Prom For Special Needs Guests Made Memorable By Church, Volunteers In Vienna

VIENNA, VA — Saturday night was nothing more than a joyful experience for prom guests with special needs, who dressed up in their best dresses and suits and entered on a red carpet surrounded by a military honor guard. After that, it was a night filled with smiles, dancing and happy tears.

This was the atmosphere at the Be Our Guest prom, which Vienna Presbyterian Church hosted for guests with special needs. This was a new effort by the church, which runs a Friendship Class for adults with special needs.

An estimated 65 guests ranging from teenagers to adults in their 60s attended Saturday evening's prom. There were also 50 student escorts who volunteered with the event, as well as 50 parents who were treated to a dinner while their children danced the night away.

"It was such a great event. There were a lot of tears from parents," Sue Hamblen, the director of missions at Vienna Presbyterian Church, told Patch.

Guests were treated to a night of dancing, food from Chick-fil-A, karaoke, a GLOW room, game room, corsages and boutonnieres, a photo booth with props, and a custom angel wing backdrop for individual photos. A U.S. Air Force honor guard and Vienna Singing Princesses greeted guests as they entered on the red carpet.

Best of all, it was a special night for people of all abilities to be themselves.

"We had several wheelchairs and crutches, but they were dancing," said Hamblen.

Hamblen was impressed by the mix of volunteers who came from the church and the greater community.

"We are so grateful for the outpouring of support and are buoyed by the comments of both guests and parents that felt truly loved and cared for throughout the evening," said Hamblen.