2016 Semi-Annual in Williamsburg, September 16-17

9/16/2016

Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution
2016 Semi-Annual Meeting
September 16-17, 2016

Attendees at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. President Ed Truslow in the center with the check he presented to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation for the Museum.

      Virginia Society SAR President Ed Truslow and the Williamsburg Chapter hosted 77 members from 19 Virginia chapters and 37 guests at the Virginia Sons of the American Revolution’s 2016 Semi-Annual meeting at the Woodlands Hotel and Conference Center in Williamsburg.
     The Executive Committee met on Friday afternoon to begin the business portion of the program.
      The program for the membership began with a workshop on the Americanism Report by Mark Anthony, member of the National Society Americanism Committee.

Mark Anthony explains how to complete the Americanism form

Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow opened the Board of Managers Meeting. During this meeting Virginia SAR officers and Committees gave their reports. One important vote was on recommendations for next year's National Society Officers. The Board of Managers recommended supporting the same slate that won endorsement at the Mid-Atlantic District meeting, plus Doug Collins for Librarian. The endorsement for Historian was hotly contested, with Mark Anthony of South Carolina winning over Jack Thornton of North Carolina

Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow opens the Board of Managers' Meeting.

The Colors advance, Brett Osborne in the lead.

The Board of Managers, in meeting

Chaplain Roy Martin offers the opening invocation.

Harley Stewart, President of the host Williamsburg Chapter, offers greetings.

Mid-Atlantic VPG Mark Brennan

Past President General Joe Dooley

Past Virginia SAR President Reverdy Wright

Past Virginia SAR President Bill Broadus

1st VP Mike Elston

2nd Vice President Pat Kelly

3rd Vice President Tom Whetstone

Secretary Wayne Rouse

Treasurer Rick Elofson

Chancellor Eric Monday

Registrar Mike Taimi

Historian Larry Aaron

Surgeon Kirk Sheap

Graves & Publication Mike Lyman

ROTC/JROTC Spurgeon Keith

Public Service - Bill Collier

Graves Preservation Bill Schwetke

Youth Education - Joe Shipes

Yorktown - Ken Wood

Knight Essay - Richard Sherman

Americanism Charlie Coale, Jr.

History Day - Bruce Meyer

The Virginia Society received many certificates of participation and flag streamers at the Boston Congress, including: C.A.R. Activities, The Genealogist General's Award, SAR Youth Award, Officer Attendance Award, The Arthur M. King Eagle Scout Scholarship, the George & Stella M. Knight Essay, The Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure, and the Americanism Poster. Larry Aarons received the certificates for these awards and Bill Schwetke received the streamers for the Color Guard.

Bill Schwetke, Mike Elston (C.A.R.), Charlie Coale (Brochure & Poster), President Ed Truslow, Lance Lyngar (Eagle Scout), Richard Sherman (Essay), Larry Aaron.

At the Atlantic Middle States Association meeting in Albany last month the Virginia Society was recognized for participation based on numbers of attendees and distance traveled with the "Jersey Devil" plaque. This was the second year in a row that the Virginia Society has won this award.

President Ed Truslow with the Jersey Devil Plaque

Many other awards were presented at the meeting. The first being to notice that the George Washington Chapter won both the President General's Cup and the President General's Activity Award for large chapters.

George Washington Chapater President Greg Bodge and President Ed Truslow and the best in the National Society awards that chapter won.

Georege Washington Chapter President Greg Bodge and President Ed Truslow with that chapter's Patriot Ancestors' Biographies streamer and star

Certificates of Appreciation awarded for organizing and conducting the Semi-Annual Meeting.

Liberty Medals were awarded for first-line-signers of ten new members.

George Washington Chapter President Greg Bodge displays the certificate for sponsoring one of the finalists in the Middle School Brochure Contest

Fairfax Resolves President Vern Eubanks and past Virginia SAR President Bill Broadus receive Certificates of Appreciation from President Ed Truslow.

At the National Congress in July our Historian, Larry Aaron, was recognized with the Stephen Taylor Award, present to "the compatriot who, by his research and writings, has made a distinguished contribution to the preservation of the history of the American Revolution era and its patriots."

Historian Larry Aarons, with President Ed Truslow, and the Stephen Taylor Award presented to Larry at the National Congress.

Among many accomplishments by the Virginia Society in the past six months, none outshine the raising of $25,000 to present to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. This was one of President Truslow's initiatives, and the original goal has been greatly surpassed in just six months.

President Truslow with the check for $25,000 to the Famestown-Yorktown Foundation for the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

After adjorning the Board of Managers' Meeting, President Truslow hosted a reception.

Saturday began with the General Membership Meeting and the ladies went to the Williamsburg Costume Design Center for a tour.

At the General Membership Meeting the chapter presidents, or their representatives, gave reports for each of the chapters present.

James Monroe Chapter - Charles Belfield

Thomas Jefferson Chapter - Phil Williams

Col James Wood II Chapter - Brett Osborn

Culpeper Minutemen Chapter - Bill Schwetke

Col. George Waller Chapter - Bob Vogler

Col. William Grayson Chapter - Gary Howard

Dan River Chapter- Larry Aaron

Fairfax Resolves Chapter - Vern Eubanks

Richmond Chapter - Brent Morgan

Col Fielding Lewis Chapter - John Hamilton

George Mason Chapter - Peter Davenport

Richard Henry Lee Chapter - Don Smith

Norfolk Chapter - Tom Whetstone

George Washington Chapter - Greg Bodge

Thomas Nelson, Jr. Chapter - Bruce Meyer

Williamsburg Chapter - Harley Stewart

The Sergeant-at-Arms, Will Elston, banged the gavel to end any presentation exceeding 3 minutes.

Fort Harrison Chapter - Kirk Sheap

One of the more important tasks for the membership was to endorse a slate of candidates for National Society leadership in 2017-18. After a spirited discussion over the endorsement for Historian General, the membership adopted the recommendation of the Board of Managers and supported the following candidates:

President General
Larry T. Guzy (Georgia)

Secretary General
Warren M. Alter (NH)

Chancellor General
Davis L. Wright (Delaware)

Genealogist General
John D. Sinks (DC)

Registrar General
C. Bruce Pickette (Alabama)

Historian General
Mark C. Anthony (South Carolina)

Librarian General
Doulas T. Collins (Kentucky)

Surgeon General
Matthew J. Barlow, Jr., MD (Delaware)

Dr. John Barlow is a dual member of the Norfolk Chapter and Douglas Collins is a dual member of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter

Next President Ed Truslow presented the proclamation of gratitude to the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel.

President Ed Truslow presents the proclamation to Ms Lezel Snider of the Woodlands Hotel

Next recognition was given to those who planned and executed the Semi-Annual Meeting, starting with a proclamation of gratitude to the Williamsburg Chapter.

Proclamation of Gratitude presented to Williamsburg Chapter President Harley Stewart.

Vertificate of Distinguished Service present to Jack Lee for leading the effort to host the Semi0Annual Meeting

Certificates of Appreciation to all the key players in planning and organizing the Semi-Annual Meeting.

Our ladies who made significant contributions to the success of the Semi-Annual Meeting were presented Certificates of appreciation by President Truslow. From left to right: Susan McGuffin, Nancy Loser, Laura Truslow, President Ed Truslow, Mary Swain, Wink Rouse, and Gwen Wood.

President Ed Truslow, on right, presents the Virginia Society State Bronze Medal to Dennis Peterson for planning and executing the Blandford Cemetery Memorial Marker and Flag Pole.

Bronze Color Guard Medals were presented to 1st Vice President Mike Elston and Bill Schwetke for their support of State and Chapter ceremonies.

Color Guard Bronze Medal presentations, left to right, 1st VP Mike Elston, Bill Schwetke, President Ed Truslow, Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt.

Recognition was given for enlistment and promotion within the 1st Virginia Regiment of the Virginia Society.

Compatriots enlisted as Sergeants in the 1st Virginia Regiment

Compatriots promoted to Captain in the 1st Virginia Regiment

Compatriots promoted to Colonel in the 1st Virginia Regiment

Members of the 1st Virginia Regiment promoted to General, left to right: Thomas Campbell, Ed Truslow, and Bill Broadus.

at the end of the General Membership Meeting, the Color Guard retires the colors

The Semi-Annual Meeting Luncheon featured the presentation of the Gold Good Citizenship Medal to Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni.

Greetings were presented by other lineage and historic organizations, including the Virginia C.A.R., National C.A.R., Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and Society of the War of 1812 in Virginia.