Drive-By Parade Honors 2020 Graduates In McLean Neighborhood

MCLEAN, VA — A neighborhood in McLean held a drive-by parade Sunday to recognize graduates who saw their senior year end early due to the coronavirus health crisis.

The parade in the Olde Swinks Mill Estates neighborhood honored six seniors from the class of 2020. Neighbors drove by in their vehicles, holding signs to congratulate the graduates.

Two graduates, Stephen Baker and Celeste Cubbage, are neighbors. Baker is graduating from St. John’s College High School in DC and will attend the University of Miami. Cubbage is graduating from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland and will attend Haverford College. Another graduate is Jennifer Siryani of Langley High School, who will attend James Madison University.

"It was a wonderful way to recognize the kids and all their hard work," said Nicole Cubbage, mother of one graduate, in an email to Patch. "The pandemic has taken away so many of the traditional end of year celebrations, so it was nice to have a reason to be outside on a beautiful day and celebrate with friends and neighbors in a socially distanced and safe manner."

Cubbage says the neighborhood has remained united in other ways amid the pandemic. They have organized birthday parades and a scavenger hunt for children with social distancing. Neighbors have also offered to take shopping trips for seniors and provided masks for use during grocery shopping.