23-26 Mar 2017 Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, VA  Head Table at the Opening Night Banquet Virginia SAR President Mike Elston led a strong group of our members in support of the Virginia DAR, which includes many of our wives, at their annual meeting at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, VA. The Virginia SAR attendees included 7 members from 3 chapters. President Mike Elston brought greetings from the Virginia SAR and recognized NSDAR Vice President General Virginia Sebastian Storage, who is also immediate Past Regent of the Virginia DAR, with the SAR Medal of Appreciation.
 Virginia SAR attendees with their DAR wives, from left to right: Mary Ann Cowherd, Len Cowherd, Bill Schwetke, Cat Schwetke, Kathy Truskey, Craig Truskey, Beverly Alexander, Larry Alexander. All of these compatriots are from the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter.
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report submitted by Fincastle Resolves Secretary Wayne Miesen  At the membership meeting of the Fincastle Resolutions Chapter, Tom Sale, 2nd vice president presented the JROTC Outstanding Cadet Award to Nelly Cardenas Tapia. Meeting occurred on 21 March at the Shenandoah Club in Roanoke Va.
 At lest 14 members of the Virginia SAR, from at least 8 chapters,and led by 1st Vice President Pat Kelly, attended the 236th Anniversary Ceremony of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in Greensboro, NC on Saturday, March 18th. The SAR activities began Friday evening with a reception in the Wyndam Garden Hotel in Greensboro, which was highlighted by a presentation by Larry Brown on the maneuvers that led up to the battle, including a great deal of activity in the area of the hotel.  North Carolina Compatriot Larry Brown, on the far right, recounts the maneuvers of both armies that led to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The ceremony was held in the Visitor's Center Auditorium due to the muddy grounds and threat of more rain. The auditorium was filled to overflowing, standing room only. SAR President General Mike Tomme was the keynote speaker. After PG Tomme's remarks, 58 wreaths were presented by various organizations, including the Virginia SAR and 10 Virginia SAR chapters. 
 Fife & Drum Corps from local reenactors.  Virginia Compatriots at Guilford Courthouse, front row, left to right: Jeff Thomas, Ken Morris, Rayburn Mitchell, Ken Wallenborn, Makey Tilman, unknown, Charlie Coale, Virginia SAR Chancellor Erick Monday. Back row, left to right: Virginia 3rd VP Bill Schwetke, Darrin Schmidt, Past Virginia SAR President Larry McKinley, Bob Volger, Virgina SAR 1st VP Pat Kelly, Dennis Fritts.  The NSSAR Color Guard at Guilford Courthouse. report by Col George Waller Chapter President Bob Vogler
Recently, Bob Vogler, president of the Colonel George Waller Chapter, presented a program "Getting to know the SAR" to the Colonel Abram Penn Chapter-DAR in Stuart (Patrick County), Virginia. Since he was wearing his uniform, he began the program by describing the uniform of a continental soldier. Then, he began into his program introducing the SAR to the DAR members. His slide show presented a brief history of the SAR, and then compared the SAR to the Sons of the Revolution, the Society of the Cincinnati, and the DAR. Society objectives were detailed and programs and activities of the SAR and the Col. George Waller Chapter were described. Afterwards, he answered questions from DAR members and their guests.
report submitted by Col. James Wood II Past President Todd Golding  From L-R, Chapter Chaplain The Rev. Dr. Raleigh Watson, Ms. Kendall Nicholson, Chapter First Vice President E. Ralph Pierce, Past President Brett Osborn. The Colonel James Wood II Chapter is pleased to announce that Ms. Kendall Nicholson is the winner of the chapter poster contest. Kendall is the daughter of Andrew & Sharon Nicholson of Berryville VA and is a student at D. G. Cooley Elementary School. Her topic was Margaret Catherine "Kate" Moore Barry, a heroine of the American Revolution best known for her bravery in warning that the British were coming prior to the Battle of Cowpens.
The chapter's annual poster contest has been organized by Chapter First Vice President E. Ralph Pierce since its inception. The chapter received over 120 posters in 2017. report by James Monroe Chapter President Charles Belfield  James Monroe Chapter President Charles Belfield spoke on Tuesday to Senior Adults at the King George YMCA. He spoke about how the SAR helps keep our ancestors memories alive, then he became his patriot ancestor in first person, John Belfield . John explained his reason for signing the Leedstown Resolves, the first written act against the stamp act in America. Then he proceeded to dress in his Revolutionary War Light Horse uniform and talk about his experiences in the northern campaign. John talked about life as a horseman and the role the division played in the war.
report by James Monroe Chapter President Charles Belfield  James Monroe Chapter President Charles Belfield presented a flag program to Pack 33 of the Richmond County Cub Scouts. On display was the British, Don't tread on me. Grand Union, Betsy Ross. Star Spangle Banner and the American Flag. He spoke about flag etiquette and how to properly retire an American Flag. Each scout received a stick flag.
3-4 March 2017 Brown Hotel, Louisville, KY
This past weekend the Spring Leadership & Trustees Meeting was held in its usual location, the Historic Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville, KY. 15 members of the Virginia Society, accompanied by 3 wives participated in the meetings. The Virginia contingent was led by President Mike Elston and included 4 of our current officers and six past presidents of the Virginia Society. 6 members participated in the Color Guard for the two banquets.
Friday was used mostly for committee meeting. In various committees the issue of "who is a son" and how do we determine the "good character" of new applicants were discussed. The Genealogy Committee also considered and accepted a requirement for the patriot's proof of residence similar to that of the DAR. A Forgotten Patriot Program similar to that of Virginia was proposed, but will require more work to make the relevant information available. The Genealogy Committee also conducted a two hour workshop on DNA for SAR applications. Virginia SAR 2020 Congress Committee Chairman Mark Brennan addressed the Congress Planning Committee on Virginia's progress in planning the 2020 Congress. In the Color Guard Committee, Ohio compatriot Paul Wilkie was selected as the Color Guardsman of the year. At the Congress in Knoxville he will receive the Gold Color Guard Medal and will be the designated bearer of the national colors for the coming year at national color guard events.
This was followed by the Trustees' Meeting, which addressed several important issues. One of the first, and most hotly debated issues, was changing the SAR application to certify the character of the applicant, and guidance on who is a "son". The changes were accepted in a close vote and the application will be changed effective August 1, 2017.  The Trustees Meeting began with a benediction. Several Virginia SAR compatriots rose to participate in various debates during the Trustees Meeting.
There were also reports from each of the national committees. Virginia compatriot Peter Davenport reported in his capacity as chairman of the Bylaws, Rules, & Resolutions Committee.
Perhaps the most important business was the nomination of the slate of officers for 2017-18. Larry T. Guzy (GA) - President General Warren M. Alter (AZ) - Secretary General John T. Manning (NH) - Treasurer General Davis L. Wright (DE) - Chancellor General John D. Sinks (DC) - Genealogist General C. Bruce Pickette (AL) - Registrar General Mark C. Anthony (SC) - Historian General Douglas T. Collins (KY - dual CMM) - Librarian General Dr. M. John Barlow, MD (DE) - Surgeon General Dr. John C. Wakefield (TN) - Chaplain General While the SAR compatriots conducted their business, the Ladies Auxiliary heard a presentation from Thomas Jefferson's oldest daughter, Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph, portrayed by Billie Brock, wife of Virginia compatriot Lindsay Brock (dual-FL).
Saturday evening concluded with a banquet at which the keynote speaker, Lindsay C. Brock, III, son of Virginia SAR dual member, PG Lindsay Brock, spoke on Maritime Law and the Revolution. The speaker is a maritime law attorney based in Jacksonville, FL.
 Virginia Compatriots at the 2017 Spring Leadership & Trustees Meeting, seated, left to right: 1st VP Pat Kelly, President Mike Elston, 3rd VP Bill Schwetke. Standing, left to right: PG Joe Dooley, Lance Lyngar, John Barlow (dual-DE), Darrin Schmidt, VPG Mark Brennan, Brett Osborn, Peter Davenport, Past President Bill Broadus, Past President Reverdy Wright, Past President Larry McKinley, PG Bruce Wilcox. Not pictured: Surgeon Kirk Sheap, Ernie Coggins, Jack Sweeney, Ed Butler (dual-TX), Lindsay Brock (dual-FL), Doug Collins (dual-KY), and Mike Tomme (dual-GA). report by Colonel George Waller Chapter President Bob Vogler  Jeff Briggs with a British uniform. The Colonel George Waller Chapter held its spring muster on Saturday, March 4th in Collinsville, at the Dutch Inn Restaurant. The program was presented by Compatriot Jeff Briggs: "The British Soldier/A Myth Unveiled" . Briggs has been an active reenactor since 1987 portraying a private soldier in the British Army during the American Revolution. At the culmination of the muster, chapter president Bob Vogler and chapter registrar Bob Soper posted the streamers awarded to the chapter at the 127th Annual VASSAR Meeting in Richmond in February.
report by Virginia SAR Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman George Beckett Virginia SAR Veterans Affairs Committee 2016 Report TEAMING MULTIPLIES RESULTS Fourteen of our chapters provided either semi- or annual activity reports. As expected the chapter’s support to veterans ranged greatly—from “taking a single vet to lunch” to “teaching genealogy classes to vets hospitalized in VA Facilities.” Each and every single act of SAR kindness is important to the man or woman who put their life in harm’s way to defend our great America. My sincere “Thank you” goes to each chapter leadership team member and the individual compatriots who delivered the support.
SAR is a veteran’s support organization. We were formed to honor our fallen blood fathers who fought in the Revolution to create the democracy we now enjoy. Over the years we have expanded our vision to support all veterans and those who have given their lives to defend our nation since 1775. Today, many of our SAR chapters would like to do more to help veterans but lack sufficient volunteer hours to do so. I hear, “We do not have the people to take on another task,” or “We are too old to start a veterans program.” Consider teaming as a solution! During the summer of 2016, the James Monroe Chapter formed a team with the local American Legion Post to provide personal hygiene kits to hospitalized veterans at McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond Virginia. We determined that we would like to provide 48 kits per quarter, but we had no money for the program! Two chapter members discussed the program with their churches, and each determined that vets should be added to their outreach programs. In addition, discussions with able-bodied veterans resulted in nice monetary gifts, and the Legion agreed to contribute a portion of their monthly dinner 50/50 raffle. The team was in business. Now we are on track to deliver 48 kits every other month, rather than once a quarter, and we are funded for the rest of 2017. Teaming works! I encourage you to start talking with local organizations about a project to help veterans as a team. The results will be a blessing for veterans, who need your support. Thank you for all of your work, George Beckett Chairman VASSAR Veteran Affair Committee |
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