2008 Edward P. Day Memorial Citizenship Award
Gerard (“Jerry”) Shelton is one of Dunn Loring Woods distinguished personalities. At 83 years of age, he is still active in the community as the coordinator of Syracuse Circle’s annual participation in the Neighborhood Watch program for the month of October, organizing the names and dates of the families on his block including a couple of dates for himself.
Jerry, and his late wife Charlotte, were one of the original owners, three of whom who still reside on Syracuse Circle (when the houses cost around $20,000!!!).
Gerard (“Jerry”) Shelton is one of Dunn Loring Woods distinguished personalities. At 83 years of age, he is still active in the community as the coordinator of Syracuse Circle’s annual participation in the Neighborhood Watch program for the month of October, organizing the names and dates of the families on his block including a couple of dates for himself.
Jerry, and his late wife Charlotte, were one of the original owners, three of whom who still reside on Syracuse Circle (when the houses cost around $20,000!!!).
After serving four years in the Pacific area during WWll as an officer in the U.S Navy, he completed his Masters Teaching degree at William and Mary, and taught in nearby Northern Virginia Elementary and High schools for 43 years. Jerry’s popularity as a teacher is manifested in the many calls, letters and visits he gets from former students to this day, and he is a frequent attendee at their local class reunions
When Jerry attends a Dunn Loring Civic Association meeting, he is usually greeted by many of his fellow- members of the Shepard Center, where he is a very active member. Jerry has been on their teaching faculty for a number of the Senior Citizen courses offered at the Center. In particular, Jerry leads discussion groups on books by famous authors and poets, and also writes book reviews for the Shepard Center Newsletter. He also has taken a number of Art courses there himself. In addition, as a volunteer driver, Jerry takes other “incapacitated” senior citizens from our area to and from their dental, doctor or hairdresser appointments on a regular basis and works on various other committees.
Jerry can be seen every Sunday at the doors of the Vienna Baptist Church, where he is the official “greeter” to the Sunday school attendees and is also involved in a number of other church functions. Jerry is also a Civil War buff and regales in telling anyone interested, the history of the battles and the participants, some of whom are distant relatives. (He also can detail you on the history and changes of Dunn Loring and Vienna.) Jerry is also a patron of the arts, having season tickets to the Kennedy Center Opera and is a frequent visitor to the various art exhibits at the D.C. galleries and museums.
Who said “senior citizens” are boring and only sit in their rocking chairs? They haven’t met Jerry Shelton !! What a wonderful example of community spirit and sharing!