​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

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.  
 

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.