Alexandria Honors Veterans and Fallen Heroes at Annual Ceremony

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On a crisp November afternoon, the City of Alexandria joined forces with the nonprofit Friends of Rocky Versace to host its annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue. The moving tribute was organized by West Point graduate Kevin Rue, who serves as head of the Friends of Rocky Versace and leads the city’s annual commemoration of service and sacrifice.

A Moving Tribute to Those Who Served

Each year, the ceremony brings together veterans, families, and residents to honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. All branches were recognized, and the names of 68 Alexandrians who died during the Vietnam War were solemnly read aloud—including seven who remain missing in action.

Former Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg, who attended the event, told Zebra. “Veterans make up about 12 to 14 percent of the city’s population, and when loved ones and caregivers are included, that figure rises to about 20 percent—a powerful reminder of how deeply military service is woven into the fabric of the community.”

Adding to the ceremony’s heartfelt tone were several standout moments:

• Catherine Cassidy, a student at Bishop Ireton High School, delivered stirring renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America.”

• The St. Rita American Heritage Girls Troop 1381 led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

• Deacon Steve Dixon of St. Rita Parish offered both the invocation and benediction.

• “Taps” was performed by Lt. Col. Stephen Tracy, marking a poignant close to the wreath-laying.

The Story of Captain “Rocky” Versace

No Veterans Day ceremony in Alexandria is complete without remembering Captain Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace, an Alexandria native whose heroism continues to inspire generations.

Born in 1937, Versace lived in Alexandria as a teenager before graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1959. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam, where he served as an intelligence adviser to the South Vietnamese Army.

In 1963—just two weeks before he was scheduled to return home—he was captured by the Viet Cong. Despite being wounded and enduring nearly two years of brutal captivity, Versace never wavered in his commitment to duty or his country. Fellow prisoners later recalled hearing him sing “God Bless America” from his cell.

Versace was executed by his captors in 1965. His remains were never recovered, but his courage was recognized decades later when he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor—the first U.S. Army prisoner of war in Vietnam to receive the nation’s highest military decoration.

The Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located next to the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, honors him and the 67 other Alexandrians who lost their lives in Vietnam. Each year, members of the West Point Classes of 1959 and 2009 attend the city’s Veterans Day ceremony to honor his memory.

Honoring Service, Preserving Freedom

As Silberberg reflected, “Freedom is not free.” That sentiment echoed throughout the hour-long ceremony. Veterans were thanked, caregivers recognized, and the city once again reaffirmed its promise: to remember, to honor, and to never forget.

The Friends of Rocky Versace and the City of Alexandria host this event each year on November 11. It stands as a reminder not only of the price of freedom but also of the community that stands behind those who serve.

For more about the Friends of Rocky Versace or to visit the memorial, go to alexandriava.gov/RockyVersace.