Heroes And Givers Worth Remembering Around Del Ray In 2017

ALEXANDRIA, VA—2017 is coming to a close, and there's been no shortage of people that made the news for all the right reasons in Del Ray and around Alexandria.

Between high-profile heroes from the congressional shooting to people that did the little things to brighten someone's day, there were many people worth recognizing. (Want more stories like this in 2018? Subscribe to Patch's free daily newsletter and news alerts and follow the Del Ray Patch Facebook page.)

Here's a look at some of the best people stories around Alexandria in 2017:

1. Three Alexandria Officers Responded To Congressional Shooter

Four minutes and 38 seconds. That's how long it took for Alexandria Police to get on scene and take down the active shooter at the GOP Congressional baseball practice on June 14. Officers Kevin Jobe, Nicole Battaglia and Alexander Jensen arrived on scene to assist Special Agents Crystal Griner, David Bailey and Henry Cabrera of the Capitol Police in preventing fatalities that day.

2. 5 Facts About Crystal Griner, A Hero In The Congressional Shooting

Special Agent Crystal Griner of Capitol Police was hailed for her courageous action in opening fire on the shooter at a congressional baseball practice on June 14. She was shot in the ankle in the shooting that injured Rep. Steve Scalise and severals others.

3. Alexandria City Council Honors Pat Miller

The corner of Mount Vernon and Oxford Avenues hosting the Del Ray Farmers Market has been referred to Pat Miller Neighborhood Square for some time. Now it's official after Alexandria City Council dedicated the square to Pat Miller for her tireless work to improve Del Ray.

4. Alexandria Eagle Scout Honored For Heroic Beach Rescue

Eagle Scout John Daly was awarded the Boy Scouts of America's Honor Medal for Heroism for saving a boy from a rip current in Ocean City, N.J. on July 8, 2016. He took action when noticing a 11-year-old boy being pulled into the rip current and calling for help.

5. Pro Sprinter Noah Lyles Gives Back To T.C. Williams

Noah Lyles has become a rising star in the running world in between his time at T.C. Williams High School. He's broke national records for high school track at Olympic trials and won gold medals. But he hasn't forgotten the school he came from. The T.C. Williams graduate visited his old school in December, bearing gifts for the track and field team he'd been a part of.

6. Woman Arrested For DUI Thanks Police Officer 10 Years Later

Sergeant Seth Weinstein of the Alexandria Police Department says it's unusual for someone to thank him for being arrested. But that's just what happened with a woman he arrested and charged with a DUI ten years ago. The woman has since left him voicemails saying how she is turning her life around, and she even thanked him in person with flowers in April.

7. Alexandria Family Gives Back To Hospital That Saved Their Boy

At three days old, Teddy was diagnosed with a congenital heart defects and faced open-heart surgery at two months old. Thanks to doctors and other staff at a local hospital, he went through treatment and was cleared as healthy when he was two. The Alexandria family decided to pay back by raising money for the hospital during an annual charity race.

8. Alexandria Little League Team Wins State Championship

Alexandria's Little League Intermediate 50/70 All-Star Team made history by becoming the first city team in any division to win the Virginia Little League state championship. The boys played their way to the top by defeating teams from Fort Hunt, Virginia Beach, Strasburg and Halifax in the finals. The team went undefeated in the state tournament and won the district tournament in June against Arlington.

9. Tumblr Features Activist Alexandria Student

T.C. Williams sophomore Ana Humphrey was featured on a new Tumblr series for her work in environmental activism. She launched the Watershed Warriors Initiative, a project to help kids get engaged in environmental science with hands-on activities.

10. 97-Year-Old Runs Alexandria's Turkey Trot

Natalee Urquijo Guerra, 97, was the oldest runner that finished the annual Turkey Trot. The 5 miler race is held on Thanksgiving in Del Ray.

Image via Alexandria Police