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Some Details for Atlantic Middle States Association Meeting on August 8th

7/30/2020

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     The 2020 Atlantic Middle States Association Meeting, our District Meeting, will be held from 9:00am to about 12:00pm on Saturday, August 8th, via a Zoom link that will be provided.  More details will follow, but please let the Virginia SAR President know if you are planing to participate and to receive the details of the Zoom Link.
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Col James Wood II Chapter Presents Eagle Scout Essay Contest Award

7/26/2020

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On 26 July 2020, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution presented Robbie Voorheis as it's annual Eagle Scout Essay Contest winner.  The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Eagle Scout Recognition and Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding Eagle Scouts.  The program is open to all Eagle Scouts who are currently registered in an active unit and have not reached his 19th birthday during the year of application.  There are three levels of competition in the SAR program.  These are Chapter, State and National.  The application includes a 500 word essay on a patriotic theme and a four generation genealogy chart.  Eagle Scout Voorheis was selected from 17 scouts in the competition.  The presentation ceremony included a Color Guard presentation of the American, Virginia State, SAR and Chapter flags.  He was presented with the SAR Chapter Eagle Scout Medal, SAR Eagle Scout Patch, Certificate of Recognition and a $100 check.  The ceremony was held at the Wayside Inn, Middletown, Virginia.  Present with Voorheis was his father, Mark Voorheis, 28 SAR compatriots and 3 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Present in colonial attire for the CJWII Chapter were compatriots President Marc Robinson, VASSAR President Bill Schwetke, Vice President Chip Daniel, CJWII Past Presidents Brett Osborn and Dale Corey, compatriots Paul Christensen, Kelly Ford, Art LaFlam, Tom Reed and Jim Simmons.  Pictured is Robbie Voorheis, winner of the Colonel James Wood II Chapter Eagle Scout Essay Contest.  
​Submitted by Dale Corey

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Williamsburg Chapter Awards Bronze Good Citizenship Medals

7/16/2020

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​Anna Cordle Harry and William Schermerhorn, both of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, were each awarded a Bronze Good Citizenship Medal by the Williamsburg Chapter at a ceremony at the Colonial Capital on July 16, 2020.  The award was given in recognition of their noteworthy contributions to the community in designing, organizing, and conducting historical and patriotic events and of their continued support of, and cooperation with, the Williamsburg Chapter in promoting patriotism, preserving American History, and promoting the education of future generations.  Pictured, left to right, are Thomas Campbell, Past-Board Member of the Williamsburg Chapter; William Schermerhorn, Creative Director of Signature Events at Colonial Williamsburg; Roger Cross, President of the Williamsburg Chapter; Anna Cordle Harry, Community Affairs Manager at Colonial Williamsburg; and Jeffrey Wooldridge, Board Member of Williamsburg Chapter.  Thomas Campbell made opening remarks on his 20 years working with Colonial Williamsburg and Roger Cross made award comments and presentations of the medals.
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart
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Special Meetings Approve Bylaws Amendments

7/12/2020

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10 Jul 2020                                           South Boston, VA

      On July 10th the General Membership of the Virginia Society, in a Special Meeting at Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center in South Boston, approved the amendments to the the Virginia Society Bylaws that had been presented to them by an earlier Special Meeting of the Board of Managers, which now allow the Virginia Society to hold Virtual Meetings.
     The need for Virtual Meetings is obvious, and the haste to change our Bylaws to allow them was a response to the fear that resurgence of the pandemic in Virginia might cause a  return to restrictions that might preclude a physical meeting.  The response from the Virginia Society Chapters to the short notice call for delegates and members for the  two meetings was impressive: 33 compatriots, representing 20 chapters attended the meetings.
     Our Semi-Annual Meeting, September 18-19, will also be held at the Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center.  Current restrictions will allow us to conduct our meeting as planned, but, if the restrictions are tightened to preclude a physical meeting, we will meet online in a Virtual Semi-Annual, now permitted in our Bylaws.
     Many thanks to the 33 compatriots who, even at great sacrifice to their personal plans, gathered in South Boston to give us the means to continue to function in the face of adversity.  We also thank the 16 guests who accompanied our compatriots and helped support their participation.

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Congress Raffle Held - Winners Announced

7/10/2020

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     The Raffle for the Jamestown and Yorktown Knives, and the two Powder Horns, was held 8:00pm EDT, July 10th at Berry Hill in South Boston, VA.  It was  broadcast online via Zoom.
Lee Popham of the Florida Society won the
Jamestown Knife.

John Dodd of the California S0ciety won
the Yorktown Knife.

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The Powder Horns Were Won By:

1st Choice - Tom Badamo, Virginia Society
2nd Choice - Joe Vancura, Georgia Society

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5 Jul Reading of Declaration of Independence

7/5/2020

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Submit​On 5 July, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) held an event at the Warren County Administrative Building in Front Royal to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The CJWII commemoration was led by the chapter color guard presenting the colors with an invocation by Larry Johnson and the Pledge of Allegiance led by compatriot Fred Gill.  Chapter President Marc Robinson provided opening remarks.  Compatriot Nathan Poe presented a brief vignette of Thomas Jefferson on his death bed 50 years after the Congress adopted the document.  He was followed by Compatriot Charles Jameson giving a presentation on two African-American patriots who made great contributions for the colonies during the War of Independence.  This was followed by seven compatriots reading the Declaration of Independence.  They were Chapter President Marc Robinson, Compatriot Brett Osborn, Virginia State President Bill Schwetke, Compatriot Sean Carrigan, Chapter Vice President Chip Daniel, Compatriot Erick Moore and Compatriot Dale Corey.  A list of patriots buried in Warren County was read with wreath presentations by Compatriots Fred Gill and Charles Jameson.  This was followed by a musket salute fired by Marc Robinson, Brett Osborn, Sean Carrigan, Erick Moore, Mike Dennis, Eric Robinson and Art LaFlam. 
 
The first picture is of compatriots who participated in the ceremony.  Front row l-r are Nathan Poe, Sean Carrigan, Eric Robinson and Art LaFlam.  Back row l-r are Brett Osborn, Dale Corey, Erick Moore, Mike Dennis, Bill Schwetke, Charles Jameson, Chip Daniel and Marc Robinson.  The second picture is of the musket squad, l-r Marc Robinson, Brett Osborn, Sean Carrigan, Bill Schwetke, Erick Moore, Mike Dennis, Eric Robinson and Art LaFlam.
​Submitted by Dale Corey.  
 
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Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Celebrates Independence Day

7/4/2020

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04 Jul 2020                                                 Culpeper, VA

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Culpeper Mayor Michael T. Olinger
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Master of Ceremonies Culpeper Minutemen Chapter President Charles Jameson
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District 30 Delegate Nick Freitas
      The Town of Culpeper cancelled all of their planned Independence Day activities for pandemic considerations, but insisted on keeping the SAR Ceremony and the traditional Fireworks Display.

    The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter hosted the Celebration of our Declaration of Independence on the Courthouse Lawn  with a crowd of over 100 looking on.  Distinguished participants in the ceremony were Benjamin Franklin (portrayed by our friend Barry Stevens), Culpeper Mayor Michael Olinger, District 30 Delegate Nick Freitas, and Virginia SAR President Bill Schwetke.  Four Virginia SAR Chapters participated: the Culpeper Minutemen, Colonel James Wood II, Colonel William Grayson and the Fairfax Resolves.  The Culpeper Minute Men Chapter DAR also participated in the ceremony and the Fauquier Court House Chapter DAR provided support. CMM President Charles Jameson was the Master of Ceremonies, Virginia SAR President Bill Schwetke brought greetings from the Virginia Society, Tom Hamill read the Declaration of Independence, and CMM Chaplain Len Cowherd provided the invocation and benediction.  Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Ken Bonner led the Color Guard in posting the colors and firing a three-volley salute. 

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One of the three musket volleys. Left to right: Sean Carrigan, Michael Dennis, Eric Robinson, and Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Ken Bonner.
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For a special treat we also recruited a drummer from Culpeper High School, Josh Nesperson, who supported the Color Guard. 

      The program opened promptly at 1:00pm with a Fly-By of four WWII aircraft from the Commemorative Air Force.  Further highlights of the program included our remembering "Forgotten Patriots" with bios read in tribute to African-American and Native American Patriots; Remarks on the Declaration by Ben Franklin (portrayed by Barry Stevens); and a passionate reading of the Declaration of Independence by Tom Hamill.
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Evelyn Madden
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Culpeper Minute Men Chapter, NSDAR Regent Carol Simpson
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Rozanne Edrington, Culpeper Minute Men Chapter NSDAR
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Sally Humphries, Culpeper Minute Men Chapter, NSDAR
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Ben Franklin, portrayed by Barry Stevens
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Tom Hamill
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Late Compatriot Lon Lacey's Family receives his Leadership Award from the Town of Culpeper. Left to right: Lon Lacey III, Jill Lacey, Alan Lacey, Maggie Lacey, Mary Margaret Lacey, Mayor Olinger.
    During the celebration Culpeper Mayor Michael T. Olinger presented the Town of Culpeper's Leadership Award to our late compatriot Lon Lacey.  Lon's family was present to receive the award.
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Briefly removing masks for the picture, the SAR Participants included, kneeling left to right: Andrew A. Mills, Eric Robinson, Sean Carrigan, Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Ken Bonner. Standing, left to right" Marc Robinson, Mike Weyler, Dale COrey, Ben Franklin (portrayed by Barry Stevens), Michael Dennis, CMM President Charles Jameson, Virginia SAR President Bill Schwetke, Andrew L. Mills, Tom Hamill.
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Independence Day Commemoration at Mount Vernon

7/4/2020

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On July 4th 2020 the George Washington Chapter conducted their 59th annual wreath laying at George Washington’s tomb at Mount Vernon in a very innovative manner -- partly live and partly recorded, for a two-part virtual commemoration.
 
Earlier in the morning a select group of 10 SAR and DAR members conducted a live wreath laying ceremony at the tomb that was recorded for later viewing. The participants in the activity were: Chapter Vice-President Tom Roth, who served as Master of Ceremonies; VASSAR President Bill Schwetke, who presented greetings from SAR; Chapter co-Historian Jack Coulter, who served as co-wreath bearer to the tomb, along with Bill Schwetke; Chapter Treasurer Richard Rankin and Chapter Compatriot Don Francisco (also fifer-in-residence at Mount Vernon), who jointly presented red carnations to George Washington’s tomb; DAR representatives Dr. Sharla Rausch and Catherine Schwetke, who jointly presented pink carnations to Martha Washington’s tomb; Chapter Secretary Rand Pixa, who served as videographer for the ceremony; and Ken Bonner and Jason Northam who served as the VASSAR Color Guard. In addition, we were honored to have the presence of Mount Vernon CEO Doug Bradburn who spoke on the patriotic significance of the event.
 
Later that morning the George Washington Chapter hosted a virtual commemoration of the wreath laying by Zoom, with nearly 100 SAR, DAR and CAR members participating. The event included the normal SAR meeting protocols, with the additional remote playing of patriotic music by two musicians from the Frederick Town Fife and Drum Corps. As a bonus, the winner of the Rumbaugh Oration Contest Lauren Bradshaw presented a video recording of her stirring oration from the VASSAR Congress. The commemoration included the virtual presentation of additional wreaths from eight other SAR chapters, 26 DAR districts and chapters, and nine CAR societies.
 
 Just before the SAR recessional, the video replay of the tomb ceremony was shown to the attendees at the Zoom meeting (see video below). 

Submitted by Jack Coulter.  
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