Students,
teachers,
staff,
and
community
members
celebrated
the
renaming
of
Unity
Reed
High
School,
formerly
Stonewall
Jackson
High
School,
in
a
ceremony
on
March
24.
Unity
Reed
High
is
in
the
Brentsville
District,
serving
students
in
ninth
through
twelfth
grades.
The
renaming
ceremony
was
delayed
due
to
COVID-19.
In
June
2020,
the
Prince
William
County
School
Board
approved
a
resolution
to
rename
Stonewall
Jackson
High
School
to
Unity
Reed
High
School.
Unity
Reed
honors
the
legacy
of
Arthur
Walter
Reed
Jr.,
long-time
security
assistant
at
Stonewall
Jackson
High
School,
now
Unity
Reed,
who
was
beloved
by
students
and
staff.
The
resolution
also
recognizes
that
Reed
was
the
clear
favorite
amongst
the
school
community
for
the
renaming
of
the
school.
Principal
Dr.
Richard
Nichols
hosted
the
renaming
ceremony
in
the
school's
auditorium.
During
the
ceremony,
speakers
spoke
of
their
excitement
for
students
and
staff
under
the
promise
of
the
new
school
name.
"Unity
represents
this
community
coming
together
as
one.
The
name
Reed
honors
a
man
who
was
a
pillar
of
this
community
and
role
model
for
every
single
student
who
came
through
the
doors
of
this
school,"
shared
Superintendent
of
Schools
Dr.
LaTanya
D.
McDade.
School
Board
Chairman
At-Large
Babur
B.
Lateef,
M.D.
said,
"I
couldn't
agree
more
with
what
Dr.
McDade
said
about
the
name
Unity
Reed
serving
as
a
source
of
inspiration
for
every
student.
And
Mr.
Reed's
life
certainly
serves
as
an
inspiration
to
us
all."
"The
students
at
this
school
have
an
impressive
namesake
to
look
up
to
in
Mr.
Reed.
Mr.
Reed
had
great
dedication
and
respect
for
this
school.
Mr.
Reed
was
a
man
who
was
loved
and
respected
by
those
who
met
him,"
explained
School
Board
Vice
Chairwoman,
and
Brentsville
School
Board
Member
Adele
E.
Jackson.
Reed's
daughter,
Ariel
Reed-Singh,
shared
her
heartfelt
thanks
with
the
school
community
for
honoring
her
father's
legacy,
"My
father
would
have
been
humbled
by
the
outpouring
of
love
and
support
this
renaming
effort
has
received."
The
Unity
Reed
High
School
Vocal
Ensemble
started
the
ceremony
with
the
National
Anthem
under
the
direction
of
David
Mann,
as
well
as
a
Presentation
of
Colors
by
the
school's
Air
Force
JROTC,
under
the
direction
of
Lieutenant
Colonel
Darryl
J.
Robinson.
Another
student
performance
followed,
with
the
vocal
ensemble
performing
Unity
Reed's
Alma
Mater
with
lyrics
by
the
Unity
Reed
High
School
Class
of
2021,
the
first
graduating
class
under
the
new
school's
name,
followed
by
a
poignant
song,
"No
Time,"
arranged
by
Susan
Brumfield
with
Lee
Ann
Renfro
accompanying
on
the
piano.
After
Dr.
Nichols
finished
cutting
the
ribbon
for
Unity
Reed,
he
thanked
all
guests
for
attending
this
momentous
occasion.