Falls Church Crossing Guard Celebrates 50 Years on the Job

FALLS CHURCH, VA -- Falls Church officials and St. James Catholic School honored 50 years of service for 91-year-old crossing guard Janet Haines Monday.

At 7 a.m., family and friends from the school and police greeted her at the school to honor the start of her shift. This day in 1967, Haines started her first day as a crossing guard and has worked at the Broad and Spring Street intersection near St. James Catholic School ever since.

"This is where I started and this is where I still am," she said.

Every school day, she drives three miles from her Arlington home to help families cross the street before and after school. After that morning shift she sometimes goes to breakfast with her crossing guard friend.

The city has changed in the 50 years she has worked, and she has come far from her $3.10-per-hour starting pay from 1967. She observed that traffic has grown, and more families drive to school. But for the families she helps cross the street today, the increased presence of traffic has made her job that more important.

Even as the city has changed, her love of the job has remained constant. "I just enjoyed where I was going and didn't keep the count," Haines said of her 50-year career.

She is a familiar face for families driving to the school and morning commuters on Broad Street. During her one-hour shift, many people waved and honked as they drove by. A number of students joined her at the intersection, sporting crossing guard sashes and holding balloons.

Family and friends waited until her shift ended at 8 a.m. and led her to the school gym packed with students. The school showed a tribute video featuring students from every grade. Students presented her with gifts, while school and community officials praised her in remarks.

Officials like Falls Church Mayor David Tarter visited her on duty. "Our community is really proud of the great work you've done over the years," he said in remarks.

Chief of Police Mary Gavin said that crossing guards like Haines are key members of the police department. "She's created a culture in this community," said Gavin. "I would dare say the corner Spring and Broad Street is the safest in the Little City."

Haines had originally planned on being a crossing guard for two years, but she decided to stay on as her husband retired from the military.

When asked if she takes many sick days, she flashes a wide grin and says no. Like the St. James families she helps everyday, she plans vacations around the school year. Today, nothing can make her miss a day except for a winter storm. After she broke her leg 10 years ago on the ice, her children insist she stay home when it is snowy or icy.

In May, she is turning 92 and she shows no signs of retiring. "It keeps her going," said her son Jim Haines. "It's something to look forward to, to get her up everyday. So many people retire and fade away. That's not the case."

Photos by Emily Leayman