Volunteer Spotlight - Mary McCutchen - Giving To Her Country In More Ways Than One
Mary McCutchen, has been dedicated in recent years to working for Operation Homefront. She collects toys at Christmas and clothes for returning troops and their spouses. Mary found out about Operation Homefront after her son became a volunteer, taking photos for Operation Homefront and they helped gather items to furnish the donated apartments in Silver Spring a few years ago. Mary was in Vietnam, and her husband was in the Korean War, both appreciate greatly what our troops do and the sacrifice both they and their families make. Mary is the type that will walk up to a serviceman in uniform at the grocery store and stop them and just say “Thanks”. Operation Homefront’s mission and goals are something Mary holds very dear to her heart.
Thanks to coordination by Mary and others, some solders hospitalized in this area got holiday meals served jointly to them and the police at Mt Vernon and Franconia police stations in 2010. She and her husband spend most of their year-end holidays serving the people that protect us. She also collects food and personal hygiene items to send to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The amazing breath and depth of Mary’s community activities make her an outstanding choice for the 2010 Les Dorson Lee district Citizenship Award.
The 55th Annual Lee District Association of Civic Organizations (LDACO) Banquet and Holiday Celebration was held on December 8, 2010. During this event, Mary McCutchen, GWWCA’s Hospitality Chairperson, received the 2010 Les Dorson Citizenship Award. This annual award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and service in Fairfax County and Lee District. When you see Mary, please congratulate her for being the 55th person to receive this honor.
The following text was contained in the banquet program and describes Mary’s service to Lee District:
Mary McCutchen has boundless energy, and Lee District is a grateful recipient of her efforts. Whether presiding over the Wilton Woods Garden Club, spearheading a memorial garden, serving over a number of years on the PTAs of three different schools, or reorganizing her Wilton Woods Citizens Association, throughout the past 38 years Mary has left a mark on her community.
As president of the Garden Club, she helped launch a fundraising effort to establish a garden along a power line easement, Mary was instrumental in obtaining community and Garden Club support. The results of Mary’s and many other people’s efforts over the years can be seen today on a half acre plot of land. That once messy, abandoned, and weed-choked lot is now the Wilton Woods Memorial Garden.
Mary and her husband have almost single-handedly made sure that every year there is a re-dedication of the garden near the anniversary of September 11, always well attended by community residents. This even includes music, guest speakers, an honor guard, a soloist, and a bugler.
Mary was instrumental in reorganizing the Wilton Woods Citizens Association as the Greater WWCA, collaborating with her husband in writing by-laws, and creating committees. She serves as Hospitality Chair and continues to organize their National Night Out event. She has been instrumental in placing stop signs and obtaining “traffic calming” on Shaffer Drive and School Street.
Mary also serves her community by being very involved in both the Mt. Vernon and the Franconia Police Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs). Mary serves as secretary for both organizations. She has been an Edison High School Booster and Team Mother, and was involved with a local cat rescue/foster care program.