Crime & Safety

Update: Paramedic Joshua Weissman's Memorial Services Thursday

City coordinates early school dismissals, road closures for Weissman memorial services and procession.

Firefighters from across the nation honored one of their own Thursday in Alexandria, saluting paramedic Joshua A. Weissman.

Weissman, 33, died after a head injury sustained from a 30-foot fall as he attempted to reach a burning vehicle on I-395.

A short ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Beth El Hebrew Congregation on Seminary Road in Alexandria concluded with Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath my Wings" as uniformed pallbearers brought Weissman's casket outside to a waiting mile-long convoy of police and fire vehicles.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Joshua was always a leader, first and foremost, always positive, always optimistic," said Alexandria Fire Chief Adam Thiel during the service. "But while we will miss Josh, he will live in all of us."

Afternoon Procession

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Led by a black-draped Alexandria City ambulance and followed by dozens more police, fire and rescue vehicles, the procession for Weissman was scheduled to head west on Seminary Road toward Fire Station 206 around 3 p.m.

The city coordinated road closures surrounding the area close to the memorial and burial services.

Officials expected than 2,000 people and 200 fire vehicles at the memorial and burial services.

The procession route had the vehicles drive west on Seminary Road past Fire Station 206 where Weissman was assigned and loop back, heading east on Seminary, crossing Quaker Lane and continuing down Janney's Lane to Ivy Hill Cemetery, at 2823 King Street. A map of the route is available here.

The city has closed several streets and diverted traffic between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The following streets will be closed at various times Thursday:

• Janney’s Lane from King Street to Quaker Lane (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

• Seminary Road from Quaker Lane to Van Dorn Street (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

• Van Dorn Street from Seminary Road to Braddock Road (2:45-3:45 p.m.)

• Braddock Road from Van Dorn Street to King Street (2:45 to 3:45 p.m.)

• King Street from Braddock Road and Quaker Lane to Russell Road (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Early school dismissals

George Washington and Hammond Middle schools, Minnie Howard School, T.C. Williams High School and Douglas McArthur Elementary will all close at 12:35 p.m. 

All other city elementary schools will close at 1:20 p.m.

Several private schools in the area will also close early; contact each school for specific information.

Bus service

Due to the funeral and procession service, DASH will not serve the following stops from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday: 

AT2 and AT2X (in both directions)

  • All stops on Seminary Road (at Alexandria Hospital) between Howard Street and Quaker Lane
  • All stops on Janney's Lane between Quaker Lane and King Street
  • All stops on King Street between Janney's Lane and Russell Road

AT5 and AT6 (in both directions)

  • All stops on King Street between Russell Road and Quaker Lane

Bus stops that are not being served will have posted signs on them.

The city will provide live coverage of the funeral on its Web site.


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