[NFBV-Announce] City of Alexandria recognizing contributions from Brian Miller

[Sarah Patnaude]

From Bonnie O’Day

>> Below please find the text of a proclamation for Brian Miller from Justin Wilson, Mayor of the City of Alexandria Virginia. I also have a picture of the proclamation, which shows the Mayor’s signature and seal, but cannot be read with a screen reader, if anyone is interested.
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>> Please feel free to distribute this as widely as you deem appropriate.
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>> Thanks, Bonnie O’Day
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>> P R O C L A M A T I O N
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>> WHEREAS, several recently published photographs portray Brian Miller, 52, of Alexandria, Virginia, in many locations from across the world: sitting atop a camel in Egypt, on the waters of a peaceful river in Oman, the sidewalks of London, and the beaches of Normandy. In most of these photos, he is in casual travel garb, in front of spots of natural beauty or historical relevance. And in some of these pictures, he wears a tuxedo, the unofficial uniform of one of his many passions,
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>> a cappella chorus singing; and 
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>>           WHEREAS, Brian R. Miller, PhD, had just over a month ago returned to the United States from Jordan, one of 65 similar overseas trips he would take throughout his life. And all his friends knew Dr. Miller as an adventurer, but a prudent one, for he had recently written on his travel blog, “I’m pretty fearless, but not reckless. I’m a planner more than an improviser, but I am not a prisoner of my itinerary;” and  
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>>              WHEREAS, Brian was viewed as a fearless man, and one of assuring resolve. And it was this resolve that carried him through his full life and dozens of countries worldwide, going back to his San Diego childhood. Born August 13, 1967, in Michigan and raised in California, he was one of the first of a large national wave of blind students brought into the mainstream public schools student body among their sighted peers in the 1970s and 1980s; and
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>>           WHEREAS, his commitment to education and knowledge compensated for the lack of resources for him and other visually disabled students during those times. Fluent in four languages, he earned a degree in Political Science from San Diego State University, and a master’s and PhD in history from the University of Iowa; and
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>>           WHEREAS, he settled in Alexandria in 2004, working for the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration. And in our City he was known for his generous volunteerism, serving as former Chair of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, and for many years he was a member of the world-renowned men’s a cappella chorus, the Alexandria Harmonizers; and
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>>           WHEREAS, his travels with the Harmonizers, as well as his own, truly availed him to nuanced relationships as a performer, mentor, and friend, in Alexandria and the six continents he visited; and
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>>            WHEREAS, this inspiring journey came to a close on April 13, 2020, when Brian died at 52 from complications stemming from the COVID-19 virus. “While losing Brian to this pandemic is devastating to so many communities of people around the world, there was noone more rich with life experiences and love from so many people,” said friend and fellow Alexandria Harmonizer Joe Cerutti; and
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>>           WHEREAS, Brian Miller will truly be missed, and for those who knew him here or far away, their lives were better just for knowing him. Brian Miller leaves behind his mother and stepfather, Jane and Patrick McGinnis; father and stepmother Richard and Helen Miller; sister and brother-in-law Cindy and Marty Wimer, significant other Masuma Ali, and several friends and colleagues; and
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>>           WHEREAS, finally, and in his own understated and friendly style, he recently made note of his gratitude for his experiences and his abundant life, writing, “I’ve learned a few tricks over the years as a blind guy on the road.”
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>> NOW, THEREFORE, I, JUSTIN M. WILSON, Mayor of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, and on behalf of the Alexandria City Council, do hereby recognize and offer appreciation for the well-lived life of a beloved Alexandrian:
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>> “BRIAN R. MILLER, PhD”
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>> In the City of Alexandria and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
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>> IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have here unto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Alexandria to be affixed this 23rd day of April, 2020, in tribute to a great citizen of our City, and of the world.
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>>                                                                                                                                         ________________________________________________
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>>                                                                                                                                           MAYOR JUSTIN M. WILSON
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>>                                                                                                                  On behalf of the City Council
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>>                                                                                                                                       of Alexandria, Virginia
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