Greenspring resident, Joann Miller, Selected as 2013 Living Legend of Alexandria

Miller will be honored for her decades of service to women, children and seniors in the city of Alexandria

(Springfield, Va.) - Joann Miller has been selected as one of the 2013 Living Legends of Alexandria.  Honorees receiving this award have "contributed at least one tangible improvement to the quality of the city's life that would likely be missing without this person's vision and energy" or those who have demonstrated "exemplary service to the city for ten years or more, especially service on Boards, Commissions, Committees or Service Organizations that improve the quality of life in Alexandria," according to the Living Legends of Alexandria website.

Joann was working for the United States Information Agency in Bordeaux, France when she met her husband, Ed; the two were married in 1953 in Eastborn, England.   Ed, who eventually retired as a Lieutenant Colonel the U.S. Air Force, received orders to report to the Pentagon in 1967.  They settled in Alexandria, Va. where Joann began providing decades of civil service and volunteerism.  Joann was one of the founding members of Alexandria's Commission on Women and served as its vice-chair.  In 2010, the Commission on Women honored her with the Marian Van Landingham Legislation and Public Policy Award.  Joann also led the Public Safety Committee of Alexandria's Commission on Aging; the Commission on Aging presented her with the Annie B. Rose Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
Joann volunteered as a counselor at the Alexandria Battered Women's Shelter and also with the nonprofit organization, ALIVE!, a consortium of over 40 religious organizations that help those in need in Alexandria.  She even invited families into her own home who found themselves without a place to live.  Joann chaired the Substance Abuse Committee for the Alexandria Community Services Board and advocated for those in recovery.  She also chaired Alexandria's 4H club and helped with youth programs and the expansion of the club's urban extension program.
Joann became the very first woman to chair the Alexandria Democratic Committee, and held that position for five years.  As a champion for women's equality, she served on the Board of the American Association of University Women of Virginia and as president of the AAUW Alexandria chapter.  She was also instrumental in encouraging the Alexandria Fire Department to hire women personnel.  Joann represented the city of Alexandria on the Human Resources Committee for the Metropolitan Council of Governments, was a trustee for the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association, and chaired the budget and allocation committee of the United Way of the National Capital Area.
In 2010, Joann moved to Greenspring retirement community in Springfield, Va., but is still an active member of the Alexandria community.  She will be honored along with 13 other 2013 Legends at a reception in Alexandria on March 21.
About Greenspring: Greenspring is situated on a scenic 108-acre campus in Springfield, Virginia.  The community is home to nearly 2000 residents, many of which reside in over 1400 independent living apartment homes.  At Greenspring, over 200 resident-run and resident-driven programs promote an engaged, fulfilling lifestyle that is reflected in resident satisfaction levels that exceed the industry average.  Life at Greenspring offers a true sense of community and is an exciting alternative to the typical retirement community.  Additional information about Greenspring can be found at www.ericksonliving.com.