127th Annual Meeting Banquet

     Saturday evening the Virginia SAR celebrated the success of President Ed Truslow over the past year, rewarded worthy compatriots, and installed our new president for 2017, Mike Elston.

 
   The Virginia SAR Color Guard posted the colors as part of the opening rituals.

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     PG Mike Tomme brought greetings from the National Society, followed by Holly Lynne Schmidt with greetings from the Virginia DAR., then greetings from Alexandra Slaughter, president of the Virginia Society of the C.A.R.

PG Mike Tomme

Virginia DAR State Historian Holly Lynne Schmidt

Virginia C.A.R. President Alexandra Slaughter.

     Several awards were presented, for service to the Virginia Society in 2016.

Confined to the platform, President Ed Truslow delegated the duty to present the awards to Mike Elston.

Certificates of Appreciation for the Friday Night Reception to, left to right: Laura Truslow, Wink Rouse, and Betty Elofson.

Virginia Society Ladies State Service Medals to, left to right, Ann Whitney and Cat Schwetke.

The Lydia Darragh Medal for 2016 was presented to Wink Rouse.

Laura Truslow received the Martha Washington Medal.

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Assistant Registrar Dave Thomas received the Distinguished Service Certificate.

The Virginia Society State Service Medal was presented to, left to right: Barry Schwoerer, Mark Brennan, and Will Elston. Also receiving this award, but not present, was Dave Cook.

The Virginia Society Medal was presented to, left to right: Newsletter Editor Bill Schwetke and an OLC to the medal to Secretary Wayne Rouse.

The Silver Roger Sherman Medal was awarded to, left to right: Registrar Mike Taimi, Graves Chairman Mike Lyman, and Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt.

The Meritorious Service Medal was presented to, left ot right: Ernie Coggins, Lance Lyngar, and, not present, Peter Davenport.

Virginia Society Presidential Award Certificates were presented to, left to right: Pat Kelly, Rick Elosfson, and Tom Whetstone.

Wayne Rouse, on right, came to the floor to award the Silver Distinguished Service Medal for 2016 to Mike Elston.

     Next five Color Guard Medals were awarded by PG Mike Tomme and Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt.

Cat Schwetke received the Molly Pitcher Medal, and Bill Schwetke the Silver Color Guard Medal.

Lance Lyngar, center, receives the Silver Color Guard Medal.

For Five additional years of Color Guard Service beyond the three required for Silver, the von Steuben Medal was presented to Brett Osborn.

Holly Lynne Schmidt recieved the Molly Pitcher Medal.

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     Next came the award of two Patriot Medals to Treasurer Rick Elofson, and President Ed Truslow.

Wayne Rouse presents the Patriot Medal to Rick Elofson, on right.

     President Ed Truslow received a standing ovation upon the award of the Patriot Medal for his service to us, as our president, this past year.

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     The Color Guard was called forward again, to recognize Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt for his three successful years as the Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander, and to pass that office to Bill Schwetke for the coming year.

Darin Schmidt relinquishes the Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander's sword as Mike Elston expresses our gratitude for his splendid service.

Mike Elston presents the sword to Bill Schwetke and charges him to follow his predecessor's example in service.

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     Then President General Mike Tomme swore in Mike Elston as the 97th President of the Virginia Society, and Vice President General Mark Brennan placed the badge of office on President Elston's neck.

President General Mike Tomme installs Mike Elston as the 97th President of the Virginia Society.

VPG Mark Brennan places the Society President's Medallion on Mike Elston's neck, as Julie Elston looks on.

     And Laura Truslow place the First Lady's necklace on Julie Elston.

The 97th President of the Virginia SOciety, Mike Elston, presents a gift of gratitude to the 96th President, Ed Truslow.

President Mike Elston presents Certificates of Appreciation to the ladies who had helped prepare his reception, which followed the banquet.

     Newly installed President Mike Elston then gave a "Call to Arms" for an ambitious program for 2017 (details in a separate report).