​On 14 November 2020, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia SAR combined with the Wayside Inn, Middletown to conduct a Flag Retirement Ceremony.  These ceremonies honor the symbol of American freedom.  When a flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it is to be destroyed in a dignified manner.  Over 40 flags were gathered from the community that were no longer serviceable.  These flags were burned with the proper respect due a symbol of all that was emblematic of a Nation of free men, devoted to the ideals and practice of freedom and democracy.  They were replaced in a never ending cycle of new flags proudly displayed to reflect the qualities that make our nation great.  The ceremony was conducted by Dale Corey with chaplain duties performed by Jim Simmons.  A color guard presented the colors led by Brett Osborn.  Included in the guard were Erick Moore, Marc Robinson, Chip Daniel, Marty Keesecker, Nathan Poe, Charles Harbaugh (Mayor of Middletown), Sean Carrigan, Clay Robinson, Allan Phillips, Eric Robinson and drummer Doug Hall.  Pictures are provided courtesy of Allan Phillips.  The first picture is the Color Guard consisting of Brett Osborn, Erick Moore, Marc Robinson, Chip Daniel, Marty Keesecker, Nathan Poe, Paul Christensen, Charles Harbaugh, Sean Carrigan, Clary Robinson, Allan Phillips and Eric Robinson.  The second picture is Clay Robinson, Doug Hall and Flag Detail Chip Daniel, Marc Robinson and Erick Moore.
 
Submitted by Dale Corey

​VASSAR Chancellor and Colonel George Waller Chapter compatriot Eric Monday has been appointed by the Virginia General Assembly to the Commission for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The purpose of the Commission is to plan, develop, and perform programs and activities to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the independence of the United States. Compatriot Monday is one of 24 members, including legislators and representatives of several key historical organizations, and his term on this commission is set to expire along with the life of the Commission itself. His seat on the commission represents the Virginia Bar Association. 
 
Compatriot Monday provided the following quotes in speaking about this at last evening's Martinsville City Council Meeting. "It’s a pretty big deal for Virginia," he said. "This will literally mean hundreds of millions of dollars to the Commonwealth of Virginia". Virginia's efforts in this area will compliment a larger effort at the federal level to commemorate the 250th anniversary. 
 
Mr. Monday is the Martinsville City Attorney, Assistant City Manager, and is the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution State Chancellor. It is of obvious significance to the Virginia  Society and to the CGW Chapter for him to be serving on this commission. 
 
Submitted by Bob Vogler and Andy Doss - CGW Chapter
 

During the week of Veterans Day, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Color Guard participated in three (3) Veterans Day Ceremonies.  Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day.  It commemorated the veterans of World War I, for which an armistice end the fighting at 11:00, 11 November 1918.  In June of 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed to officially end the War to end all Wars.  In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed 11 November to be the first commemoration of the victory.  It was 4 June 1926 that Congress passed a concurrent resolution to officially recognize the end of the Great War.  On 13 May 1936 an act was passed to officially recognize 11 November as a national holiday known as Armistice Day.  In 1954, because of World War II and the Korean War, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars.  
 
On 10 November 2020, in coordination with the American Red Cross, VFW and AMVets, a private ceremony to honor veterans was held at National Cemetery, Winchester.  The SAR color bearers Marc Robinson, Allan Phillips and Sean Carrigan led veterans Ralph Hensley and Anthony Barns as they presented a wreath.  Charles Hunter played Taps to honor veterans of all wars.   On 11 November, the SAR Color Guard presented colors for Middletown during their 5th annual ceremony to honor veterans.  Due to inclement weather, it was conducted indoors at the Middletown Fire Station.  Ray Steele emcee'd with Rev. Clay Knick providing chaplain services.   SgtMaj Richard Van Norton, Jr. USMC (Ret.) was the guest speaker.  The Color Guard consisted of musket men Brett Osborn and Allan Phillips, flag bearers Marc Robinson, Erick Moore, Dennis Parmerter and Dale Corey with sentinels Paul Christensen, Eric Robinson and Sean Carrigan.  A wreath was presented by Mayor Charles Harbaugh, IV and SgtMaj Van Norton, followed by a three volley rifle salute by VFW Post 2123.  This was followed by Taps played by Andrew Paul.  On 12 November 2020, the Color Guard presented a ceremony to the Commonwealth Senior Living Facility in Front Royal.  Participating for the SAR were Dale Corey, Virginia SAR President Bill Schwetke, Marc Robinson, Dennis Parmerter, Doug Hall, Allan Phillips and Sean Carrigan.   The first photo is the CJWII Color Guard at National Cemetery.  Pictured from l. to r. Sean Carrigan, Allen Phillips, Kelly Ford, Dale Corey, Marc Robinson and Dennis Parmerter.  The second photo is the CJWII Color Guard at Middletown Fire Station.  Pictured from l. to r. Brett Osborn, Marc Robinson, Erick Moore, Dennis Parmerter, Dale Corey and Allan Phillips.  The third photo is the CJWII Color Guard at Commonwealth Senior Living Facility.  Pictured from l. to r.  Bill Schwetke, Marc Robinson, Dennis Parmerter, Doug Hall, Allan Phillips and Sean Carrigan.  Photos courtesy of Allan Phillips.
 
Submitted by Dale Corey

​Men and women of local patriotic organizations, the Williamsburg Chapter Sons of the American Revolution, the Williamsburg Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, and the American Friends of Lafayette participated in an official commemoration of our national Veterans Day in a virtual presentation of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation on November 11, 2020.  It was remarked by George Washington, portrayed by Ron Carnegie, that we are a free people today because of the service of citizen soldiers, for which we as a nation are grateful and for which we thank them all.
 
Pictured, L to R, are veterans of six services of the United States of America – Paul Higgins (Navy), April Martinez (Navy), Robert Schmidt (Coast Guard), David Westenberger (Marine Corps), Jeffrey Wooldridge (Space Force), Celia Adolphi (Army), Eleanor Hunter (Air Force), Roger Cross (Army), and Reginald Beane (Air Force).  Beane, with Eleanor Hunter in the second picture, is a veteran of World War II having served in the Army Air Corps.  In the third picture are Celia Adolphi, Regent of the Wiiliamsburg Chapter DAR, and Roger Cross, President of the Williamsburg Chapter SAR.
 
Participating from the SAR were Schmidt, Westenberger, Wooldridge, Cross, and Beane.  Participating from the DAR were Martinez, Adolphi, and Hunter.  Participating from the AFL was Higgins.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart
                      

The Williamsburg chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, presented a Flag Recognition certificate to Patricia and Joseph Segar on 8 November 2020.  The flag displayed was on board a combat aircraft during Iraqi Freedom.  Joseph is a US Navy retired Chief Petty Officer.  Pictured are left to right George Corbett, chapter  Chapter Flag Recognition committee chairman, Patricia and Joseph Segar.  Photo by Karen Corbett.

​On November 4, Paul Walden, Past President George Washington Chapter VASSAR and current President, Society of the War of 1812 in Virginia, presented a poster describing the service of five patriots of the American Revolution and two of the War of 1812 to the Local History and Special Collections Room in the Kate Waller Barrett Branch of the Alexandria Public Library.  This was the result of several discussions on placing a plaque memorializing these patriots on the library grounds; however we were unable to obtain permission to do so.  As a consolation, we offered to place a poster in the library memorializing these patriots in time for Veterans Day.  The Patriots of the American Revolution who were interred on the library grounds are  John Butcher, William Hartshorne, John Saunders, Benjamin Shreve, and perhaps the most famous, Dr. Elisha Dick, one of the attending physicians at General Washington’s death.  The War of 1812 patriots interred at the site are John Morgan and Thomas Smith.   In the photo, Paul Walden and Ms. Patricia Walker, Local History and Special Collections Branch Manager.