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VIRGINIA SAR COLOR GUARD
HISTORY - 2022

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May 24th, 2022 Tuesday (11:00 am) - NSDAR Plaque Dedication
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC:  Kecia Brown, Regent Ketoctin Chapter NSDAR. keciabrown@me.com
Location: Morven Park, 17195 Southern Planter Road,Leesburg.
Firing Event: No.
Event Color Guard Commander:
Details: The Katoctin Chapter NSDAR will dedicate a marker for a Swamp oak propagate at Mt Vernon and planted at Morven Park. Leesburg Mayor Burks and VA State NSDAR Regent will attend. SAR role is presentation of colors, escort of VIP’s and retire colors.  Guardsmen to muster no later than 10:15 am. 
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Bonner, Schwoerer, Sink, Corey, Osborn.
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Morven Park Mansion

May 21st, 2022 Saturday (4:40 pm) - Relay For Life
Event Level: Public Service
Host/POC: Colonel William Grayson Chapter Virginia SAR / Andrew Mills at fedallgen@yahoo.com
Location: Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas, VA.
Firing Event: No.
Event Color Guard Commander: Andrew Mills.
Details: The event is Relay For Life. This is a charity event for cancer research.  Color Guard support has been requested.CWG will provide flags but is looking for additional Guardsmen to support.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Andrew Mills, Jack Mills.

May 21st, Saturday (11:00 am) – Joint Patriot Grave Marking & Plaque Dedication (Rev War and 1812)
Event Level: Chapter

Host/POC: Norfolk Chapter, Virginia SAR/Ken Hawkins drklhawkins@gmail.com
Location:  Cedar Grove Cemetery, 238 E Princess Anne Rd, Norfolk, VA.
​Firing Event: No
​Event Color Guard Commander: Thompson.
Details: This is a combined VASSAR/Society of the War of 1812 grave marking event.  The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and will recognize the service of six Revolutionary War patriots and twenty War of 1812 patriots interred there. President Paul Walden,Virginia Society of the War of 1812 will present a wreath on behalf of the Society of the War of 1812. Overseeing the event is Dr. Kenneth Hawkins of the Norfolk Chapter Virginia SAR.
Note: While graves date back to 1806, Cedar Grove Cemetery was established as Norfolk’s first municipal cemetery in 1825 following the closure of St. Paul's churchyard and the enactment of an ordinance restricting the creation and/or use of private burial grounds within city limits.  Cedar Grove one of three known sites containing mass burials of Yellow Fever victims. Yellow Fever struck Norfolk in 1795, 1802, 1821 and 1855. At the height of the 1821 and 1855 epidemics, nearly 100 Norfolk citizens died on a daily basis. The bodies were loaded onto a wagon and brought to Cedar Grove Cemetery to be buried in their family lot or a mass grave.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Dunaway, Lynch, Melhuish, Schwetke, Thompson.
Society War of 1812 Color Guard Attendees: Lyman.

May 21 2022, Saturday - Armed Forces Day Events
Event Level: National
Host/POC: Various
Location:  Various


​Details: First observed on 20 May 1950, the day was created on 31 August 1949, to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches – the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard – following the consolidation of the military services in the U.S. Department of Defense. It was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Days, but the separate days are still observed, especially within the respective services.

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May 14th, Saturday (1:00 pm) – Commemoration of General Joseph Martin (formerly Raid at Martin’s Station)
Event Level: National
Host/POC: Col. James Waller Chapter/Martin’s Station Chapter./Jarred Marlowe at marloweja15@gmail.com
Location:  Historic Henry County Courthouse, 1 East Main St., Martinsville, VA.
​Firing Event: No.
Event Color Guard Commander: Melhuish,
​Details: Guardsmen muster at 12:15.
Indoor Colors and speaking event held inside the Courthouse.  Wreaths presented outside the Courthouse.. 
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Bass, Coggins, Coker, Doss, Geisinger, Hall, Kelly, Melhuish, Morris, Reamey, Schwetke, Thomas, Vogler, Weyler.

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VASSAR President Bruce Meyer at the General Martin Monument outside the historic Henry County Courthouse, Martinsville, VA

CANCELED.  May 14th, 2022 - Raid at Martin's Station
Event Level: National
Location: 
Wilderness Road State Park, Ewing, VA.

​Details: SAR participation in this event was canceled.  The venue shifted to Martinsville, VA (Saturday, May 14).


April 30th, 2022 (2:00 pm) - Patriot Grave Marking - John Ford
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC
: Culpeper Minutemen Chapter/Tom Hamill at tom.hamill65@gmail.com
Location:  161 Waylands Mill Rd., Culpeper, VA 22701
The cemetery is in a field about a 1/4 mile from where RT631 meets RT618, Fordville, VA.  (GPS coordinates of the cemetery are: 38.403220, -78.115316).  The GPS coordinates for the entrance are 38.402823, -78.118349.
From Tom Hamill: "I highly recommend using GPS to get you 99% of the way to the grave site.  The owner's address is 161 Waylands Mill Road, Culpeper, VA (Yes - Culpeper even though it is in Madison County).  If you are coming from US29, the turn-off for the field is just over 3 miles down VA RT631.  If you are coming up from the south via RT618, you will need to make a left turn up RT631 instead of a right turn towards Wayland Mills.  I plan on having a Betsy Ross Flag at the entrance to the access road on RT631 - so look for that flag as you get close to the site."
Firing Event: Yes
Event Color Guard Commander: Osborn.
Details: If planning to attend/present a wreath please contact Tom Hamill.  Please note that the time for this event has been changed to 2 pm. 
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees:  Carrigan, Corey, Dennis, Hamill, Jameson, Osborn, Schwetke, Weyler.
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April 30th 2022, Saturday (11:00 am) – Patriot Grave Rededication - Francis Summers
Event Level: Chapter
Hosts: Co-hosted by the Fairfax Resolves Chapter, VASSAR and the Henry Clay Chapter NSDAR.
VASSAR POC: David Huxsoll at
president@fairfaxresolvessar.org
Location: Summer's Cemetery 6250 Lincolnia Road (RT 613), Alexandria, Virginia, 22312.
​Firing Event: Yes
Event Color Guard Commander:  Schmidt.
Details:
 
The Henry Clay and Thomas Lee chapters of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution cordially invite you to attend an important historical event on April 30th at 11 a.m. in Alexandria, Virginia.  On that date, we will hold a ceremony to rededicate a grave site plaque and headstone for Revolutionary War Patriot Francis Summers. Francis was a Revolutionary War soldier. He served in the Fairfax County, Virginia militia and is listed as one of three Sergeants in his Company.​ We will also install a sign to mark the location as the Summers Family Cemetery.   The hosts are proud to partner with the Sons of the American Revolution, the Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association, and the Fairfax County Park Authority for this event.
Parking is available in a lot diagonally across from the cemetery, and along Deming Avenue and Barnum Lane.
 Light refreshments will be served immediately following the ceremony.  
 Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Schmidt.

April 28th 2022, Thursday (11:00 am) - President James Monroe's 264th Birthday (Cemetery)
Event Level: Historic
Host/POC: (non-SAR) James Monroe Memorial Foundation/Peter Broadbent at pbroadbent@cblaw.com
VASSAR Guard POC: Melhuish at camelhuish@aol.com
Event Guard Coordinator: Schwetke.
Location
: Monroe's tomb, Hollywood Cemetery, 512 South Cherry St., Richmond, VA..
Firing Event: No
Details:  Wreath Laying ceremony at James Monroe's tomb in Hollywood Cemetery .  US Army will most likely provide the Color Guard (TBC). See attachment for more information and following website: https://monroefoundation.org/
Draft program is attached.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Corey, Lynch, Russell, Schwetke,
Westenberger, Weyler.
264th_birthday_celebration_ceremony_program_-_hollywood_cemetery.pdf
File Size: 265 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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US Army Color Guard advances the Colors at President Monroe's tomb

April 24th 2022, Sunday (3:00 pm) – Patriots’ Day Virtual Commemoration (Zoom)
Event Level: National
Host/POC: Fairfax Resolves Chapter, Virginia SAR/Wm Forrest Crain at 
wfcrain@comcast.net.
Location: Virtual.  Note: a small contingent of pre-selected Guardsmen will be at the
Lexington Minutemen Memorial Arlington National Cemetery Sec 1-297-34​ as part of the ceremony.
Firing Event: No
Event Color Guard Commander: Crain.
Details: M
emorializing the eight men of the Lexington Militia killed in action on 19 April 1775.  This will be a virtual event.  If you intend to present a wreath please register no later than April 21 using the following link:  
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7EfbBAhdg9meu7ocP59IV8p0y--RPBGcCsaiKfe4xMqCpwA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: TBC.
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Memorial to the Lexington Militia at Arlington National Cemetery

April 23rd 2022, Saturday (10:30 am) - President James Monroe's 264th Birthday (Birthplace House)
Event Level: Historic
Host/POC: (non-SAR) James Monroe Memorial Foundation/Peter Broadbent at pbroadbent@cblaw.com
VASSAR POC:  Melhuish at camelhuish@aol.com
Location: Monroe's Birthplace House, 4460, James Monroe Highway, Colonial Beach, VA.
Firing Event: No
Event Color Guard Commander: Melhuish.
Details:  Wreath Laying ceremony in front of Monroe's Birthplace House. See attachment for more information and following website: https://monroefoundation.org/
Draft program is attached.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Hamill, Hodges, Lynch, Melhuish, Morris, Russell, Schwetke, Thompson,
Westenberger.
james_monroe_264th_birthday_celebration_-_birthplace_ceremony_program.pdf
File Size: 484 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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VASSAR President Bruce Meyer addressing the audience.  The replica of Monroe's farmhouse in the background.

www.virginiasar.org/latest-news/sgt-maj-john-champe-chapter-commemorates-their-namesake-revolutionary-war-hero-sgt-maj-john-champe
April 23rd 2022, Saturday (1:00 pm) - Sgt Major John Champe Commemoration
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Sgt. Major John Champe Chapter/Barry Schwoerer at bschwoerer@comcast.net
Location: 23319 Champe Ford Road, Middleburg, VA 20117
Firing Event: Yes
Event Color Guard Commander: Schwoerer.
Details: The Sergeant Major John Champe Chapter, Virginia SAR was recently rechartered on the 12th of February this year. Sgt Maj Champe hails from Aldie in Loudoun County, and is a hero of the American Revolution.
Born about 1752, Champe enlisted in the Virginia Cavalry from Loudoun County in 1776 and was made a Sergeant Major  in [Lighthorse Harry] Lee's Legion. He is most famous for his faked desertion from the Continental Army when he was tasked by General George Washington to capture the traitor Benedict Arnold. The plan almost succeeded but was thwarted when Arnold directed his troops to Virginia to attack Continental forces. Not wanting to engage his fellow Virginians, he returned to the Continental Line.
This event takes place at the Champe homesite in Aldie.  We will gather at a monument and obelisk constructed on the property by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1939. The material used in the construction of the monument and nearby bridge, crossing Champe Ford, was reportedly from the original Champe home.
Although Champe's actual birthday is unknown, we will use this opportunity to commemorate his heroism and military contributions to our Nation's founding. We will also recognize Patriots Day, commemorating the 247th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
Article about this event at:www.virginiasar.org/latest-news/sgt-maj-john-champe-chapter-commemorates-their-namesake-revolutionary-war-hero-sgt-maj-john-champe
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Carrigan, Christensen, Corey, D. Hall, Johnson, Osborn, B. Schwoerer, J. Schwoerer, and Weyler.
smjc_commemoration_042322_program_final.pdf
File Size: 232 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


April 13th 2022, Wednesday (11:00 am) - 279th Birthday of President Jefferson (Wreath Laying)
Event Level: State equivalent (District of Columbia)
Host/POC: District of Columbia SAR / Joel Hinzman at joel_hinzman@hotmail.com
Location: The Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
Firing event: No
Details: The 279th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. As in all but two of the seventy-nine years since the dedication of the Jefferson Memorial in 1943, the District of Columbia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Military District of Washington, will sponsor a commemorative ceremony at 11:00 AM that day at the Jefferson Memorial, on the Tidal Basin in Washington. The program will include music by one of the service bands, a Joint Armed Services Color Guard, and the placing of wreaths by numerous officials and groups. 
Parking is limited, so leave yourself plenty of time. METRO (Smithsonian station) may be the best option. If you drive, plan to use Lots A, B, or C, located on Ohio Drive between and flanking the spans of the 14th Street Bridges. The lots are up to a half-mile walk from the north steps of the Memorial facing the Tidal Basin, where the ceremony will take place.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Corey, Schwetke.
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April 12th 2022, Tuesday (10:00 am) - 246th Commemoration of the Signing of the Halifax Resolves
Event Level: National
Host/POC: Halifax Resolves Chapter, North Carolina SAR
Location:  Halifax, NC
Firing Event: No
​Details:
The Halifax Resolves was a name later given to the resolution adopted by North Carolina on 12 April 1776. The adoption of the resolution was the first official action in the American Colonies calling for independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution. The Halifax Resolves helped pave the way for the presentation to Congress of the United States Declaration of Independence less than three months later.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Geisinger, Hall, Schwetke.

​April 10th 2022, Sunday (3:00 pm) – Multiple Patriot Grave Marking
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Fairfax Resolves Chapter, Virginia SAR/Wm Forrest Crain at 
wfcrain@comcast.net.
Location: 
New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 12942 Lutheran Church Road, Lovettsville, VA 20180
Firing Event: Yes
Event Color Guard Commander:
Osborn.
Event Honor Guard Commander: Bonner.

Details: This event honors five Revolutionary War Patriots buried here.  Participants will have the opportunity to earn five (5) more grave markings towards the Grave Marking medal. 
Notes: Guardsmen muster with Osborn NLT 2:15 pm.  Safety checks will then be conducted on all firelocks and cartridge boxes.  Guardsmen arriving late who have not had their firelocks cleared by a Safety Inspector will NOT be permitted to fire. For the firing detail, Schmidt will act as assistant Safety Officer. 
The Color Guard will comprise of Osborn, a drummer, two musket men (one from MD CG), National Colors, MD and VA State Flags.. The Honor Guard will be led by Bonner and will comprise at least two musket men and all the remaining flags, to include SAR flag, 250th Anniversary flag and MD & VA Chapter flags. 
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Bonner, Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Cordes, Corey, Crain, Duncan, Hall, Kelly, McKinley, Morris, Osborn, Poe, Reynolds, Schmidt, Schwetke, B. Schwoerer, Weyler.

April 9th Saturday (11:00 am) – Annual Multi-Chapter Meeting
Event Level: Chapter
​Host/POC: Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, Virginia SAR/Charles Jameson at ccj1947@gmail.com.
Location: Graves' Mountain Farm and Lodges, Rt. 670, Syria, VA 22743
Firing Event: No
​Details: Social time with cash bar begins at 11:00 am, and the meeting starts at 11:30 am.  We will then break for lunch 'family style' at about 12:00.  Please see attached for more information, and to register for this event.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Bonner, Corey, Crain, Daniel, Hamilton, Hartman, B. Schwetke, B. Schwoerer, and Weyler.

April 2nd 2022, Saturday (1:00 pm) – Patriot Grave Marking - John Holker
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Col James Wood II Chapter, Virginia SAR/Dale Corey at 
dale.corey@comcast.net.  RSVP to Brett Osborn  bwosborn@verizon.net
Location:  Old Chapel Cemetery, 3605 Bishop Meade Road, Boyce, VA 22646  (Intersection of US Route 340 & Virginia Route 255) Clarke County.
Firing Event: Yes
Event Color Guard Commander:
Osborn.
Details:  John (Jean) Holker (1745-1822), born in Manchester, was the son of Chevalier Jean Holker, an English Jacobite who fled to Rouen, France, in 1745 and became prominent in French textile manufacturing. The younger Holker returned to England between 1769 and 1772 to study the Hargreave and Arkwright manufacturing processes. In 1777, father and son were involved in helping the American commissioners in Paris obtain military clothing and other supplies. In 1778, with Benjamin Franklin's support, John Holker and Conrad Alexandre Gérard came to America as the first French ministers to the United States. Holker was the agent for the French navy in American ports and consul of France, and took up permanent residence in Philadelphia. During the war, he supplied arms and provisions to the French fleet, with Robert Morris acting as Holker's American agent in Philadelphia and William Smith as his agent in Baltimore.By 1780, Holker had become consul general for Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. While acting in this official capacity, he was engaged in extensive private business speculations with Robert Morris, William Turnbull, and Peter Marmie. Complaints from local authorities on his financial activities led the French government to demand that he either observe the prohibition against public officials engaging in trade or resign. Holker resigned in 1781, preferring to continue his various business ventures that included supplying clothes to Continental troops during the war, and later investing in western land speculation, Pittsburgh ironworks, distilleries, saw mills, and salt works. He and his partners William Turnbull and Peter Marmie formed the Alliance Iron Works, which was important to the early development of Pittsburgh as an urban center. The death of his father and the turmoil of the French Revolution diminished his assets and left him with fewer business ties in France. Following the war, Holker settled in Springsbury, Virginia, where he remained until his death in 1822, with the exception of a brief sojourn in France from 1800 to 1804.
​Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Bonner, Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Cordes, Corey, Daniel, Duncan, Ford, Hall, Kelly, Osborn, Phillips, Poe, Reynolds, Moore E., Moore P., Morris, Robinson M., Schwetke, Schwoerer B., Schwoerer J., St Jacques, Tyler
cjwii_chapter-holker__flyer.pdf
File Size: 132 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


March 20th 2022, Sunday (3:00 pm) – Plaque Dedication - Col. Charles Broadwater
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Fairfax Resolves Chapter, Virginia SAR/Wm Forrest Crain at 
wfcrain@comcast.net.
Location:  Broadwater Cemetery, 900 Frederick Street, SW, Vienna, VA
Firing 
Event: Yes
​Details: In addition to serving in the Revolutionary War, Col. Broadwater was a signer of the Chapter's namesake, Fairfax Resolves.  The plaques dedication honors his role in this event.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Abbott, Bonner, Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Corey, Crain, Daniel, Duncan, Jameson, McKinley, Osborn, Phillips, Reynolds, Robinson, Schmidt, B. Schwetke, Schwoerer, Weyler.

Mar 19th, Saturday (11 am) Multi-Grave Marking Ceremony
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Colonel James Wood II Chapter / Dale Corey at dale.corey@comcast.net
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church, 810 Fairfax St., Stephens City, VA..
​Firing Event: Yes
​Details: This is a multi-grave marking ceremony.  There will be wreath presentations and chapter flags are encouraged.  We will have color guard, honor guard and sentinels.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Abbott, Bonner, Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Cordes, Corey, Daniel, Duncan, Dunaway, Ford, Hartman, Lynch,  Melhuish, E. Moore, Morris, Osborn, Parmerter, Petrie, Poe, Phillips, Reynolds, E. Robinson, M. Robinson, B. Schwoerer, St. Jacques. Weyler.

Mar 19th, Saturday (8:30 am) – Color Guard Workshop
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Colonel James Wood II Chapter / Dale Corey at dale.corey@comcast.net
Location: Wayside Inn, 7783 Main St., Middletown, VA.
​Firing Event: Yes
​Details: Subjects include safety, musket certification, escort drill, basic commands, and color guard etiquette.  Great time to ensure you are qualified to fire at a sanctioned event.  Come in period attire.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Abbott, Bonner, Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Cordes, Corey, Daniel, Dunaway, Duncan, Ford, Lynch, Melhuish,  E. Moore, Osborn, Parmerter, Parish, Petrie, Poe, Phillips, Reynolds, M. Robinson, B. Schwoerer, St. Jacques.


CANCELED - March 12th 2022, Saturday (Time TBD) – 240th Commemoration of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse
Event Level: National
Host/POC: North Carolina SAR
Location: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 2332 New Garden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410
Firing Event: Yes (safety governed by the National Park Service)
Details: The Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina, on March 15, 1781, proved pivotal to the American victory in the American Revolutionary War (1775-83). Although British troops under Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis (1738-1805) scored a tactical victory at Guilford Courthouse over American forces under Major General Nathanael Greene (1742-86), the British suffered significant troop losses during the battle. Afterward, Cornwallis abandoned his campaign for the Carolinas and instead took his army into Virginia, where in October of that year he surrendered to General George Washington (1732-99) following the Battle of Yorktown, the last major land battle of the war.. 

February 26th 2022, Saturday (10:00 am) – 246th Commemoration of the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge
Event Level: National
Host/POC: Lower Cape Fear Chapter NCSSAR and Stamp Defiance Chapter NCDAR, with Moore's Creek National Battlefield. Register for wreath presentations and Color Guard participation before 12 February 2022.  If you prefer to mail a registration, Download the Color Guard & Wreath Presentation RSVP.
Location: Moore's Creek Battleground, 40 Patriots Hall Drive, Currie, NC 28435
Firing Event: TBD
​Details: ​In the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina on 27 February 1776, during the Revolutionary War (1775-83), American forces defeated the British. The victory ended British authority in North Carolina and provided an important boost to Patriot morale. Within two months of the American victory, on 12 April 1776, North Carolina became the first colony to vote in favor of independence from Britain.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: ​Hall.
moores_creek_bridge_flyer.pdf
File Size: 280 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


CANCELED.  February 26th 2022, Saturday – 256th Commemoration of the 1766 Leedstown Resolutions
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: James Monroe Chapter, Virginia SAR

February 22nd 2022, Tuesday (9:00 am) – Wreath Laying at the Tomb of Gen'l George Washington
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: George Washington Chapter, Virginia SAR/Paul Walden at PaulWalden@live.com.
Location:  George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
Firing Event: No
Details: Commemorates in honor of His Excellency's 290th birthday.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: ​Bonner, Cook, Crain, and Morris

February 22nd 2022, Tuesday (12:00 pm) – George Washington's Birthday
Event Level: National
​Host/POC: Col James Wood II Chapter, Virginia SAR/Dale Corey at dale.corey@comcast.net.
Location:  Washington's Headquarters, Winchester, VA
Firing Event: No
Details: The Col James Wood II Chapter is placing a wreath honoring Gen'l Washington on the occasion of his birthday.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees:  Carrigan, Corey, Daniel, Osborn, and Parmerter

February 22nd 2022, Tuesday (4:00 pm) – George Washington's Birthday and Reading of his Farewell Address
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, Virginia SAR/Charles Jameson at ccj1947@gmail.com.
Firing Event: TBD
​Location: Culpeper Masonic Cemetery, 1012 N Main Street, Culpeper, VA  22701
Details: This observance is conducted near the graves of Gen'l Edward Stevens and Col John Jameson.  Latest update: "Looking at the weather forecast, we've had some discussions here at the CMM.  We still plan on holding our George Washington Birthday Celebration on Tuesday Afternoon at 4pm.  We will be holding it at the Pavilion near the CMM/Charters of Freedom Monuments at Yowell Meadow Park in Culpeper..  I'm pretty sure that is Pavilion A.  Enter the park via the Gardner Street entrance.  It is supposed to rain starting in the morning and rain through the evening.  The Pavilion is covered and as long as it's not windy, should be a good place to hold the event."
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: ​Corey

February 21st 2022, Monday (~ 1:00pm) – George Washington Birthday Parade
Event Level: National
​Host/POC: George Washington Chapter, Virginia SAR/Paul Walden at PaulWalden@live.com.
Location:  Old Town Alexandria - We have been assigned to "Division 3" on Pitt Street and Wilkes Street, which is about 3 blocks from the OPMH wreath laying ceremony. You may recall, we muster in the same area for the 2020 GW Parade.
Firing Event: No
Details: The nation’s largest George Washington Birthday parade marches a one-mile route through the streets of his chosen hometown.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Corey, Crain, Daniel, Duncan, Huxsoll, Mills (Andrew and Jack), Morris, Osborn, Phillips, Schwetke, Schwoerer, and Weyler.
gw_parade_assembly_area_map-division_3___2.15.22.pdf
File Size: 609 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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February 21st 2022, Monday (11:00 am) – Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Jointly hosted by the George Washington Chapter, Virginia SAR and the Kate Waller Barrett Chapter Virginia DAR. Paul Walden at PaulWalden@live.com.
Location:  Old Presbyterian Meeting House, 323 S Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Firing Event: No
Details: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution honors an unidentified soldier of the American Revolutionary War, whose remains were unearthed in 1826 in Alexandria, Virginia. The memorial is in the churchyard Burial Ground of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church that dates from 1772.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Corey, Crain, Daniel, Duncan, Huxsoll, Mills (Andrew and Jack), Osborn, Phillips, Schwetke, Schwoerer, and Weyler.

February 19th 2022, Saturday (10:00 am) – 241st Commemoration of the Crossing of the Dan
Event Level: National
​Host/POC: Dan River Chapter, Virginia SAR/Gary Hall at hallgl@aol.com.
Location:  Meet no later than 9:30 at the South Boston Volunteer Fire Company Support Center, 801 Wilborn Avenue South Boston, Virginia.    After the ceremony we will go to Boyd’s Ferry for Wreath Laying, and presenting of the Colors.. 
Firing Event: Yes (7th VA Regiment).
​Details: Following an American victory at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina in January 1781, General Nathanael Greene’s southern army outran British forces under Lord Cornwallis as both armies raced northward across the Carolinas.  In what became known as the Race to the Dan, a few weeks later, on 14 February 1781, became “The Crossing” when Greene’s army crossed the Dan River to safety near South Boston.  The Crossing of the Dan became a turning point in the American Revolution, precipitating events that led to the British surrender at Yorktown.  Please see the attached invitation for additional information, and to register for this event.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Daniel, Geisinger, Hall, Kelly, Melhuish, Morris, Parmerter, Phillips, Robinson (Marc), Schwetke, Thompson, Weyler, and Williams.
2022_crossing_invitation_1_.pdf
File Size: 160 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


February 18th 2022, Friday (5:00 pm) – 241st Commemoration of the Crossing of the Banister River at King's Bridge (New Event!)
Event Level: Chapter

Host/POC: Dan River Chapter, Virginia SAR/Gary Hall at
 
hallgl@aol.com.
Location:  1041 Bethel Rd., Halifax VA.
Firing Event: No
​Details: The Race to the Dan River did not end General Greene's Southern Army’s retreat from General Cornwallis' British Army after the crossing of the Dan River on February 14, 1781.  That river was only passable by boat at the time but could have gone down quickly allowing a continued pursuit by the British.  Although Greene was successful in his objective, he was concerned enough to prepare for continuing the retreat by preparing another crossing of the Staunton River at Cole's Ferry.  While some of Greene's troops stayed on the north bank of the Dan for surveillance, the main army moved north crossing the Banister River at Cowford, near this site, on to the old Halifax Court House at Crystal Hill some five or six miles north of the Banister.  The Dan River Chapter is working with the Town of Halifax to organize this event, which may also include a reenactment and serving of Brunswick Stew!  ​  Please see the attached invitation for additional information, and to register for this event.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: ​Geisinger, Hall, Schwetke, Thompson, Williams.


February 11th – 12th, 2022 Friday Saturday – 132nd Annual Virginia SAR Meeting
Event Level: State
Host/POC: Virginia Society SAR
Location: Omni Richmond Hotel, 100 S 12th Street, Richmond, VA23219
Firing Event: No
Details: Annual Meeting, Public Service, Memorial, and Chapter Awards, as well as the installation of 2022 - 2023 Officers and the Society's 102nd President.  Note change in Color Guard Workshop time on agenda, to 3:00 - 4:00 pm Friday afternoon.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Abbott, Badamo, Bonner, Cook, Corey, Crain, Daniel, Hall, Hamill, Hodges, Huxsoll, Kelly, Lynch, Melhuish, Morris, O'Kelley, Osborn, Schwetke (Bill), Schwoerer (Barry), and Weyler
Participating in the Color Guard Workshop on Friday afternoon: Abbott, Badamo, Bonner, Coggins, Cook, Corey, Crain, Day, Driscoll, Daniel, Greaf, Hamill, Hodges, Keith, Kelly, Lynch, Melhuish, Morris, O'Kelley, Osborn, Rhodes, Schwetke (Bill), Schwoerer (Barry), Thomas (John), Vermaelen, and Weyler

February 6th 2022, Sunday (2:00 pm) – Patriot Grave Marking - Rev. Townshend Dade, Jr.
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Fairfax Resolves Chapter, Virginia SAR/Wm Forrest Crain at 
wfcrain@comcast.net.
Location:  Monocacy Cemetery, 19801 W Hunter Road​, Beallsville, MD
Firing Event: Yes
​Details: The Rev. Dade was the first Rector of Christ Church and a signer of the Chapter's namesake, Fairfax Resolves.  The marking of his grave is an initiative undertaken by the Chapter's 1774 Society, to mark the graves of all signers of the Fairfax Resolves.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Bonner, Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Corey, Crain, Daniel, Duncan, Morris, Osborn, Phillips, Robinson (Erik and Marc), Schwetke (Bill), Schwoerer (Barry and Jacob), and Weyler; and participating from the Maryland SAR CG are Embry, Abbott, Davidson, Harris, Hoover, Price, and Wood.

February 5th 2022, Saturday (3:30 pm) – Memorial Service for Billy Lee, Gen'l Washington's Valet
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: George Washington Chapter, Virginia SAR/Paul Walden at 
PaulWalden@live.com.  Please register your attendance at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdv9tJSo1wGQ5ElwGOjPzzVRLdhvBc3mK6B59dnswYrTsQMTA/viewform?usp=sf_link, and notify the Commander at ken.l.bonner@gmail.com if you plan to participate as a member of the Color Guard.
Location:  Slave Cemetery at George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
Firing Event: No
​Details: William “Billy” Lee was born around 1752 in Westmoreland County, Virginia and was purchased in 1768 by General Washington.  He accompanied General Washington as his valet, or “Val de Chambre” in many of his engagements during the American Revolution, including the Battle of Monmouth and at the surrender at Yorktown.  He later accompanied then President Washington to the first capital in New York City.  He married Margaret Thomas in the early 1780s.  Upon Washington’s death in 1799, he was freed and remained on the Mount Vernon estate. He died here in 1828 and is buried in the Slave Burial Ground.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: ​Bonner, Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Corey, Crain, Daniel, Duncan, Jameson, Morris, Phillips, Schwetke (Bill), and  Weyler

January 29th 2022, Saturday (~ 10:00 am) – 241st Commemoration of the Battle of Cowen's Ford
Event Level:  National
Host/POC: Mecklenburg Chapter, North Carolina SAR
Location: Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 10500 Beatties Ford Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Firing Event: Yes
​Details: The Battle of Cowan's Ford was fought on 1 February 1781 at Cowan's Ford on the Catawba River in northwestern Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, between a force of about 5,000 British and fewer than a thousand Americans who were attempting to slow the British advance across the river. The American general William Lee Davidson was killed in this battle.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: ​Morris

January 22nd 2022, Saturday (1:00 pm) – Peter Muhlenburg Commemoration
Event Level:  State
Location: Shenandoah County Courthouse, 103 Main Street, Woodstock, VA
Host/POC:  Col James Wood II Chapter, Virginia SAR/Dale Corey at 
dale.corey@comcast.net.
Firing Event: No
Details: 
Peter Muhlenburg was an ordained Anglican pastor serving a Lutheran community in Woodstock, VA.  Besides his new congregation, he led the Committee of Safety and Correspondence for Dunmore County, Virginia. He was elected to the House of Burgesses in 1774, and was a delegate to the First Virginia Convention.  Toward the end of 1775, Muhlenberg was authorized to raise and command as its colonel the 8th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army.  After George Washington personally asked him to accept this task, he agreed. However, his brother Fredrick Augustus Muhlenberg, who was also a minister, did not approve of him going into the army until the British burned down his own church in front of him.  Then he joined the military himself.  According to a biography written by his great-nephew in the mid-19th century, on January 21, 1776 in the Lutheran church in Woodstock, Virginia, Reverend Muhlenberg took his sermon text from the third chapter Ecclesiastes, which starts with "To every thing there is a season..."; after reading the eighth verse, "a time of war, and a time of peace," he declared, "And this is the time of war," removing his clerical robe to reveal his Colonel's uniform. Outside the church door the drums began to roll as men turned to kiss their wives and then walked down the aisle to enlist, and within half an hour, 162 men were enrolled. The next day he led out 300 men from the county to form the nucleus of the 8th Virginia Regiment.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: ​Carpenter, Carrigan, Christensen, Cook, Crain, Duncan, Ford, Hall (Doug), Hamill, Jameson, Johnson, Moore (Erick and Patrick), Morris, Osborn, Parmerter, Phillips, Reynolds, Robinson (Eric and Marc), Schwetke (Bill), and Schwoerer (Barry)

January 16th 2022, Saturday (7 pm) – 241st Commemoration of the Battle of Cowpens - Virtual
Event/Level: National
Location:  Virtual via Zoom

Details: This is a National - level event, of interest to the Virginia SAR and hosted by the Daniel Morgan Chapter SCSSAR.  This is the second of two, and virtual option for those who wish to join remotely, Cowpens commemoration.  Please contact Joe Glavitsch at joerichglav@gmail.com if you if you plan to attend and wish to present a wreath.  The link for registration to the virtual event is https://scssar.org/event/the-241st-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-cowpens/.
​Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees:

​January 15th 2022, Saturday (2 pm) – 241st Commemoration of the Battle of Cowpens
Event/Level: National
Location:  Jolly Park, 102 Railroad Avenue, Gaffney, SC 29340

Details: This is a National - level event, of interest to the Virginia SAR and hosted by the Daniel Morgan Chapter SCSSAR.  There is a change in this year's event venue, to Jolly Park in Gaffney, SC.  Please contact Joe Glavitsch at joerichglav@gmail.com
if you plan to attend and wish to present a wreath.  There is a registration table, and you are asked to sign in by 1:30 pm.  You will find additional information regarding this event at https://scssar.org/event/240th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-cowpens-january-15-2021/.
​The Battle of Cowpens was an engagement during the American Revolutionary War fought on 17 January 1781, between American Colonial forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Sir Banastre Tarleton, as part of the campaign in the Carolinas (North and South ).
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Morris, Osborn

December 26 2021 Sunday and January 2 Sunday - "Ten Crucial Days" Wreath Laying events
Event/Level: National
Location:  (Various) Washington Crossing Historic Park, Trenton Battle Monument, and Princeton Battlefield Colonnade and Memorial Grove

Details: These are National - level events, organized locally by the Princeton Chapter, NJSSAR.
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR) will be laying wreaths to commemorate the heroic actions of the Continental Army and local militia that defeated Hessian and British Troops during the “Ten Crucial Days” of America’s War for Independence from Great Britain, December 25, 1776 to January 3, 1777.  Color Guard units from all state societies are invited, representatives from the legacy units, local elected officials, and the President General of the NSSAR will be attending.

Sunday. Dec 26
@ 11:00 am - SAR Wreath Laying, Washington Crossing Historic Park, 1112 River Street Washington Crossing, PA 18977
@ 12:30 pm - Lunch, Leonardo's II, 2021 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence, NJ 08648
@  2:30 pm -  SAR Wreath Laying Trenton Battle Monument 350 N Warren St, Trenton, NJ 08618 - Trenton Downtown Association’s “Patriot’s Week”
Sunday, January 2
@ 8:30 am - Lecture and re-enactment, Princeton Battlefield Society's "Experience the Battle of Princeton", 500 Mercer Street, Princeton NJ 08540
@11:30 am - SAR Wreath Laying, Princeton Battlefield Colonnade and Memorial Grove 
@ 1:00 pm - Lunch, Leonardo's II, 2021 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence, NJ 08648
@ 3:00 pm - SAR Wreath Laying Battle of Assunpink Creek, Mill Hill Park, East Front Street, S Broad St, Trenton, NJ 08608

Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees:
    At Washington's Crossing:  Cook, Morris, and Thomas
    At Princeton and Assunpink:  Bonner, Christensen, Cook, Corey, Osborn, and Robinson (Marc)


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