In a flurry of flowers, trophies and smiles, Sarah Boschung, Miss Congeniality and the second runner up for Miss Springfield 2003, was on stage while Melissa Scott was being crowned, just taking in the moment. Boschung had so much fun she's entering the Miss Springfield pageant again, an event that kicks off the Springfield Days festivities on Thursday, June 3.
"While I had the opportunity, I thought I'd do it again," Boschung said.
Boschung was with all 14 contestants taking part in a series of activities leading up to the pageant, including a mixer at Greenspring Village, where she met the business people of Springfield. Boschung, an Oakton resident, is graduating from the Fairfax Baptist Temple Academy in Burke and looks forward to the camaraderie she experienced last year.
"It's just neat to hear what everyone's done," Boschung said.
The Miss Springfield contestants prepared for this year's festival just as the rest of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce got everything in place. Another landmark that is becoming an annual event is the proclamation before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors as well, and that took place on Monday, May 24.
"Be it resolved, that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of all citizens of Fairfax County, does hereby proclaim June 3-6, 2004, as Springfield Days in Fairfax County, and urges all citizens to join in the festivities," the proclamation proclaimed.
"We do that every year. We recognize Springfield Days," said Linda Waller, staff assistant in Supervisor Dana Kauffman's (D-Lee) office, who is in charge of the Puppy Parade again.
This year, a few events have been shifted around just to see what works the best, said Nancy-jo Manney, Chamber executive director. The Best Ribs Around barbecued ribs event was moved as well.
"That's not a new event. They just put it in Springfield Days," Manney said.
The antique car show in Springfield Plaza might change, too.
"Hopefully, we're going to have the hot-rod cars, not the old cars," said Bob Stockton, Springfield Barbershop owner.
Other shifted events include the community service groups, who are now setting up at Lake Accotink instead of the Springfield Plaza parking lot, and Springfield United Methodist church, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Manney said that the anniversary events may be a recurring theme for some of the original facilities in the central Springfield area.
"A lot of organizations are having their 50th soon, because in the 1950s was when things began to happen in Springfield," Manney said.