AHS President & CEO Suzanne Laporte in front of Bob Montague III’s classic 1921 Lincoln, “the oldest still driving on the roads,” decorated for the occasion by floral designer J. Keith White. (Photos: Steve Hunt)
Alexandria, VA – Lavish flower arrangements highlighted the American Horticultural Society’s 100th Anniversary Gala at River Farm on September 17. Under a gigantic tent that held what AHS said was the “largest crowd ever” at one of their galas, members and guests mingled, dined, and heard from AHS President and CEO Suzanne Laporte, gala co-chairs Jane Diamantis and Laura Dowling, with special remarks from former AHS President Katy Moss Warner. Award winners Carolyne Rohm, honorary chair and recipient of the AHS National Achievement Award, and Bart O’Brien, recipient of the AHS Liberty Hyde Billy Award, were honored in absentia. AHS was honored with proclamations from Supervisor Dan Storck and from the Virginia Senate, presented by State Senator Scott Surovell.
AHS President & CEO Suzanne Laporte accepts a Virginia Senate proclamation honoring AHS from State Sen. David Marsden, Left, and State Sen. Scott Surovell.Gala Host Committee member Leslie Ariail and U.S.Congressman Gerry Connolly chatted at the gala.Enjoying the gala, from left, State Delegates Paul Krizek and David Bulova and State Senator Scott Surovell.Former AHS President & CEO Katy Moss Warner was a “distinguished guest speaker.”Gala Co-Chairs Jane Diamantis, left, presents a special award to Board Chair Marcia Zech.Music was provided by Keynote.Jody McLeod emceed the evening.
Marlene Miller has lived in, and written about, Mount Vernon for decades. She raised her family here, her two children graduating from area public schools. After retiring from over 16 years of publishing her own newspaper, The Zebra has tempted her back to community journalism
