Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But who wants "Jiffy Lube Live" on their kid's graduation program?

Who actually cares about this? It's a HS graduation. The people chasing prestigious venues for a public school HS graduation are just loonie. I'm with the county, and the vast majority of parents on this. We do not give a F about the name or alleged prestige of venue. HS - particularly public - is about community and family. Give us a venue close by that will allow the max number of attendees to celebrate with their kids. I'd rather not give up a seat at the graduation for my parents just so we can schlep into DC and an aging venue, sit in terrible traffic, fight for parking, be doused in weed along the way, and risk being robbed, car jacked or shot. I'd rather stay close to home.

And GMU is lovely, by the way. You prestige chasers need a slap of reality. This isn't Monaco, it's Fairfax County. Nice try, folks

Maybe your child didn’t spend four years in the crappy Mclean facility. Some of us would like a nice graduation venue.

+100
It’s just a very vocal minority who want to ruin it for everyone else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only the top high schools get DAR as their graduation venue. McLean, Langley, Madison, Marshall.

Eagle Bank is for the riffraff.

I graduated from Annandale high school back in the 90’s and our graduation was at National Cathedral.

Guess FCPS really has gone downhill!

DP. That is awesome!! What a beautiful venue. We live outside the nation’s capital - I am wholeheartedly in favor of taking advantage of some of these special places for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, like high school graduation. DAR is great, but National Cathedral would be too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting goosebumps and feeling "honored" to watch a public high school graduation is the kind of reaction I would expect from a rural mid-westerner or immigrant from a developing country. I can't imagine the self-importance coursing through your veins if public high school graduation at DAR gets you this worked up.

I don't think that there's anything wrong with being honored to watch the graduation. Many families, despite where they're from, are rightly proud. This issue is with insisting that the ceremony itself must take place in a "prestigious" venue. That's ridiculous, though I believe that is likely by-product of the Instagramable generation and life that we now lead. Many (if not most) parents clamoring for DAR likely want to picture op and post at DAR than the do the actual experience. Everything now has to be post worthy so that's more than likely the push. Prestige over function, it would seem

That makes a lot of sense apart from the fact that several of these schools were graduating at DAR long before there was a Facebook or an Instagram.

Do you have any other explanations? Like maybe it's just a tradition and some people think it's an attractive venue despite some of the other inconveniences. Not sure it requires over-thinking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LAst year I had a graduating senior. I was 100% against doing DAR -- why would people who live in Vienna/Oakton be driving all the way into the city during rush hour on a weekday to see their High School kids graduate? Makes no sense to me.

My priorities were: convenient location + free and plentiful parking. I was totally willing to be outside (field) or at GMU Patriot Center. I hated the idea of dragging to DC in rush hour traffic (did I mention traffic??) and paying to park.

Well... of course the principal didn't listen to me. He listened to all those Vienna parents who HAVE TO STICK WITH TRADITION at DAR. Grrr.

I have to say --- it IS a lovely facility. Much nicer and brighter lighting than GMU. Parking was fine getting into the garage, but a nightmare getting out b/c the parking attendants let 17 cars block our car in. It was nuts! But, once we escaped the garage, traffic was fine getting back to VA.

I still think it's dumb to go to DAR -- but once you go there, you'll probably like the venue.

And if you are at GMU, well, you may not get the prettiest venue, but you get all the parking you could want, you get to stay in Fairfax County, parking is free, and you probably get all the tickets you could want.

So, really, you can look at the bright side of either option and be happy. Or you can focus on the bad parts and be unhappy. Your choice. Both DAR and GMU have their good points.

Well said! I, for one, found DAR to be thrilling and goosebump-inducing. My elderly parents were so proud to see their grandchild graduate in such a historic venue.

DAR means something else to me. Black opera singer Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform in DAR Constitution Hall because of her race. Those are the goosebump-inducing feelings that pervade me.

I appreciate your perspective (NP). People always forget that such a perspective exists. Which makes the prior PP's post a bit tone deaf and lacking in awareness.

I don't even understand how this is relevant. Who cares? Why are we even considering a DC venue for VA kids.

I don't understand your point. Do you want to keep kids from graduating in a beautiful, historic venue because some people are ninnies who just want a big parking lot?

Dude, it's a HS graduation. There's no need for a "beautiful, historic venue" (assessment clearly very subjective and not agreed upon by all) located in downtown DC. Our families and children live in VA, go to school in VA, and we pay tax dollars in VA. No one is in the public high school game for a graduation off in DC. Community and family are the top priorities here. If that's a low brow suburbanite view, I'll take it.

+1

I had 20-plus family members including grandparents comfortably attend multiple children's high school graduations followed by graduation dinners at local nearby restaurants. The memories and togetherness are lasting and lifelong. DAR would have been impossible for my large group. Family is more important than someone else's notion of prestige and elitism.

Wait, what? Who brings 20+ people to their kid’s graduation? How incredibly obnoxious of you.

Anonymous wrote:Getting goosebumps and feeling "honored" to watch a public high school graduation is the kind of reaction I would expect from a rural mid-westerner or immigrant from a developing country. I can't imagine the self-importance coursing through your veins if public high school graduation at DAR gets you this worked up.

I don't think that there's anything wrong with being honored to watch the graduation. Many families, despite where they're from, are rightly proud. This issue is with insisting that the ceremony itself must take place in a "prestigious" venue. That's ridiculous, though I believe that is likely by-product of the Instagramable generation and life that we now lead. Many (if not most) parents clamoring for DAR likely want to picture op and post at DAR than the do the actual experience. Everything now has to be post worthy so that's more than likely the push. Prestige over function, it would seem

Anonymous wrote:Getting goosebumps and feeling "honored" to watch a public high school graduation is the kind of reaction I would expect from a rural mid-westerner or immigrant from a developing country. I can't imagine the self-importance coursing through your veins if public high school graduation at DAR gets you this worked up.

This post says a lot more about you than it does about anyone who enjoys watching a kid graduate at DAR. Slight jab at DAR, but bigger put-down of mid-westerners, immigrants, and anyone with kids who attended public school. Not a good look unless you aspire to full-blown d-baggery.

Getting goosebumps and feeling "honored" to watch a public high school graduation is the kind of reaction I would expect from a rural mid-westerner or immigrant from a developing country. I can't imagine the self-importance coursing through your veins if public high school graduation at DAR gets you this worked up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But who wants "Jiffy Lube Live" on their kid's graduation program?

Who actually cares about this? It's a HS graduation. The people chasing prestigious venues for a public school HS graduation are just loonie. I'm with the county, and the vast majority of parents on this. We do not give a F about the name or alleged prestige of venue. HS - particularly public - is about community and family. Give us a venue close by that will allow the max number of attendees to celebrate with their kids. I'd rather not give up a seat at the graduation for my parents just so we can schlep into DC and an aging venue, sit in terrible traffic, fight for parking, be doused in weed along the way, and risk being robbed, car jacked or shot. I'd rather stay close to home.

And GMU is lovely, by the way. You prestige chasers need a slap of reality. This isn't Monaco, it's Fairfax County. Nice try, folks

Maybe your child didn’t spend four years in the crappy Mclean facility. Some of us would like a nice graduation venue.

Then pay for private. I don't understand all you public school parents expecting five star treatment. When the tax payers are footing the bill, you get what you get. I love it when people opt for the "free" government option and then complain that it's not fancy. You guys are absurd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But who wants "Jiffy Lube Live" on their kid's graduation program?

Who actually cares about this? It's a HS graduation. The people chasing prestigious venues for a public school HS graduation are just loonie. I'm with the county, and the vast majority of parents on this. We do not give a F about the name or alleged prestige of venue. HS - particularly public - is about community and family. Give us a venue close by that will allow the max number of attendees to celebrate with their kids. I'd rather not give up a seat at the graduation for my parents just so we can schlep into DC and an aging venue, sit in terrible traffic, fight for parking, be doused in weed along the way, and risk being robbed, car jacked or shot. I'd rather stay close to home.

And GMU is lovely, by the way. You prestige chasers need a slap of reality. This isn't Monaco, it's Fairfax County. Nice try, folks

Maybe your child didn’t spend four years in the crappy Mclean facility. Some of us would like a nice graduation venue.

DP - what mattered to my McLean HS kids for four years is what would matter most when it comes to a graduation ceremony, namely being with their fellow students and the staff. What makes McLean a great school are the people, not the building(s). We had no issue getting to DAR and enjoying the ceremony but we would have been thrilled had it been held on the football field as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But who wants "Jiffy Lube Live" on their kid's graduation program?

Who actually cares about this? It's a HS graduation. The people chasing prestigious venues for a public school HS graduation are just loonie. I'm with the county, and the vast majority of parents on this. We do not give a F about the name or alleged prestige of venue. HS - particularly public - is about community and family. Give us a venue close by that will allow the max number of attendees to celebrate with their kids. I'd rather not give up a seat at the graduation for my parents just so we can schlep into DC and an aging venue, sit in terrible traffic, fight for parking, be doused in weed along the way, and risk being robbed, car jacked or shot. I'd rather stay close to home.

And GMU is lovely, by the way. You prestige chasers need a slap of reality. This isn't Monaco, it's Fairfax County. Nice try, folks

Maybe your child didn’t spend four years in the crappy Mclean facility. Some of us would like a nice graduation venue.

Anonymous wrote:Only the top high schools get DAR as their graduation venue. McLean, Langley, Madison, Marshall.

Eagle Bank is for the riffraff.

I graduated from Annandale high school back in the 90’s and our graduation was at National Cathedral.

Guess FCPS really has gone downhill!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LAst year I had a graduating senior. I was 100% against doing DAR -- why would people who live in Vienna/Oakton be driving all the way into the city during rush hour on a weekday to see their High School kids graduate? Makes no sense to me.

My priorities were: convenient location + free and plentiful parking. I was totally willing to be outside (field) or at GMU Patriot Center. I hated the idea of dragging to DC in rush hour traffic (did I mention traffic??) and paying to park.

Well... of course the principal didn't listen to me. He listened to all those Vienna parents who HAVE TO STICK WITH TRADITION at DAR. Grrr.

I have to say --- it IS a lovely facility. Much nicer and brighter lighting than GMU. Parking was fine getting into the garage, but a nightmare getting out b/c the parking attendants let 17 cars block our car in. It was nuts! But, once we escaped the garage, traffic was fine getting back to VA.

I still think it's dumb to go to DAR -- but once you go there, you'll probably like the venue.

And if you are at GMU, well, you may not get the prettiest venue, but you get all the parking you could want, you get to stay in Fairfax County, parking is free, and you probably get all the tickets you could want.

So, really, you can look at the bright side of either option and be happy. Or you can focus on the bad parts and be unhappy. Your choice. Both DAR and GMU have their good points.

Well said! I, for one, found DAR to be thrilling and goosebump-inducing. My elderly parents were so proud to see their grandchild graduate in such a historic venue.

DAR means something else to me. Black opera singer Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform in DAR Constitution Hall because of her race. Those are the goosebump-inducing feelings that pervade me.

I appreciate your perspective (NP). People always forget that such a perspective exists. Which makes the prior PP's post a bit tone deaf and lacking in awareness.

I don't even understand how this is relevant. Who cares? Why are we even considering a DC venue for VA kids.

I don't understand your point. Do you want to keep kids from graduating in a beautiful, historic venue because some people are ninnies who just want a big parking lot?

Dude, it's a HS graduation. There's no need for a "beautiful, historic venue" (assessment clearly very subjective and not agreed upon by all) located in downtown DC. Our families and children live in VA, go to school in VA, and we pay tax dollars in VA. No one is in the public high school game for a graduation off in DC. Community and family are the top priorities here. If that's a low brow suburbanite view, I'll take it.

+1

I had 20-plus family members including grandparents comfortably attend multiple children's high school graduations followed by graduation dinners at local nearby restaurants. The memories and togetherness are lasting and lifelong. DAR would have been impossible for my large group. Family is more important than someone else's notion of prestige and elitism.

"20-plus"?? Ugh - you're "that family" who ruins it for everyone else with your enormous group of guests, shouting and whooping for your ONE graduate, while other families are struggling to see their own kid walk across the stage and hear his/her name. I'm all for limiting tickets because of families like yours.
DP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LAst year I had a graduating senior. I was 100% against doing DAR -- why would people who live in Vienna/Oakton be driving all the way into the city during rush hour on a weekday to see their High School kids graduate? Makes no sense to me.

My priorities were: convenient location + free and plentiful parking. I was totally willing to be outside (field) or at GMU Patriot Center. I hated the idea of dragging to DC in rush hour traffic (did I mention traffic??) and paying to park.

Well... of course the principal didn't listen to me. He listened to all those Vienna parents who HAVE TO STICK WITH TRADITION at DAR. Grrr.

I have to say --- it IS a lovely facility. Much nicer and brighter lighting than GMU. Parking was fine getting into the garage, but a nightmare getting out b/c the parking attendants let 17 cars block our car in. It was nuts! But, once we escaped the garage, traffic was fine getting back to VA.

I still think it's dumb to go to DAR -- but once you go there, you'll probably like the venue.

And if you are at GMU, well, you may not get the prettiest venue, but you get all the parking you could want, you get to stay in Fairfax County, parking is free, and you probably get all the tickets you could want.

So, really, you can look at the bright side of either option and be happy. Or you can focus on the bad parts and be unhappy. Your choice. Both DAR and GMU have their good points.

Well said! I, for one, found DAR to be thrilling and goosebump-inducing. My elderly parents were so proud to see their grandchild graduate in such a historic venue.

DAR means something else to me. Black opera singer Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform in DAR Constitution Hall because of her race. Those are the goosebump-inducing feelings that pervade me.

I appreciate your perspective (NP). People always forget that such a perspective exists. Which makes the prior PP's post a bit tone deaf and lacking in awareness.

I don't even understand how this is relevant. Who cares? Why are we even considering a DC venue for VA kids.

I don't understand your point. Do you want to keep kids from graduating in a beautiful, historic venue because some people are ninnies who just want a big parking lot?

Dude, it's a HS graduation. There's no need for a "beautiful, historic venue" (assessment clearly very subjective and not agreed upon by all) located in downtown DC. Our families and children live in VA, go to school in VA, and we pay tax dollars in VA. No one is in the public high school game for a graduation off in DC. Community and family are the top priorities here. If that's a low brow suburbanite view, I'll take it.

Are you even one of the schools scheduled to graduate at DAR? If not, quit your whining and enjoy Eagle Bank or Jiffy Lube or wherever. If so, there's always the Zoom option. Please stay home. Everyone else would appreciate it.
DP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But who wants "Jiffy Lube Live" on their kid's graduation program?

Who actually cares about this? It's a HS graduation. The people chasing prestigious venues for a public school HS graduation are just loonie. I'm with the county, and the vast majority of parents on this. We do not give a F about the name or alleged prestige of venue. HS - particularly public - is about community and family. Give us a venue close by that will allow the max number of attendees to celebrate with their kids. I'd rather not give up a seat at the graduation for my parents just so we can schlep into DC and an aging venue, sit in terrible traffic, fight for parking, be doused in weed along the way, and risk being robbed, car jacked or shot. I'd rather stay close to home.

And GMU is lovely, by the way. You prestige chasers need a slap of reality. This isn't Monaco, it's Fairfax County. Nice try, folks

So glad people like you didn't prevent our school from graduating at DAR. JFC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LAst year I had a graduating senior. I was 100% against doing DAR -- why would people who live in Vienna/Oakton be driving all the way into the city during rush hour on a weekday to see their High School kids graduate? Makes no sense to me.

My priorities were: convenient location + free and plentiful parking. I was totally willing to be outside (field) or at GMU Patriot Center. I hated the idea of dragging to DC in rush hour traffic (did I mention traffic??) and paying to park.

Well... of course the principal didn't listen to me. He listened to all those Vienna parents who HAVE TO STICK WITH TRADITION at DAR. Grrr.

I have to say --- it IS a lovely facility. Much nicer and brighter lighting than GMU. Parking was fine getting into the garage, but a nightmare getting out b/c the parking attendants let 17 cars block our car in. It was nuts! But, once we escaped the garage, traffic was fine getting back to VA.

I still think it's dumb to go to DAR -- but once you go there, you'll probably like the venue.

And if you are at GMU, well, you may not get the prettiest venue, but you get all the parking you could want, you get to stay in Fairfax County, parking is free, and you probably get all the tickets you could want.

So, really, you can look at the bright side of either option and be happy. Or you can focus on the bad parts and be unhappy. Your choice. Both DAR and GMU have their good points.

Well said! I, for one, found DAR to be thrilling and goosebump-inducing. My elderly parents were so proud to see their grandchild graduate in such a historic venue.

DAR means something else to me. Black opera singer Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform in DAR Constitution Hall because of her race. Those are the goosebump-inducing feelings that pervade me.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution deeply regrets that it did not give Marian Anderson the opportunity to perform her 1939 Easter concert in Constitution Hall, but today we join all Americans in grateful recognition that her historic performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial was a pivotal point in the struggle for racial equality.

Ms. Anderson’s legendary concert will always be remembered as a milestone in the Civil Rights movement. The beauty of her voice, amplified by her courage and grace, brought attention to the eloquence of the many voices urging our nation to overcome prejudice and intolerance. It sparked change not just in the DAR but in all of America.

Our organization truly wishes that history could be re-written, but knowing that it cannot, we are proud to note that DAR has learned from the past.

DAR welcomed Marian Anderson to Constitution Hall on a number of occasions soon after 1939, including a benefit concert for war relief in 1943. It is also meaningful to us that this notable American chose Constitution Hall as the place where she would launch her farewell American tour in 1964.

In 2005, we were honored to host at our national headquarters the dedication ceremony of the Marian Anderson commemorative stamp at the invitation of the United States Postal Service and Ms. Anderson’s family. In 2009, on the 70th anniversary of Ms. Anderson’s Lincoln Memorial concert, DAR joined with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission in hosting a special reception at our headquarters following a Marian Anderson tribute concert and naturalization ceremony. On the 75th anniversary in 2014, we were proud to host the Of Thee We Sing concert in DAR Constitution Hall to pay tribute to the talent, strength and courage of this remarkable and inspiring woman.

The Daughters of the American Revolution celebrates the life, the talent and the legacy of Marian Anderson. America is a better place because of her dreams and her sacrifices. As a nation, we can be grateful that she opened so many doors for all those who follow; and, as an organization, the DAR is genuinely pleased to pay tribute to her memory.
https://www.dar.org/national-society/dar-marian-anderson-statement