Recently, the Colonel George Waller Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution awarded its 2019 Bronze Good Citizenship Medal & Certificate to Mrs. Fran Snead who is the director of the Bassett Historical Center.
 
Mrs. Snead earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Radford University and taught school in Henry County for 21 years before being employed at the BHC five years ago.  She became director on January 1, 2019.
 
In addition to her director duties, she has written a number of feature article for area newspapers on the history of Martinsville & Henry County. 
 
She is a member of the Pocahontas Baptist Church in Henry County and she is a member of the General Joseph Martin Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. 
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Attached Photo:  Fran Snead with Bob Vogler (president of the CGW Chapter)
 
Submitted by Bob Vogler

On November 18, 2019, the Colonel William Grayson Chapter presented Certificates of Appreciation to the Prince William County Sheriff and four of his officers.  The Certificates of Appreciation were for the Sheriff’s support of the Colonel William Grayson Chapter’s October 12 grave marking for Foushee Tebbs, a Patriot who served Virginia and Prince William County for many years and in many capacities, including a term as Sheriff of Prince William County in 1777.
Sheriff Glendell Hill addressed the attendees at the grave marking, expressing his appreciation for the SAR’s recognition of the continuity in the Prince William County Sheriff’s Department from the Revolution to today.
The Sheriff’s Color Guard joined with the VASSAR Color Guard under the direction of the VASSAR Color Guard Commander, Ken Bonner, with the Sheriff’s Color Guard carrying the National Colors as the colors were advanced and presented.Submitted by Mike Weyler.
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In the photo below:
left to right: Curtis Robb, Chairman of the Grave Marking and Registration Committees, Prince William County Sheriff Glendell Hill, Lt. Angie Miller, Chief Deputy Terry Fearnley, Michael Weyler, President of the Col. William Grayson Chapter, and Thad Hartman, Founding President of the William Grayson chapter.  Not shown are Sgt. Angel Tyson and Deputy Sheng Song.

On November 16, 2019, the George Washington Chapter marked the graves of three chapter members interred at the Pohick Episcopal Church Cemetery in Lorton, Virginia. The three compatriots honored were Robert Armstrong, Scott Paul Crampton, and Robert V.H. Duncan.  Compatriot Duncan was the founding President of the George Washington Chapter in 1954 and later served as the Virginia Society SAR President in 1960-61.  His wife, Marion Moncure Duncan, was the President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1962-65.     The event was opened by Chapter President David Thomas.  The Reverend Dr. Thomas A. Costa gave the invocation while the Virginia Sons of the American Revolution Posted Colors. 
 
Ms. Christina Mumm, Regent of the John Alexander Chapter, Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution, the same chapter that Mrs. Duncan belong to, brought greetings on behalf of the DAR.   Wreaths were presented by the following Virginia SAR Chapters:  George Washington, Fairfax Resolves and Williamsburg.  Virginia DAR Chapters presenting wreaths were John Alexander, Kate Waller Barrett, Nellie Custis, Providence, George Mason, and Arlington House.  Additionally, the Virginia SAR Second Vice President  Jeff Thomas, Virginia DAR District V Director, Dr. Sharla Rausch, and  Virginia DAR District
​V Parliamentarian, Pamela Reid, presented wreaths.   Vice President Thomas then dedicated the markers.  Rev. Dr. Costa  closed with a benediction.  

On November 16, Paul Walden, Board of Managers, George Washington Chapter, presented a copy of Compatriot Mike Lyman's book, "Genealogical, Burial, and Service Data for Revolutionary War Patriots Buried in Virginia" to Librarian Mark Zoeter in the Kate Waller Barrett's Special Collections Room in Old Town Alexandria.  

The George Washington Chapter honored 11 veterans residing at the Sunrise at Mount Vernon Assisted Living facility on 11 Nov by presenting each with a Certificate of Appreciation and Veteran's lapel pin.  This is the second year the chapter has conducted this ceremony.  The Rev. Dr. Thomas Costa provided the invocation, while Chapter President Dave Thomas read from Ecclastiasticus.  Paul Walden provided a brief history of Veterans Day.  Dave Thomas then presented the certificates and pins to the veterans, four of whom were WWII veterans.   In the picture below, L to R, Susan Costa, Paul Walden, Rev. Dr. Thomas Costa, and Dave Thomas (Susan and Paul are holding the front page of the NY Times from 11 Nov 1918.

The recent Veterans Day was celebrated by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation joined with the Williamsburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in honoring women in the military.  The event was conducted at the Governor’s Palace Revolutionary War Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, November 10, the day before Veterans Day.  Women who have served and are actively serving to protect our nation were recognized and honored.  Military women who participated in the program included Major General Celia Adolphi (USA, Ret.), Col. Erin Cluff (USAF), LCDR Karen Sankes-Ritland (USN), LTC Robin Phillips (USA, Ret.), and groups of WW II reenactors from the 1st WAC Able Company.
Colors were presented by Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum and the Williamsburg Chapter SAR Color Guard.  Rev. Jan Brown of Bruton Parish church in Williamsburg delivered the Invocation.  The National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance was led by Harley Stewart, Past President Williamsburg Chapter.  An official welcome was given by Katharine Pittman, a Nation Builder of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as “Martha Washington.”  Moderator Steve McGuffin of the Williamsburg Chapter introduced  special  guests.
The keynote address was given by Lt. Cmdr. Karen Sankes-Ritland of the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush.  Sankes-Ritland spoke on her 19-year career in the US Navy, her marrying another US Navy officer, and having four children – pursuing a full career and a family thanks to the Navy’s Career Intermission Program started in 2009.
Tom Campbell, a Past President of the Williamsburg Chapter and initiator and organizer of this Veterans Day celebration, spoke on the history of the Revolutionary War Cemetery and announced the procession of unit flags of those buried there.  These honored dead had fought in the siege of Yorktown, died of battle wounds and sickness, and were buried in 1781.  Ten patriotic organizations then presented wreaths.  The wreath of the Virginia Society SAR was presented by President Peter Davenport and the Williamsburg Chapter SAR wreath by President William Greaf.
Ceremonies concluded with a prayer, the singing of ‘God Bless America,’  and the sounding of Taps by LCDR Richard Stoud (USCG,Ret.)
Pictures left to right:  Lt. Cmdr. Karen Sankes-Ritland (USN) giving the keynote address.  Various participants in the ceremonies with presented wreaths.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart

On November 9, VASSAR honored General Gordon R. Sullivan (Retired U.S. Army) by presenting him with the SAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal at Belle Haven Country Club.  General Sullivan, a native of Boston, MA, retired from the Army in 1995 after 36 years of active service.  He was the Chief of Staff, the Army's senior officer, and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  He also served as a Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Norwich University, and currently is the Chairman of the Board at the Marshall Legacy Institute, MIT Lincoln Labs Advisory Board, and a Life Trustee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.  He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Army Historical Foundation and is leading the campaign to construct the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

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