Reminder of why writer is proud to be an Eagle

Tim Demeria
Published: April 3, 2008

This past Saturday I spent the day delivering mulch with a bunch of kids from Osbourn High School.  There were 6,500 bags to deliver with only volunteer help, mostly OHS students. I planned on being there all day and working like a dog. But once again the kids from Osbourn were up to the challenge.  By around 8 a.m. there were some 150 kids ready to go to work. There were also plenty of adults to drive and supervise, and we had equipment loaned to us by Summit Roofing, Dudley Martin and RSC Rental.

When it came to delivering all those bags, these kids worked their tails off and did it quickly. All of it was delivered by 1:30 p.m. That’s a lot of work done in five and a half hours including a break for pizza.

There were also at least six graduates helping. These were not young people. All of them graduated over 25 years ago. I won’t name names (Lee Miller, class of 1978) to save giving away their age.

This kind of energy is not unusual at Osbourn. I have seen it for the last 31 years, it’s “The Eagle Way.” But every now and then, especially after some negative press, it takes a day like this to remind us of the quality kids this city is producing.

This is the kind of event, the kind of kids and the kind of adults that define Osbourn. Last Saturday reminded me why I am so proud to be an Eagle. An Eagle for life. Next Saturday the students and adults will be at the school again for the annual clean up day.  I am sure there will be lots of kids working hard again. Sounds like a much better story for the press than the ones we have been getting lately.

TIM DEMERIA

Manassas