Faves and raves by
Col. Jerry L. Blixt
Fort Belvoir garrison commander
PERSONAL STATS
AGE: 48
NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE AREA: Two-plus years this time. We were here before, in and out of here several times with assignments between Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon, Bethesda and Fort Meade.
NEIGHBORHOOD: Montclair, Va.
1. FAVORITE RESTAURANT
Fort Belvoir Officers Club. Great food with a spectacular view of the Potomac River.
2. BEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
I have a 1998 Chevy Blazer that keeps rolling along despite my wife’s efforts to donate it to charity.
3. FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS EVENT
I love all sports. But for me, I try as best as I can to go watch my daughter play soccer.
4. BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC
For us, at Fort Belvoir, there’s something called the Army Soldier Show … where we showcase soldiers where they are able to provide their talents to other soldiers, family members, civilians. They travel around the country and around the world providing entertainment to other soldiers. We always enjoy that. [And] the United States Army Band, it’s known as Pershing’s Own, led by my friend Col. Tom Rotondi.
5. BEST PLACE FOR OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS
Everybody who comes out here to visit, they always want to go to D.C., particularly the National Mall. I try to get them to see the C&O Canal. I also get them to Arlington National Cemetery, for us that’s important for them to see. Also Mount Vernon absolutely is a beautiful place to go … if we got time we try to take them down to Monticello.
6. FAVORITE HISTORICAL SPOT
I just spoke about one of these last week: one is the Lincoln Memorial. Last week I was addressing a crowd, we were having a discussion, and I was talking about the opportunity to go and stand on the steps where Martin Luther King stood on the 28th of August, 1963, delivering his “I Had a Dream” speech. I think so many people in the area don’t take advantage of seeing that and being able to stand there and to look out, and just imagine what it must have been like for Dr. King.
7. FAVORITE ESCAPE
Most of the time we try to head down to the beaches of Virginia or the Carolinas.
8. BEST MEMORY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
My daughter was born at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I’ve been able to attend two presidential inaugurations, one presidential departure ceremony. At Fort Belvoir, I’ve been honored to host the president, Sen. John Warner, congressman Jim Moran, congressman Gerry Connolly. Gov. Tim Kaine was here as well.
9. LEAST FAVORITE PART OF LIVING IN THE AREA
Traffic
10. BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
The Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest
