To commemorate the 231st Anniversary of the Signing of the Constitution, the George Washington Chapter led a service at Historic Pohick Episcopal Church in Lorton, VA.  Pohick Church was the parish church of General George Washington and George Mason.  The Master of Ceremonies was Paul Walden.  The Reverend Thomas Costa, portraying Parson Massey, Rector of Pohick Church during the Revolutionary War period, read the preamble to the Constitution and led us in prayer, following a solemn tolling of the church bell 13 times.
Below:  The Rev. Tom Costa reads the preamble from the pulpit (photo by Tom Roth)

Left;  David Cook, Assistant Registrar, discusses Registrar issues at the Friday evening workshop.  Right:  Jeff Thomas, 3rd VP, discusses the Americanism Report

The illustrious VASSAR Color Guard posts colors

Luncheon guests are treated to a bagpipe performance

Patrick Henry gives his famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech.  

     The 2018 Annual Genealogy Workshop, co-hosted by the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter and the Fauquier Court House Chapter, DAR, will be held on Saturday, November 3rd as noted in the flyer above.  RSVP's are not required, but will ensure that you get the handouts, lunch, and are entered for the many valuable door prizes.
     A light breakfast buffet will be available before the formal start of classes at 9:00am.  In both the morning and afternoon there will be four separate lectures offered four times each to small groups, allowing you to build your own schedule.  The keynote will be delivered as all enjoy the provided hot lunch.
     This year's keynote speaker is Shannon Combs-Bennett, a staff genealogist at the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, an expert on DNA for genealogy, and a widely sought genealogy speaker.  She has titled her talk: "What Your Chromosomes Can Tell You".  Checkout her blog at:  http://tntfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/    
   Door prizes are being sought from the same companies that provided them for previous workshops, such as Ancestry, Fold3, Newspapers.com, Family Tree DNA, My Heritage, and 23 & Me, and include subscriptions to online resources, DNA testing, and genealogical supplies.
     Please send your RSVP to alexbev@comcast.net, or call 540-727-9995 by October 31st.  You might even learn how to paint your DNA!

The George Washington Chapter was honored to have President General Alter and VASSAR President Kelly bring greetings at our monthly chapter meeting at Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria on 8 September.  Submitted by Paul Walden.
Photos below:  P.G. Alter (left), VASSAR President Kelly (right)

​On Saturday afternoon, September 08, 2018, under cloudy skies with intermittent rain, President General Warren Alter laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on behalf of the SAR.  Escorted by Soldiers of the Old Guard, PG Alter was assisted in placing the wreath by Virginia Society President Pat Kelly.  Virginia Color Guard Commander and Virginia Society Second Vice President Bill Schwetke and George Washington Chapter President Ernie Coggins were also part of the presentation party.  A good number of compatriots attended in spite of the weather, and members of the Virginia Society Color Guard formed a guard of honor on the steps leading to the Tomb.
 
The Sentinels who guard the Tomb are all volunteers and are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). They guard the Tomb twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year regardless of the weather.  In addition to protecting this sacred site, the Soldiers of The Old Guard maintain reverence and silence.
 
The Tomb contains the remains of the Unknown Soldiers of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.  The Unknown Soldier from World War I was interred on November 11, 1921.  A white marble sarcophagus was placed over the grave.  On May 30, 1958, the Unknowns from World War II and Korea were buried by the sarcophagus, and their graves were marked with flat marble slabs.  An Unknown from the Vietnam War was buried on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984 and this grave was also marked by a flat marble slab.  As the result of DNA analysis, these remains were identified and exhumed in 1998.  It has been decided that this crypt will remain vacant and the crypt cover was replaced with one inscribed with the words “Honoring and Keeping Faith with America’s Missing Servicemen, 1958-1975.”
 
It has become an annual tradition for the George Washington Chapter of the Virginia Society to host this ceremony for the President General to honor the Unknowns and all who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Submitted by Ernie Coggins, George Washington Chapter President

​President General Warren Alter (left)  accompanied by Virginia President Pat Kelly (right) and escorted by a Soldier of The Old Guard, lays a wreath for the National Society at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery on September 08, 2018.  The Soldier with the red cap is the bugler and a member of The United States Army Band.

​SAR Compatriots attending President General Alter’s wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Saturday, 08 September 2018.  From left to right: Bill Schwetke, Dr. Don Reynolds, Ernie and Diane Coggins, Jeff Thomas, Ken Morris, Dennis Peterson, Dave Thomas, Dwight Whitney, Pat and Jennifer Kelly, Warren and Nancy Alter, Jim O’Kelley with grandson Bailey Friedman, Vern Eubanks, Dave Cook, Mike Taimi, Pete Davenport, Jack Pitzer, Joe Famme, and Rev. Dr. Gene Thomas.  Photographer Tom Roth is not pictured.
 

Members of the Colonel James Wood II Chapter participated in the Veteran’s Tribute Ceremony at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds during this year’s Shenandoah County Fair.  Members of the Color Guard, compatriots Brett Osborn, Larry Johnson, and Marc Robinson participated in the Veteran’s Tribute Ceremony and Chapter Registrar Jim Simmons maintained an SAR information booth throughout the day.  

Left to Right in the color guard photo are: Brett Osborn, Marc Robinson, and Larry Johnson
​
Submitted by Marc Robinson, Vice President, Colonel James Wood II Chapter