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A historical marker honoring 16 enslaved people was unveiled and dedicated at West Springfield High School, giving public recognition to individuals documented in an 1856 property inventory only by their first names, ages and assigned dollar values.
The April 11 ceremony was part of a wider effort by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and History Commission to highlight African American history and involve students in local historical marker initiatives.
Organizers placed the marker prominently on school grounds so future generations can encounter this history and reflect on the lives behind the inventory.
Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay said history’s most important role is helping people learn from the past to build a better future, a lesson he attributed to his mother, who taught middle school history.
The dedication sought to preserve the names and reclaim the stories of the Enslaved 16 while advancing a fuller recognition of the people who contributed to Fairfax County’s history.