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Vol. 31, No. 5 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | June 4, 2014
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Patel and Parcell lead More than 400 gather Hanover High ’14 class to honor fallen veterans By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com
By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
ivya Patel, with a 4.672 grade point average, is the valedictorian of the Hanover High School Class of 2014. Salutatorian is Allison Parcell, whose GPA is 4.661. Patel is the son of Nital and Asha Patel of Mechanicsville. He Hanover plans to High School attend 3:30 p.m. the Saturday, June 14 UniverSiegel Center sity of VCU Virginia as a Rodman Scholar to study computer science and computer engineering. While at Hanover High,
There’s plenty to do on a beautiful Memorial Day, with pools opening for the season, the backyard grill beckoning, and holiday sales at the local malls calling. But more than 400 Hanover County citizens took special note of just what the holiday means at a somber ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at Hanover Wayside Park on U.S. 301 last week. The message of the day at the annual event was a remembrance of the fallen, those who served and died in service of their country. A blended crowd of veterans, families and officials sat in silence as this year’s event featured salutes by Mechanicville Post VFW 9808 and the traditional laying of the wreath by members of Post 175. Jack Ward, a former member
D
DIVYA PATEL Valedictorian
ALLISON PARCELL Salutatorian
he has been a member of the Academic Team, grades 10 through 12, serving as captain his junior and senior years; National Honor Society, grades 11 and 12, serving as vice president his senior year; cross country team (ran throughout his high school years); tennis team, grades 9 through 12; National Beta Club; Chess Club, grades 10 through 12; Robotics Team; and an IB (International
Baccalaureate) Diploma Candidate. During his junior year, Patel took part in the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars Program. He captured second place in the District Voice of Democracy competition and first place in the post-level competition during his junior year. see HANOVER, pg. 4
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Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Jack Ward, right, served as this year’s keynote speaker at Hanover County’s annual Memorial Day celebration. U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-7, an honored guest, presented Ward with a flag for his years of service to veterans.
of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors who represented the Mechanicsville District, assumed a different role for this year’s ceremony. As long as recent memory serves, Ward has hosted the annual ceremony, but this year
he stepped to the podium as keynote speaker. Ward is one of the original Hanover Veterans Committee members who founded the Memorial more than a decade see VETERANS, pg. 4