WHEREAS, Clarene Helen Vickery, a leading citizen of Vienna, Fairfax County, and the Commonwealth, who, for the past 67 years, has been an active citizen as an early childhood educator, businesswoman, church leader, and mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, will celebrate her 100th birthday on May 22, 2018; and

WHEREAS, a member of the Greatest Generation, Clarene Helen Vickery was born on a farm near Collins, Mississippi, and worked for the National Youth Administration during the Great Depression; during World War II, she supported her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Raymond E. Vickery, Sr., on the home front, mothering their young sons as he fought in tanks at the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and against the Nazis in other battles; and

WHEREAS, Clarene Helen Vickery worked her way through college and became one of the leading early childhood educators in the Commonwealth, founding the Parkwood School 62 years ago and serving as its director ever since; more than 10,000 students have attended her school; and

WHEREAS Clarene Helen Vickery has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education and a Certificate of Recognition from the Fairfax County Health Department for her more than six decades of support for the health and well-being of children; and

WHEREAS, Clarene Helen Vickery has been a successful businesswoman, receiving the Business Person of the Year award from the Greater Vienna Chamber of Commerce, and an active member of the Vienna business community, serving as the grand marshal of the Vienna Halloween Parade and in many other capacities; and

WHEREAS, guided by her faith in all her good works, Clarene Helen Vickery was a founding member of Providence Baptist Church in McLean and has been a member of Vienna Baptist Church for 60 years, serving as a Sunday school director; and

WHEREAS, Clarene Helen Vickery is a dedicated mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who, with her husband "Vick," raised four sons, the Honorable Raymond E. Vickery, Jr.—who served as a member of the House of Delegates from 1974 to 1980, during which time his father served as a legislative aide—Dr. Donald Michael Vickery, professor Kenneth P. Vickery, and screenwriter Steven L. Vickery; she has seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Clarene Helen Vickery for her 62 years of service to the students of the Parkwood School on the occasion of her 100th birthday in 2018; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Clarene Helen Vickery as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her many years of service to her family, the community, the Commonwealth, and the nation.