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submitted by Tom Whetstone, Chairman, VASSAR Battle of Great Bridge Observance Committee 
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24-27 Sep 2015 Brown Hotel, Louisville, KY 18 members of the Virginia Society attended the Fall Leadership Conference/Trustee Meeting at the Brown Hotel in Louisville this past weekend: President Revedry Wright, 1st Vice President Ed Truslow, 2nd Vice President Mike Elston, Trustee Bill Broadus, Secretary Wayne Rouse, Registrar Mike Taimi, Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, past President General Bruce Wilcox, past President General Joe Dooley, past Virginia SAR President Larry McKinley, past Virginia SAR President Kent Weber, Ernie Coggins, Peter Davenport, Andrew Johnson, Kirk Sheap, Jack Sweeney, Vern Eubanks, and Bill Schwetke. Actions that are of interest to the CMM include one of great significance: the Congress Planning Committee recommended that Virginia host the 2020 Annual Congress. We now must wait for the Trustees to act upon this recommendation. We expected the Trustees to approve a site for 2020 at this meeting, but they did not consider the matter. If Virginia Society dues are sent out prior to the Trustees' decision they will not include the $5 surcharge per year for 5 years that was approved at Semi-Annual contingent on Virginia's selection by the Trustees as the host for the 2020 Congress.
 250th Anniversary Committee, with heavy representation from the Virginia Society: seated at far right, P/G Joe Dooley; center, standing in front of mirror with blue and yellow stripped tie, 2nd Vice President Mike Elston, standing on far left, Bill Schwetke, not pictured, Assistant Secretary Lance Lyngar. Dual members of the Virginia Society on this committee include P/G Steve Leishman, seated, third from left; and P/G Ed Butler, standing, third from the left. Photo by Bob Gardner of MGM Photography.
The latest report of state-by-state donations to the Center for Advancing America's Heritage show that as of September 15, 2015, the Virginia Society has donated $376.793.62 to the CAAH with pledges made during the Congress in Louisville of $16,159.00. All but $50 of those pledges have been fulfilled. When those pledges are paid off, VASSAR will have donated $376,843.62 to the project. And, that my friends is a chest-thumping accomplishment.
Semper Fi - Bob Bowen, Monitor VASSAR CAAH Fund Raising 20 Sep 2015 Richmond, VA report by Robert E Halpern,Richmond Chapter Flag Committee Chairman, Historian, and Third Vice President  At 1:30PM on Sunday September 20th St Marks Methodist Church received a SAR Flag Award at their Church Council meeting. Their Award Presentation read, " This Spring when asked to collect American Flags for Bon Air American Legion Post 354 for their proper retirement the Saint Mark's Church family quickly took on this community project. This simple action helps to encourage citizens to not only respectfully fly their American Flag but it also encourages the proper care and disposal of our National Symbol." It was for these actions that St Marks was presented with the Flag Award.
Here is a picture of their flag box. The inscription below reads, "Please place your tired, old, torn,faded, worn out American Flags that we are collecting for proper disposal,'retirement', done by the Bon Air American Legion Post 354. Thank you for your support! Says old Mr. American Flag, ' Just like most of you when I get old and worn it is time for me to properly retire.' "  Semi-Annual 2015 Attendees at Roanoke, VA. 18-19 Sep 2015 Roanoke, VA report by Bill Schwetke with Lance Lyngar, photos by Ernie Coggins The Fincastle Resolutions Chapter hosted the 2015 Semi-Annual Meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn in Roanoke on 18 & 19 September. 70 members and 31 spouses attended this year's meeting. The largest contingent was, of course, from the host chapter, the Fincastle Resolutions, with 17, and the next largest was 9 from the Col William Grayson Chapter. Roanoke proves to be a central location for state meetings as it is 234 miles from Martin Station in Ewing, VA, 248 miles from Alexandria, VA, and 241 miles from Norfolk, VA.  The Friday schedule included an Executive Committee Meeting, Workshops for Americanism and Registrars, a Board of Managers' Meeting, a Ladies Program, and President Reverdy Wright's Reception. Saturday's schedule included a General Membership Meeting, and a luncheon. The luncheon speaker was Jim Glanville, who gave an excellent presentation on the accomplishments of Colonel William Preston, a local hero of national significance. Noteworthy actions of the meeting included endorsement of a slate of candidates for national offices for next year and raising Virginia Society dues contingent on being selected to host the 2020 National Congress. The slate of candidates endorsed by the Virginia Society included:
The membership also voted to increase Virginia SAR dues by $5 per year for all regular and dual members, contingent on Virginia being select to host the 2020 Annual Congress. The selection of host for 2020 will be made at the Fall Leadership Meeting in Louisville next week. Several awards have been presented to the Virginia Society and to its members at recent District and National Meetings:
The following awards were presented at the Annual Congress in Louisville, 27 Jun - 1 Jul: The Virginia Society received participation streamers for sponsoring entries in the following youth contests: · - Knight Essay Contest; · - Americanism Brochure Contest; · - King Eagle Scout Scholarship competition · - Outstanding JROTC Cadet scholarship competition The President General presented the William M. Melone award to the Virginia Society as the state society with the largest number of new and approved supplemental memberships for 2014-15. Thanks to the good work of Dr. Kirk Sheap and the flag committee chairman throughout Virginia, VASSAR once again earned the Admiral William Furlong Award. The award is earned by state societies with a certain percentage of chapters that have presented at least one flag certificate during the year. VASSAR's President Bill Broadus and Trustee Kent Webber attended the last Congress and the two intervening leadership meetings, thereby earning the NSSAR Officer Award for Virginia again this year. The Virginia Society received the Partners in Patriotism Certificates Award for partner with any Veterans organization i.e. American Legion, VFW, AMVETS or one of the numerous others veterans groups. Recognition for Virginia Chapters For the second year in a row, the George Washington Chapter earned the President General's Activities Award. This award is given to chapters that record the best efforts with respect to various administrative goals that contribute to the success of the SAR. The George Washington Chapter was also the only Virginia chapter to receive a streamer for participation in the PG's patriot biographies initiative. The following Chapters received the Partners in Patriotism Certificates Award for partner with any Veterans organization i.e. American Legion, VFW, AMVETS or one of the numerous others veterans groups in grave re-dedications, grave markings, parades, flag retirements or any program that the SAR conducts with the help from the Veterans or any Veterans organization that ask the SAR for help in conducting an event.
Recognition for Virginia Compatriots The Liberty Medal commemorates the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, reminds us of our liberty and is presented for recruiting new members to the SAR. Any SAR member who signed as first-line sponsor, the membership application of ten new members. Subsequent Presentation of this medal will receive a bronze oak leaf cluster for each additional ten (10) new members sponsored by a Liberty Medal holder as a first-line sponsor. A recipient of ten bronze oak leaf clusters may be presented a silver oak leaf cluster to wear in lieu of the bronze clusters. A recipient of ten silver oak leaf clusters may be presented a gold oak leaf cluster to wear in lieu of the silver clusters. Compatriots being presented with a medal and or oak leaf cluster are:
19 Sep 2015 Daleville, VA  The Fincastle Resolutions Chapter conducted a ceremony to mark the completion of the first phase of the Colonel William Preston Memorial at the Greenfield Education and Training Center. This ceremony was a Virginia SAR Presidential initiative.  The crowd at the Colonel William Preston Memorial Ceremony.
report by Lew de Seife, Williamsburg Chapter  John Fitzhugh Millar, guest speaker, center, receives a Jefferson Cup and Certificate of Appreciation from Williamsburg President Don Swain, left, and Jay SMith. The Williamsburg Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, installed two new officers: Bill Greaf was installed as Historian and Richard Newsome as Newsletter Editor John Fitzhugh Millar delivered a presentation to Williamsburg Chapter Sons of the American Revolution on "Why were the French involved in the American Revolution". The answer in a nutshell, is that the French were broke from their Continental wars, and were trying to refill their coffers by capturing British possessions. Millar graduated from Harvard, and received an MA from William & Mary. He has written numerous historical books, and built copies of two Revolutionary ships, which led to the building of L’Hermione.  Williamsburg Chapter's new officers, Historian Bill Greaf on left, and Newsletter Editor Richard Newsome, right. 17 Sep 2015 Yowell Meadow Park, Culpeper, VA  The VIP Platform. On the platform, from left to right: Mr. Nick Freitas, Rev Brad Jackson, Hon. Nate Clancy, State Senator Jill Vogel, Culpeper City Councilman Jon Russell, past Virginia SAR President Jim Bayne. In foreground flanking the veiled license plate design, on the left, Fairfax Resolves President Vern Eubanks, on the right Jim Lillard. To Jim's right, with the musket, David Reeve, a local historian. This evening the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter (CMM), and Community Leaders from Culpeper and the Commonwealth of Virginia, gathered in Yowell Meadow Park, near where the Culpeper Minutemen first mustered in 1775 to mark the 240th Anniversary of that event, honor those Minutemen, and launch a campaign for a Virginia Special License Plate in their honor. CMM members helping and participating in the program included Jim Bayne, Tom Hamill, Jerry Hubbard, Lon Lacey, Alan Lacey, Jim Lillard and his wife Linda, and Bill Schwetke and his wife Cat. Vern Eubanks from the Fairfax Resolves Chapter joined us and participated in the color guard. Community and state leaders participating included State Senator Jill Vogel, Culpeper City Councilman Jon Russell, Culpeper Board of Education member Nate Clancy, Virginia House of Delegates candidate Nick Freitas and Rev. Brad Jackson. A small ensemble of the Culpeper County High School Band, directed by Mr. Duane Clore, provided spirited music, including our National Anthem. The colors were posted by both the Culpeper County and Eastern View JROTC Honor Guards. Rev. Brad Jackson is the pastor of the Little Fork Episcopal Church, which still holds services in the brick church that was being built when some of the congregation answered the call to join the Culpeper Minutemen. Rev. Jackson gave both the Invocation and the Benediction. The history of the Culpeper Minutemen was presented by Lon Lacey, followed by the presentation of replicas of the Culpeper Minutemen Battle Flag to each JROTC Honor Guard. Then Councilman Jon Russell introduced the Virginia Special License Plate, designed by Nate Clancy, to honor the Culpeper Minutemen. Senator Vogel and Mr. Freitas explained the legislative process required to approve the license plate. At the conclusion of the program the crowd was invited to sign copies of 1775 enlistment papers to symbolically join the Culpeper Minutemen and pick up applications to pre-order the license plate.
report from Edward J.Douglas, Secretary, Norfolk Chapter  Mrs. Lin Olsen speaks to the Norfolk Chapter about the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation. Mrs. Lin Olsen from the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation was the keynote speaker at the September Meeting of the Norfolk Chapter. We also unveiled our brand new Norfolk Chapter SAR Banner just in time for all of the upcoming events that we have scheduled in the months ahead. It will definitely be put to good use. Thanks to President Weeks for seeing this project through from initial design to final completion. A big Huzzah goes out to him. The Norfolk Chapter has many activities planned for the next few months. We will be manning a SAR booth at the 6th Annual Waterways Heritage Festival at Great Bridge on October 10 and 11. Also coming up is Yorktown Day and all of the week-end long celebrations and activities that will go along with that on October 17, 18 and 19. The 240th Anniversary of the Battle of Kemp's Landing will occur on November 14 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Of course the year wouldn't be complete without the Commemoration of the Battle of Great Bridge on December 5.
Williamsburg Chapter awards War Service Medal with Vietnam Service Bar to Robert Macnider Davis.9/12/2015 12 Sep 2015 Ft. Magruder Inn, Williamsburg, VA report by Lew de Seife, Williamsburg Chapter Robert Mcnider Davis, on left, with Williamsburg President Don Swain. |
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