New ‘welcome to Annandale’ sign is an Eagle Scout project
Annandale has a great new welcome sign, thanks to Matthew Sonnen, a Camelot resident and ninth-grader at Falls Church High School, who organized the project as part his quest to become an Eagle Scout.
The red, white, and blue sign, on a median strip between an Exxon gas station and Gallows Road just outside the beltway, says “Annandale welcomes you.” Under that, there’s the slogan, “Crossroads of Northern Virginia,” and the Annandale flag.
Sonnen is a member of Boy Scout Troop 1532, which is sponsored by the St. Ambrose Knights of Columbus and meets at St.Ambrose Catholic Church in Annandale. His father, Tom Sonnen, is the scoutmaster.
Because the sign is on a Virginia Department of Transportation right of way, Sonnen had to apply for permits from VDOT before proceeding with the project. He also was awarded a $5,000 grant from Transurban, the company that built the beltway express lanes, for supplies and landscaping materials
The troop held an official unveiling of the sign Nov. 6. Matthew Sonnen says he got the idea from his mother, who saw a similar welcome sign for the City of Fairfax.
His fellow scouts and adults associated with Troop 1532 helped design the sign and landscaping, develop a budget, apply for the permit and grant, and construct the sign. Sonnen still has to complete a report on the project before he can be inducted as an Eagle Scout.
This is very nice. Love it.
Wonderful job…it looks really good!