Fans meet Hall of Famers at Expoland

By Corine Gatti

Published: August 23, 2008

FISHERSVILLE — Expoland got a visit from Hall of Famers Art Monk and Darrell Green on Saturday afternoon. The football greats stopped by to raise funds for their organization Hilaron Foundation by hosting the Route 281 Road to Canton Hall of Fame Tour. Fishersville was the last stop on the 10-city tour.
The gala dinners and autograph sessions celebrated their recent enshrinement to National Football League Hall of Fame earlier this month.
A line of Redskins enthusiasts made a semi-circle around a lifted platform at the center of Expoland. People stood with their newly purchased hats, t-shirts and footballs under their arms and all eyes focused on Monk and Green.
Trey Canning, from Staunton was with his father, Art Canning. They waited a long time to see their heroes, especially so close to home.
“I have been a Redskins fan for about 30 years, and as soon as I heard about it, I knew I was going to come out here to meet them,” Trey said. “It’s great to have heroes come to our Valley. These are two classy guys, and as a fan, to see them up close, means a lot to me.”
Father Art was standing outside the ropes with his digital camera, snapping away at Green as the line of people shifted forward.
“We are glad to be able to get to an event like this. We don’t get that chance often,” Art said.
Ahead of the Canning duo was Vickie Paugh from Stuarts Draft, who had her maroon jersey on and a camera bag wrapped around her waist.
For Paugh, this was a lifetime opportunity to meet Darrell Green.
“I’m such a die-hard Redskins fan. This is a dream come true for me,” Paugh said. “When I read that they were coming here, I told the girls in the office, ‘I’m finally going to meet him [Green], I can’t believe it.’ ”
A chance to have her picture taken with her idol failed when she reached the platform — her had batteries died. But after a phone call to her daughter, she was excited again.
“I was going nuts. I was in line for so long, and to not get a picture — I couldn’t have it,” Paugh said.
The veteran fan finally met her idol and was all smiles as she stood next to Monk and Green to shake their hands.
The event gave one mother and her adult son a chance to thank their icons.
“Players like Darrell Green were very instrumental when my son was growing up. When I was a single mother, these guys were a role model to him,” said Dorris Siever from Harrisonburg.
“When we heard about this, we jumped on it quick. They came down to take pictures with us, and I told them, ‘Thank you for being a positive role model for my son, Aaron, when he was younger.’ ”
Son Aaron, played football at Broadway High School.
“I have been watching these guys play since I played at Broadway,” he said.
“We went to their training camp in Ashburn. But it was a big surprise to find out that they were coming here.
“We love this team.”