Today over 150 people, including 14 members of the Virginia Society, SAR, gathered at the Montpelier Cemetery to pay tribute to James Madison on his 265th birthday.  Colonel Allen Broughton, Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Base Quantico, represented the president in presenting a wreath and greetings.  The keynote speaker was Teresa Sullivan, President of the University of Virginia who highlighted the need for education in perpetuating Mr. Madison's Constitution.

     The 2015 Virginia House Joint Resolution 797 designated March 14 that  year  and in each succeeding year as a Day of Honor for the Marquis de Lafayette in Virginia. The ceremony this year was held in the Capitol Rotunda in front of Lafayette's bust with French Consul General Michel Charbonnier as the principal speaker.  The ceremony was attended by members of the Sons of the Revolution, Society of Cincinnati, Alliance Francaise,  Amercan Friends of Lafayette and VASSAR President Ed Truslow and Norfolk SAR Color Guardsman Chris Melhuish.

      On Sunday, March 13th, a memorial service was held at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg, VA in memory of our former First Lady Lydia Wright, wife of our Immediate Past President Reverdy Wright.  The Virginia SAR was represented by 2nd Vice President Pat Kelly and many SAR members from around the state were there to honor Lydia.

     The 235th Anniversary of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse was celebrated today in Greensboro, NC.  2nd Vice President Pat Kelly represented the Virginia SAR and presented a wreath.  Seventeen members of the Virginia SAR participated, including ten in the color guard.

     This weekend the Virginia DAR held their state conference in the Marriott Hotel in Richmond.  Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow brought greetings from the Virginia Society, SAR, and was accompanied by his wife Laura.  There were a total of six Virginia SAR compatriots at the Opening Night Banquet.

     National History Day's Virginia District 5 competitions were held at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, VA, today.  Thirteen of the seventy judges were SAR compatriots representing five chapters: Colonel William Grayson (7), Culpeper Minutmen (1), Fairfax Resolves (1), George Mason (1), and George Washington (3).  Keith Rouleau of the Col. William Grayson Chapter is the Virginia SAR leader for our participation in this event.
     At the Judges Meeting in the morning the Virginia SAR presented the Judges Organizer, Denise McHugh, with the SAR Martha Washington Medal.  Ms McHugh has been the judge organizer for this event for the past five years and always does an outstanding job.  The medal was presented to recognize her efforts on History Day and her other significant contributions to the community.
     Virginia SAR judges participated in judging Junior Group Documentaries, Junior Group Exhibits, Junior Individual Websites, Junior Group Websites, Senior Historical Papers, Senior Individual Documentaries, Senior Individual Exhibits, Senior Group Exhibits, and Senior Individual Websites.  Three of our compatriots also assisted in the runoff competitions.
     The Virginia SAR presented awards in two categories for competitors whose entries covered some aspect of the American Revolution.  A Bronze Good Citizenship Medal was presented to Kelly Jones for her Junior Individual Website, "Sugar Cane & the Americas; and Bronze Good Citizenship Medals were presented to Kai Russell, Ronit Reddy, and Shreyas Mayya, for their Junior Group Website, "Diseases Given and Got".