Virginia SAR President Pat Kelly led 22 compatriots in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC this Memorial Day.  There were participants from both the DC and Virginia Societies, including from six chapters: Culpeper Minutemen, Dan River, Fairfax Resolves, George Mason, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  SAR participation was hosted by the George Washington Chapter, which also provided medals for first time participants in this parade.

A video of the parade can be downloaded from:
https://www.military.com/memorial-day/memorial-day-parade.html
The SAR appears at roughly the 27 minute mark.

Members of the New River Valley Chapter and the Fincastle Resolves Chapter participated in the Memorial Day Service at the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, Dublin, VA by laying wreaths during the service.
 
picture caption: (L to R) Terry Blevins, NRV Chapter; Charles Cole Fincastle Resolves, Reverdy Wright, former VASSAR President and dual member of NRV and Fincastle Resolves Chapters, unknown taken in front of the bench donated by the VASSAR to the cemetery.
 
Submitted by Terry Blevins

We are saddened to report that Compatriot Robert F. Carr, Past VASSAR Secretary (2011-12), VASSAR Assistant Secretary (2013-15)  and Past President, George Washington Chapter, passed away on 19 May 2018.  The following was provided by his family: 

Robert Frederick Carr, of Alexandria, VA died on Saturday, May 19th, 2018, at The Adler Center for Caring in Aldie, VA while receiving Hospice care. Robert is survived by his wife of more than 63 years, Julia Adcock, from Oxford, NC, daughter Ann Whitney and husband Dwight, daughter Melanie Curtis and husband Robert, daughter Pamela McPherson, son Christopher and wife Molly, son Julian and partner Ross, 12 grandchildren, 11 great­ grandchildren, and his sister Mitta Isley of Tarboro, NC. He is pre-deceased by his son Robert Carr, Jr., his parents J.M. and VoHammie, and his brother J.M. Carr, Jr.

Colonel Carr was born in Washington, GA on February 1, 1931. He graduated from North Carolina State University in 1954 and received his Master's Degree in 1977 from George Washington University. He entered the Army from the state of North Carolina as a Reserve Second Lieutenant, Infantry, and was commissioned as a regular Army Armor Officer in 1955. After completion of the Basic Infantry Course and Airborne and Ranger training he served tours with the 101st Airborne Division, 10th Infantry Division, 2nd Infantry Division, and 25th Infantry Division. From 1960 to 1963 he was assigned as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at North Carolina State University. In 1966 he was assigned to Vietnam where he was the I Force V G-3 briefer and Liaison Officer to General Westmoreland. Upon returning to the US, he was assigned to the 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment to aid in preparing it for deployment to Vietnam. After a tour as Battalion Commander and Deputy Chief of Staff at Fort Lewis, Washington, he returned to Vietnam as the G-3 Operations Officer of the 101st Airborne Division and implemented the plan to withdrawal and relocate the Division from Vietnam to Fort Campbell, KY while continuing to maintain a combat status and transfer the majority of the rotary wing assets to the Vietnamese Army.
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Colonel Carr returned to the US and became the Chief of Plans East Asia Division of the Operations Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, Army Staff where the withdrawal and closeout of US Army forces in Vietnam was accomplished. He subsequently was assigned to the Joint Staff and later as Deputy Director East Asia Pacific Region, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs.
He graduated from The Army Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was a licensed private pilot and received extensive rotary wing training.

Following his military service, he was a law firm administrator with Wright and Parks, Brownstein, Ziedman and Schomer, and finally DLA Piper where he retired from this position in 2004. He then became a consultant for DLA Piper, had numerous positions with Aldersgate United Methodist Church, enjoyed deep sea fishing, rebuilt a 1954 Willis Jeep, and spending time with his family at the beach in North Carolina. Robert was also a President of the George Washington Chapter of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. The latter of which he served as Assistant Secretary and the Headquarters Chapter President for two terms.

Many will miss Bob.

A celebration of his life will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria, VA 22308, on Thursday, May 31 at 11:00 AM. Interment will take place at a later date in the Arlington National Cemetery.
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Memorial donations in memory of Robert can be made to Wounded Warrior Project or to Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Below is a combined report of all chapter JROTC awards in VASSAR

At the T.C. Williams JROTC Award ceremony May 10, 2018, Cadet 1LT Delis Del Pilar Hernandez Martinez was awarded the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Bronze Medal by the George Washington Chapter SAR in recognition of outstanding leadership, military bearing and excellence.
 
Cadet Martinez, a native of the Dominican Republic is a senior and in the third year of the Army JROTC program. He served as the Titan Battalion S4 (Supply Officer.) He also was commander of the battalion Raider team and a member of the color guard that served at more than 20 public events. He played a major role in the battalion's "Need Improvement Briefing" during the JROTC Program for Accreditation. He intends to attend college and become an officer in the Army or Marine Corps.

     The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter recently presented JROTC Bronze Medals to deserving cadets from three local high schools at JROTC Awards Ceremonies.  Jack Lynch presented the medal at Orange County High School on May 3rd, President Tom Hamill presented the medal at Culpeper County High School on May 10th, and Gerry Culver presented the medal at Liberty High School in Fauquier County on May 18th.

     President Pat Kelly was the keynote speaker, and led the Virginia Society participation in the Raid at Martin's Station Ceremony.  Participating were representatives from Virginia and Tennessee, including ten Virginia chapters: Colonel Fielding Lewis, Colonel George Waller, Colonel William Grayson, Culpeper Minutemen, Fincastle Resolutions, General William Campbell, Martin's Station, New River Valley, Overmountain Men, and Thomas Jefferson.  NSSAR was represented by Chaplain General John Wakefield.  William Cheak, Vice President of the Martin's Station Chapter, was the Master of Ceremonies, and Barney Penley, Secretary of the Overmountain Men Chapter, conducted the wreath presentations.