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A new historical marker at Colin Powell Elementary School in Centreville will introduce generations of students to the longtime Fairfax County resident’s groundbreaking national service and commitment to young people.
Students, educators, community members, and Powell’s friends and family gathered at the school on Saturday, June 14, to unveil the marker. It recognizes Powell as a trailblazing military leader, statesman, youth advocate, and mentor.
Powell was the first African American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. secretary of state. The dedication is the fourth installation completed through Fairfax County’s Black/African American Historical Marker Project.
“The Colin Powell Elementary School community is honored to have the historical marker placed on our school grounds,” interim principal Addison Smith said. Smith added that the marker would help future students understand Powell’s worldwide impact and encourage them to embrace his values and love of learning.
Powell’s work with young people extended beyond his prominent roles in government. During his many years in Fairfax County, he helped establish a volunteer mentorship program connecting St. John’s Episcopal Church in McLean with MacFarland Middle School in Washington, D.C.
In 1997, Powell also became the founding chair of America’s Promise Alliance, a national nonprofit focused on helping young people succeed.
The marker was proposed by a 17-year-old Langley High School student and lifelong St. John’s parishioner. The student remembered Powell as a kind, humble man who warmly greeted other parishioners and argued that his steady involvement in the community deserved recognition alongside his national achievements.
Established in 2021, the Black/African American Historical Marker Project highlights people, places, and events that shaped the Black experience in Fairfax County. The initiative brings together the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County Public Schools, the History Commission, the Department of Planning and Development, and Neighborhood and Community Services to present a more inclusive account of local history.