For Nina Tisara, being in a room full of Living Legends on Sunday, Feb. 8, was the culmination of a dream that has now taken a life of its own. More than 150 people gathered at the gala celebrating the class of 2008 Living Legends at the Carlyle Club.

Tisara, an Alexandria photographer, conceived of the idea as a way to document the contributions of the city luminaries, celebrating their achievements in public and archiving their stories in the city’s library. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Alexandria and the Alexandria Gazette Packet, Living Legends is funded in part through a grant from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts. A nonprofit organization has been registered with the Virginia Department of Consumer Affairs to solicit funds for the program, which was designed to chronicle and honor today’s history-makers.

"As we all known, Alexandria is full of stories and tales," said Tisara. "All of these individuals have their own stories."

The 2008 nominees are the following: Engin Artemel; Donna and Mel Bergheim; Kathryn Brown; Mayor Bill Euille; Charles Euripides; Bernard Fagelson; Thomas "T.J." Fannon; Lillie Finklea and Louise Massoud; Carlton Funn; Arlene Hewitt; Susan Kellom; John Kling; Marlin Lord; Eula and Melvin Miller; Rep. Jim Moran (D-8); Michael Oliver; Vice Mayor Del Pepper; George Pera; Alice Quint; Elbert Ransom Jr.; Jane Ring; Charlotte Ross; Pam St. Clair; Charlene Schiff; the Steuerle Family; the Swanson Family; and Pat Troy.