Little Confederate Drummer Boy. Photo credit: Bexgirl200.

Old Town Alexandria, a cobblestoned and historic town along the Potomac and just south of the Capital, was bursting with civic pride today in the annual George Washington Birthday Parade: Middle and high school marching bands (with girls twirling batons and shivering in the cold air), ROTC Corps, fire engines, the local boaters club, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans (which had an African-American man leading their group - very odd), the Shriners, beautiful old automobiles, local politicians ("How ya doing? Vote for Tim Kaine for Governor!"), and of course, lots of dogs. Alexandria is Dog Central.