include a motorcycle escort to the Medical Examiners Office.

Lt. Stecco was a volunteer role player in a police helicopter water rescue exercise at Pohick Bay Regional Park when he disappeared in the bay at 2:47 p.m. on October 21, 2008. Extensive air, ground and water search and rescue efforts began immediately and continued through the recovery today. Federal, state, and regional public safety and military agencies helped sustain the search, contributing sophisticated detection equipment, expertise, boats, helicopters, specially trained dogs and supplies.

Lt. Stecco joined the Fairfax County Police Department in 1989 and served 11 of his 19 years assigned to the Mount Vernon District station. His bold, proactive style of policing earned the respect and admiration of his peers and supervisors and helped distinguish him as a courageous and selfless officer. He was awarded a Silver Medal of Valor in 1994, a Bronze Medal of Valor in 1997, and a Certificate of Valor in 2000 by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce for acts of bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

Fueled by his passion and dedication for serving the children and teenagers of the county, Lt. Stecco opted to leave the Mount Vernon district and join the Department’s Youth Services Division just one month prior to his untimely death.

He leaves behind his wife, their three children, and his mother. Details of services to honor Lt. Stecco are not yet available.”

David and I are there Saturday and Sunday to answer your real estate questions. John Mills and Sara Davis, of the Mills Davis Mortgage Team, will also be there to answer any mortgage or credit questions you may have.

Read more about the event on our Oktoberfest page.

Here is the story - our contractor, let’s call him Joe, was at home when he had a visitor….a County Sheriff….serving a judgment for taxes that had not been paid for several years on a rental property! It just so happens that this property was financed by WaMu! Joe has always paid his mortgage on time. He never received notices that the taxes were delinquent…they were sent to WaMu! If Joe had not been home, the County would have booted Joe’s most valuable vehicle(s) to cover the debt. Fortunately Joe was just served the notice and is taking care of the issue.

Bottom line - things are not always as they seem…if your lender pays your escrows, verify your taxes and insurance are paid.

 To read more about Fort Belvoir’s New Vision and BRAC go to their Belvoir New Vision site.

Well it’s that time of year again … and we are proud to be one of the sponsors for Fort Belvoir’s 13th Annual Oktoberfest!  Be certain to mark your calendars for October 2 - 5, next weekend.  The kids will certainly remind once you drive down Rte 1 past Fort Belvoir and see the tents and Carnival!

We’ll be there, along with John Mills and Sara Davis of the Mills Davis Mortgage Team, with prizes and fun for all.  Read more and see photos from years past on our Your At Home Team - Oktoberfest page.  You will find the entire schedule, kids activities, directions and more.

Pentagon Memorial - http://memorial.pentagon.mil/

NBC4 - http://www.nbc4.com/news/17445149/detail.html

MyFoxDC - http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7409633&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Ft. Belvoir’s Freedom Fest - Display beginning 9:30P

Friday July 4th - 5:00PM until 11:00PM
Food, vendors, live music, open to the public

More information

An American Celebration at Mount Vernon

Friday July 4 - 8:00AM until 5:00PM (no fireworks)

Mount Vernon invites visitors to the home of the First American Hero for a day-long celebration of Independence Day. 18th-century patriotic music, a reading of the Declaration of Independence by “George Washington,” the annual Red, White & Blue Concert performance by the National Concert Band of America, and FREE birthday cake (while supplies last). The First Virginia Regiment expands its encampment with military checkpoints across the estate, and guards stationed at Washington’s Tomb. The Sons of the American Revolution lead a wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of our nation’s first Commander-in-Chief, and visitors given a carnation to lay at the Tomb.

$ Entrance Fee  ~  More Information

Fireworks on the National Mall & A Capitol Fourth Concert

So much to do in DC this weekend!  Take in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival early, watch the parade, go by the White House Visitor Center enjoy family events, and end the day with the concert on the Washington Monument grounds starting at 6:00PM, followed by the Capitol Fourth Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol…and the fireworks grand finale!  What fun!!! 

For those that aren’t up to the heat and crowds…enjoy the concert and fireworks in the comfort of your own home - the event will be televised on PBS.

Read all about the various events

July 12 - City of Alexandria Birthday Celebration

Celebrate the City of Alexandria’s 259th birthday and the country’s 232nd birthday at Oronoco Bay Park - 100 Madison Street - 4:00PM until 10:00PM

More information and view event flyer 

To stay on top of events in the DC and Alexandria area, a great source is dc.about.com … Rachel Cooper does a great job of staying on top of area activities!

One last thing - Remember Your Pets

Fairfax County Police issued this reminder for all of those pet owners out there:

Police Warn:  Fireworks Scare Pets