Photo Gallery: National Mall Volunteer Recognition Ceremony and Awards

Photo Gallery: CELEBRATING the impact of our volunteers-in-parks

On Thursday, January 26th, 2024 leaders of the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service gathered with over 100 volunteers, National Park Rangers, and Trust staff to celebrate and thank our Volunteers-in-Parks for their incredible impact on the National Mall in 2023.

National Mall Volunteers-In-Parks—a corps of over 250 dedicated individuals led by the Trust and the National Park Service—play a vital role in helping National Park rangers bring America’s Front Yard to life for the millions who visit each year. National Mall volunteers are especially critical as the sole guides who welcome visitors at the Trust’s recently built and restored U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Education Center and the Lockkeeper’s House. The expert volunteers at these newly opened sites welcome visitors, answer questions, serve as guides through exhibits and share stories behind the National Mall’s history.

Did You Know?

  • From 2022 to 2023, the number of volunteers on the National Mall increased by 43%.

  • The Trust for the National Mall and National Park Service recruited and trained over 100 volunteers in 2023.

  • In 2023, our volunteers served over 18,000 hours welcoming visitors on the National Mall.

  • Our volunteers span entire generations! Our youngest volunteers are our 16-year-old Youth Ambassadors and our oldest volunteer, the incredible Annemarie Emmett, is over 90 years old!

Meet all of our 2023 awardees below! The Trust for the National Mall is proud to continue investing in and expanding our volunteer programming on the National Mall. This work is especially important as we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, when all eyes will be on the National Mall. We look forward to expanding the National Mall volunteer program to meet the growing number of visitors on America’s Front Yard!

The Trust for the National Mall is grateful for our National Park Service partners for helping lead, manage and energize the National Mall’s incredible volunteer programming.

Photos by Trust for the National Mall staff


2023 Volunteer Awardees

National Mall Volunteer of the Year
Dan Breitenbach

New National Mall Volunteer of the Year
George Clemen

National Mall Volunteer of the Year
Tom Haser

Volunteer Group of the Year
DC Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution

Enduring Service Award
Sandy Lamparello

Partner of the Year
Friends of the National World War II Memorial


Photo Gallery

Please click to see full-size photos.

Trust for the National Mall