Local Virginia State Senate members this year continued the long-standing tradition of lauding esteemed residents, athletic teams, business people, former government officials and others with honorary resolutions.
The legislature passed resolutions introduced by state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon-Great Falls) that commended:
• Michael Murn, a senior police officer with the Herndon Police Department who retired in December 2023 after 16 years with that agency. Murn previously had spent 25 years as a law-enforcement officer in Fairfax County.
• The life of Arthur Nachman, a real-estate professional and member of the Rotary Club of Herndon-Reston, who died July 25, 2023.
• The life of Julie Clemente, a developer and co-chairman of the Friends of Clemyjontri organization, who died Jan. 19 this year.
• The Cooper Middle School Symphonic Band, which was selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Festival in December last year.
• Harris Miller of McLean, a public-policy expert, trade-association executive who died Sept. 15, 2022. Miller in 2006 lost a bid for the Democratic primary nomination for U.S. Senate to James Webb, who went on to victory in that year’s general election.
• The McLean High School journalism program, which this year received the First Amendment Press Freedom Award from the Journalism Education Association.
• Jack Norcross, a Herndon High School alumnus who won a Regional Emmy Award as supervising producer of the morning show on WCNC Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C.
• Frances Ivey, who retired last year after three decades with Fairfax County Public Schools, most recently as deputy superintendent.
• Marie Ridder of McLean, a journalist and environmental conservationist who turned 99 on Jan. 27 this year.
The Senate also passed these resolutions from state Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Vienna-Tysons) honoring:
• Carol DeLong, the first woman to serve as mayor of the city of Falls Church, who died Dec. 9 last year.
• Zoya Bitici, a clothing designer and co-founder of Zoya’s Atelier in Falls Church.
• John Mason, a former U.S. Army colonel and Vietnam War veteran who served from 1986 to 1990 on the Fairfax City Council and as the city’s mayor from 1990 to 2002. The resolution credits Mason, who died Feb. 7 this year, with overseeing enhancements to the city’s transportation, housing, commercial development and local amenities such as parks and trails.
