VIRGINIA SAR COLOR GUARD
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LATEST NEWS
Virginia Guardsmen, I trust this message finds you and your family staying well and safe during this unusual time. As of this writing, we've just been informed that the 2020 Congress has been canceled. And, as this latest news indicates, our Society has experienced unique challenges however I'm proud to observe that we've innovated equally unique approaches and solutions. By now, VASSAR Chapters have held a number of virtual - only and, more recently combination of virtual and live events as Virginia begins a phased return to normalcy. Thank you all for your creativity, and Patriotic endeavors as we continue our VASSAR Color Guard mission! Fraternally, Ken
Virginia Guardsmen, I trust this message finds you and your family staying well and safe during this unusual time. As of this writing, we've just been informed that the 2020 Congress has been canceled. And, as this latest news indicates, our Society has experienced unique challenges however I'm proud to observe that we've innovated equally unique approaches and solutions. By now, VASSAR Chapters have held a number of virtual - only and, more recently combination of virtual and live events as Virginia begins a phased return to normalcy. Thank you all for your creativity, and Patriotic endeavors as we continue our VASSAR Color Guard mission! Fraternally, Ken
COLOR GUARD SCHEDULE
September 18 - 19, 2020 Friday - Saturday - VASSAR Semi-Annual Meeting
Location: Berry Hill Plantation Resort & Conference Center, 3105 River Road, South Boston, VA
Details: This is a State - level event, hosted by the Virginia Society SAR.
A Color Guard Workshop will be held outdoors (weather permitting), including training on musket firing and (time permitting) cartridge loading.
Afterwards, the Color Guard will support the opening of our meeting with a ceremony on the circle drive and front lawn (see picture) including a cannon salute. Note - my Mustang will not be included in the ceremony :-). Friday evening is shaping up to be a special occasion with dinner, capped by fireworks and the President's reception.
If you plan to attend, please send me an email at ken.l.bonner@gmail.com. The agenda and program, including registration form can be found posted on the Latest News tab.
Weather: The weather is trending nicely over the first few weeks of September .. we'll keep an eye out!
Attendees: Badamo, Bonner, Cook, Corey, Daniel, Davenport, Dennis, Geisinger, Greaf, Hall, Jameson, Kelly, M Robinson, Osborn, Russell, B Schwetke, and D Schwetke
Location: Berry Hill Plantation Resort & Conference Center, 3105 River Road, South Boston, VA
Details: This is a State - level event, hosted by the Virginia Society SAR.
A Color Guard Workshop will be held outdoors (weather permitting), including training on musket firing and (time permitting) cartridge loading.
Afterwards, the Color Guard will support the opening of our meeting with a ceremony on the circle drive and front lawn (see picture) including a cannon salute. Note - my Mustang will not be included in the ceremony :-). Friday evening is shaping up to be a special occasion with dinner, capped by fireworks and the President's reception.
If you plan to attend, please send me an email at ken.l.bonner@gmail.com. The agenda and program, including registration form can be found posted on the Latest News tab.
Weather: The weather is trending nicely over the first few weeks of September .. we'll keep an eye out!
Attendees: Badamo, Bonner, Cook, Corey, Daniel, Davenport, Dennis, Geisinger, Greaf, Hall, Jameson, Kelly, M Robinson, Osborn, Russell, B Schwetke, and D Schwetke
September 19, 2020 Saturday - SAR Vigil at Washington's Tomb
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon, Alexandria, VA
Details: This is a National - level event, commanded by the National Color Guard Commander Lou Raborg. Depending on weather, at least two guardsmen are posted for ~ 30 minute intervals beginning at about 8 am and ending at about 5 pm. In observance of VA and CDC guidelines, we're planning on having no more than 6 guardsmen with masks during any post in order to observe social distancing practices.
Please note, that this is the same weekend as the VASSAR semi-annual meeting in South Boston. If you are not planning to attend semi-annual but are interested in supporting this event, please send me an email with your time availability and preference at ken.l.bonner@gmail.com.
Weather: Fri - 70 degrees and chance of rain 60%; Sat - 66 degrees and 0% chance of rain .. as they always say "if you don't like the forecast, just wait a minute [and it will change]".
Attendees: Christensen, A Mills, J Mills, Newman, Stephens
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon, Alexandria, VA
Details: This is a National - level event, commanded by the National Color Guard Commander Lou Raborg. Depending on weather, at least two guardsmen are posted for ~ 30 minute intervals beginning at about 8 am and ending at about 5 pm. In observance of VA and CDC guidelines, we're planning on having no more than 6 guardsmen with masks during any post in order to observe social distancing practices.
Please note, that this is the same weekend as the VASSAR semi-annual meeting in South Boston. If you are not planning to attend semi-annual but are interested in supporting this event, please send me an email with your time availability and preference at ken.l.bonner@gmail.com.
Weather: Fri - 70 degrees and chance of rain 60%; Sat - 66 degrees and 0% chance of rain .. as they always say "if you don't like the forecast, just wait a minute [and it will change]".
Attendees: Christensen, A Mills, J Mills, Newman, Stephens
September 19, 2020 Saturday (10 am) - 240th Gathering at Sycamore Shoals
Location: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, 1651 W Elk Avenue, Elizabethton, TN
Details: This is a National - level event, hosted by the Kings Mountain Chapter TNSSAR. The year was 1780. The tide of the Revolution had turned against the colonists. The British, forced out of New England, gained new allies in the divided South and won victory after victory in a bloody civil war. Charleston had fallen, and American forces had crumbled at the battle of Camden. But then the impossible occurred ... the frontiersmen of the western mountains began a long march, gathering an army along the way, from the highlands of Virginia to the hills of South Carolina. At a place called King’s Mountain, they destroyed British forces and opened the way for the final American victory at Yorktown. The point-of-contact is David Carr, and he can be reached at choirboy44@live.com.
Weather:
Attendees:
Location: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, 1651 W Elk Avenue, Elizabethton, TN
Details: This is a National - level event, hosted by the Kings Mountain Chapter TNSSAR. The year was 1780. The tide of the Revolution had turned against the colonists. The British, forced out of New England, gained new allies in the divided South and won victory after victory in a bloody civil war. Charleston had fallen, and American forces had crumbled at the battle of Camden. But then the impossible occurred ... the frontiersmen of the western mountains began a long march, gathering an army along the way, from the highlands of Virginia to the hills of South Carolina. At a place called King’s Mountain, they destroyed British forces and opened the way for the final American victory at Yorktown. The point-of-contact is David Carr, and he can be reached at choirboy44@live.com.
Weather:
Attendees:
September 20, 2020 Sunday (1 pm) - Patriot Valentine Himmelberger Grave Marking
Location: Belleman's Church, 3540 Belleman's Church Road, Mohrsville, PA 19541
Details: This is a Chapter - level event, hosted by the Fairfax Resolves Chapter, VASSAR. We will post colors, conduct a musket salute, and taps will be performed. Patriot Himmelberger is the ancestor of Fairfax Resolves Chapter member Peter Himmelberger. If you are interested in attending, please notify Chapter 1st Vice President Dave Cook at cook006@verizon.net.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Cook
Location: Belleman's Church, 3540 Belleman's Church Road, Mohrsville, PA 19541
Details: This is a Chapter - level event, hosted by the Fairfax Resolves Chapter, VASSAR. We will post colors, conduct a musket salute, and taps will be performed. Patriot Himmelberger is the ancestor of Fairfax Resolves Chapter member Peter Himmelberger. If you are interested in attending, please notify Chapter 1st Vice President Dave Cook at cook006@verizon.net.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Cook
October 3 - 4, 2020 Saturday - Sunday - 246th Commemoration of the Battle of Point Pleasant
Location: Point Pleasant, WV
Details: This is a National - level event, of interest to the VASSAR.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
Location: Point Pleasant, WV
Details: This is a National - level event, of interest to the VASSAR.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
October 7, 2020 Wednesday (10:30 am) - 240th Commemoration of the Battle of Kings Mountain - VIRTUAL
Location: Conducted virtually this year. The Zoom link for this event is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81700673468
Details: This is a National - level event, of interest to the VASSAR and co-hosted by the SCSSAR and NCSSAR.
Question about this event may be directed to Joe Culick at jc@fairview-law.com.
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a military engagement between Patriot and Loyalist militias in South Carolina during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War, resulting in a decisive victory for the Patriots. The battle took place on October 7, 1780, 9 miles (14 km) south of the present-day town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina in what is now rural Cherokee County, South Carolina, where the Patriot militia defeated the Loyalist militia commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson of the 71st Foot. The battle has been described as "the war’s largest all-American fight".
Weather:
Attendees: Schwetke
Location: Conducted virtually this year. The Zoom link for this event is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81700673468
Details: This is a National - level event, of interest to the VASSAR and co-hosted by the SCSSAR and NCSSAR.
Question about this event may be directed to Joe Culick at jc@fairview-law.com.
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a military engagement between Patriot and Loyalist militias in South Carolina during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War, resulting in a decisive victory for the Patriots. The battle took place on October 7, 1780, 9 miles (14 km) south of the present-day town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina in what is now rural Cherokee County, South Carolina, where the Patriot militia defeated the Loyalist militia commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson of the 71st Foot. The battle has been described as "the war’s largest all-American fight".
Weather:
Attendees: Schwetke
October 9 - 11, 2020 Friday (9 am) - Sunday (3 pm) - Wildnerness Road/Raid at Martin's Station - Rescheduled!
Location: 8051 Wilderness Road, Ewing, VA
Details: This is a National - level event sponsored by the VASSAR and hosted by the Friends of Wilderness Road State Park. Saturday the 9th events begin with the raising of colors and wreath laying at 10 am. Re-enactment battles are held at 1 pm and 8:30 pm. Parking is $10 per vehicle admission on Friday and Saturday and $4 on Sunday.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
Location: 8051 Wilderness Road, Ewing, VA
Details: This is a National - level event sponsored by the VASSAR and hosted by the Friends of Wilderness Road State Park. Saturday the 9th events begin with the raising of colors and wreath laying at 10 am. Re-enactment battles are held at 1 pm and 8:30 pm. Parking is $10 per vehicle admission on Friday and Saturday and $4 on Sunday.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
October 17, 2020 Saturday (10 am) - 239th Commemoration of the Battle of Yorktown - Live and Streamed
Location: Yorktown, VA
Details: A National Level Event sponsored by the VASSAR. Muster at 9:30 for wreath laying - stakes for flags. Picture will be taken immediately following wreath laying. Included below are overhead and ground pictures of the muster sites for Nelson's tomb and Grace Episcopal Church, and I plan to be at site by 9 am. Cmdr, VASSAR Color Guard.
The Parade and Yorktown Victory monument portions of this year's commemoration have been canceled, however VASSAR has received permission from Grace Episcopal Church to conduct this year's wreath laying. Note, however they are not permitting access to church or other indoor facilities.
Location: Yorktown, VA
Details: This is a National - level event.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
Location: Yorktown, VA
Details: A National Level Event sponsored by the VASSAR. Muster at 9:30 for wreath laying - stakes for flags. Picture will be taken immediately following wreath laying. Included below are overhead and ground pictures of the muster sites for Nelson's tomb and Grace Episcopal Church, and I plan to be at site by 9 am. Cmdr, VASSAR Color Guard.
The Parade and Yorktown Victory monument portions of this year's commemoration have been canceled, however VASSAR has received permission from Grace Episcopal Church to conduct this year's wreath laying. Note, however they are not permitting access to church or other indoor facilities.
Location: Yorktown, VA
Details: This is a National - level event.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
October 24, 2020 Saturday (2 pm) - 41st Anniversary of the Fairfax Resolves Chapter
Location: Historic Fairfax County Courthouse, Fairfax, VA
Details: This Chapter-level event commemorates the founding of the Fairfax Resolves Chapter, SAR. POC is Dave Cook, 1st VP Fairfax Resolves Chapter, 1stvp@fairfaxresolvessar.org.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Cook
Location: Historic Fairfax County Courthouse, Fairfax, VA
Details: This Chapter-level event commemorates the founding of the Fairfax Resolves Chapter, SAR. POC is Dave Cook, 1st VP Fairfax Resolves Chapter, 1stvp@fairfaxresolvessar.org.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Cook
November 11, 2020 (Wednesday) - Veterans Day Commemoration
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon.
Details: This is a National - level event, organized locally by the George Washington Chapter, VASSAR.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon.
Details: This is a National - level event, organized locally by the George Washington Chapter, VASSAR.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
November 21, 2020 Saturday - Patriot Grave Markings - SAVE THE DATE!!
We will be doing two significant Grave Marking events on November 21, 2020. One day in Loudoun County to recognize the final resting place for 27 Revolutionary War Patriots and 55 Veterans of the War of 1812.
1st Grave Marking - 10:00 am.
Location: Old Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery, 20421 Airmont Road, Bluemont, VA 20135
Details: This Chapter - level event, also a VASSAR Presidential initiative, is sponsored by the Col William Grayson Chapter, VASSAR. We will mark the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots and 24 War of 1812 Veterans.
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
2nd Grave Marking - 1:30 pm
Location: Ketoctin Baptist Church, 16595 Ketoctin Church Road, Purcellville, VA20132
Details: This Chapter - level event, also a VASSAR Presidential initiative, is sponsored by the Col William Grayson Chapter, VASSAR. We will mark the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots and War of 1812 Veterans.
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
Weather:
We will be doing two significant Grave Marking events on November 21, 2020. One day in Loudoun County to recognize the final resting place for 27 Revolutionary War Patriots and 55 Veterans of the War of 1812.
1st Grave Marking - 10:00 am.
Location: Old Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery, 20421 Airmont Road, Bluemont, VA 20135
Details: This Chapter - level event, also a VASSAR Presidential initiative, is sponsored by the Col William Grayson Chapter, VASSAR. We will mark the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots and 24 War of 1812 Veterans.
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
2nd Grave Marking - 1:30 pm
Location: Ketoctin Baptist Church, 16595 Ketoctin Church Road, Purcellville, VA20132
Details: This Chapter - level event, also a VASSAR Presidential initiative, is sponsored by the Col William Grayson Chapter, VASSAR. We will mark the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots and War of 1812 Veterans.
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
Weather:
December 5, 2020 (Saturday) - 245th Commemoration of the Battle of Great Bridge
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Details: This is a State - level event, of interest to the VASSAR and commemorating the Battle of Great Bridge was fought December 9, 1775, in the area of Great Bridge, Virginia, early in the American Revolutionary War. The victory by colonial Virginia militia forces led to the departure of Royal Governor Lord Dunmore and any remaining vestiges of British power over the Colony of Virginia during the early days of the conflict. Following increasing political and military tensions in early 1775, both Dunmore and colonial rebel leaders recruited troops and engaged in a struggle for available military supplies. The struggle eventually focused on Norfolk, where Dunmore had taken refuge aboard a Royal Navy vessel. Dunmore's forces had fortified one side of a critical river crossing south of Norfolk at Great Bridge, while rebel forces had occupied the other side. In an attempt to break up the rebel gathering, Dunmore ordered an attack across the bridge, which was decisively repulsed. Colonel William Woodford, the Virginia militia commander at the battle, described it as "a second Bunker's Hill affair". Shortly thereafter, Norfolk, at the time a Loyalist center, was abandoned by Dunmore and the Tories, who fled to navy ships in the harbor. Rebel-occupied Norfolk was destroyed on January 1, 1776 in an action begun by Dunmore and completed by rebel forces.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Details: This is a State - level event, of interest to the VASSAR and commemorating the Battle of Great Bridge was fought December 9, 1775, in the area of Great Bridge, Virginia, early in the American Revolutionary War. The victory by colonial Virginia militia forces led to the departure of Royal Governor Lord Dunmore and any remaining vestiges of British power over the Colony of Virginia during the early days of the conflict. Following increasing political and military tensions in early 1775, both Dunmore and colonial rebel leaders recruited troops and engaged in a struggle for available military supplies. The struggle eventually focused on Norfolk, where Dunmore had taken refuge aboard a Royal Navy vessel. Dunmore's forces had fortified one side of a critical river crossing south of Norfolk at Great Bridge, while rebel forces had occupied the other side. In an attempt to break up the rebel gathering, Dunmore ordered an attack across the bridge, which was decisively repulsed. Colonel William Woodford, the Virginia militia commander at the battle, described it as "a second Bunker's Hill affair". Shortly thereafter, Norfolk, at the time a Loyalist center, was abandoned by Dunmore and the Tories, who fled to navy ships in the harbor. Rebel-occupied Norfolk was destroyed on January 1, 1776 in an action begun by Dunmore and completed by rebel forces.
Weather:
Attendees: Bonner, Schwetke
RESOURCES
COLOR GUARD WORKSHOPS - Download the files below for information on suitable Color Guard uniforms and supplies
Information from the 15 Sep 2017 & 09 Feb 2018 Color Guard Workshop. Includes how to join the Color Guard, uniform options, basic drill, weapons & safety, and medals.
PowerPoint
| 2017-color_guard_workshop_pp-2.pptx |
| cg_workshop_9feb18.pptx |
Keynote Version
| cg_workshop_9feb18.key |