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PHOTOS: Centreville’s Colin L. Powell Elementary School marks death of namesake

October 20, 2021, 8:38 AM

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s passing was met with condolences from politicians on both sides of the aisle, presidents and world leaders.

But a Fairfax County, Virginia, elementary school has a special connection with the former general and statesman who died Monday of complications due to COVID-19.

Students at Centreville’s Colin L. Powell Elementary School lowered flags to half-staff Tuesday morning on news of their namesake’s death, honoring his legacy with a moment of silence and writing letters to Powell’s family.

See a scenes below captured by photographer Kenny Holston for Getty Images.

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The U.S. flag is lowered to half-staff at Colin L. Powell Elementary School after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the schools flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Students in the 2nd grade at Colin L. Powell Elementary School read aloud letters they wrote to the family of Colin Powell with their condolences after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications was announced, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the school’s flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Students at Colin L. Powell Elementary School read aloud letters they wrote to the family of Colin Powell with their condolences after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications was announced, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the school’s flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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A sign is seen at the entrance to Colin L. Powell Elementary School after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the schools flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Students at Colin L. Powell Elementary School read aloud letters they wrote to the family of Colin Powell with their condolences after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications was announced, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the school’s flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Students in the 1st grade at Colin L. Powell Elementary School watch a video of Colin Powell, after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications was announced, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the school’s flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Students in the 2nd grade at Colin L. Powell Elementary School read aloud letters they wrote to the family of Colin Powell with their condolences after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications was announced, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the school’s flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Condolence letters written to Colin Powell’s family by 2nd graders sit on a desk at Colin L. Powell Elementary School, after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the schools flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Kaitlin North, 2nd grade teacher at Colin L. Powell Elementary School, helps a student read aloud a letter they wrote to the family of Colin Powell with their condolences after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications was announced, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the school’s flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Students at Colin L. Powell Elementary School read aloud letters they wrote to the family of Colin Powell with their condolences after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications was announced, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the school’s flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Students in the 2nd grade at Colin L. Powell Elementary School read aloud letters they wrote to the family of Colin Powell with their condolences after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications was announced, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the school’s flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)
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Condolence letters written to Colin Powell’s family by 2nd graders sit on a desk at Colin L. Powell Elementary School, after news of his passing due to COVID-19 complications, on Oct. 19, 2021 in Centreville, Virginia. Students and faculty at the school, which is named after the former Secretary of State, honored his legacy by lowering the schools flag to half-staff, watching a video of Powell and holding a moment of silence. (Photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)

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