19 Dec 2015 Elliston, VA report submitted by Fincastle Resolutions Chapter Secretary Al Linton  Colorgaurdsmen Fritts and Hunt with the colors and musket while Fincastle Resolutions Chapter past President Charlie Coale, Virginia SAR President Reverdy Wright and Secretary Al Linton render honors in the background. The Fincastle Resolutions Chapter recognized Revolutionary War Veteran Asa Hall in a ceremony at Halls United Methodist Church Cemetery in Elliston, VA, this Saturday. It was a sunny and windy day, well suited to this ceremony. Virginia SAR President Reverdy Wright represented the state society.
 The bugler sounds taps after the musket salute to Asa Hall.
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Judge Ed Butler is a dual member of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter of the Virginia Society and past President General. In May 2010 PG Ed Butler and his first lady, Robin, led a group of 35 members of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution on a tour of Spain. During their visit to Madrid, then Crown Prince Felipe granted the SAR members and their wives a private audience at Zarzuela Palace, the royal residence in Madrid, Spain. During that audience King Felipe asked judge Butler to write a book about Bernardo de Galvez and Spain's assistance to the U.S. during the American Revolutionary War. The result is a 360 page book with 214 footnotes, 37 pages of Appendices, and contains the names of hundreds of Spanish patriots. It documents the significant support rendered by Spain, and allows our Hispanic community to feel proud that their ancestors played a vital role in the formation of our nation. It received the Order of the Granaderos de Galvez award as the "Best Revolutionary War History Book for 2014." The book also captured the "Readers' Favorite 5 Star Award.
On Dec. 5, 2015, Robert Kendall, President General of the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) presented "The Presidio La Bahia Award" to Judge Ed Butler for his book Galvez / Spain - Our Forgotten Ally in the American Revolutionary War: A Concise Summary of Spain's Assistance. The presentation was made in the Our Lady of Loreto Chapel of the Presidio La Bahia at Goliad, TX. during the SRT's annual awards program. The award consisted of a $300.00 check, a framed certificate, and a handsome medal mounted on a neck ribbon. The book was published by Southwest Historical Press, P.O. Box 170, 24165 IH-10 West, Suite 217-170, San Antonio, TX 78257, and is available for $29.00 + $6.50 p.&h. For more information about the book please consult the web page at www.galvezbook.com. 12 Dec 2015 Culpeper, VA  Today twelve compatriots helped place wreaths and participated in the ceremony for Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery. They included: Paul Chase, Tom Hamill, Aaron Hamill, Don Jennings, Lon Lacey, Jr., Lon Lacey III, Alan Lacey, Lance Lyngar, Bill Mutziger, Lindsay Schaff, Bill Schwetke, and Ben Works. Seven compatriots, participated in the Color Guard including fifer Alan Lacey and drummer Lon Lacey III.. The ceremony also included participation by the Culpeper Minutemen Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, the Culpeper VFW, Bugles Across America, and the All-American Color Guard. The Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club organized this year's ceremony. Over 1700 wreaths were distributed across graves in the cemetery and a crowd of over 200 gathered for the occasion.
 SAR Compatriots, left to right: Lon Lacey, Jr., Lance Lyngar, Alan Lacey, Lon Lacey III, Paul Chase, Lindsay Schaff, Don Jennings, Bill Schwetke, Bill Mutziger. Not pictured are Tom and Aaron Hamil and Ben Works. Paul Chase is from the Col William Grayson Chapter, all others are from the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter. George Washington Chapter Honors Patriots Buried in Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Alexandria12/7/2015 photos by Ernie Coggins  Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Alexandria, VA Today a crowd of over one hundred people gathered in Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Alexandria to honor five patriots buried there: Francis Ignatius Hagan Lawrence Hurdle Pierre La Croix Francis Murphy John Riordan 
Saint Mary's Catholic Church was established in 1795 and is the oldest Catholic parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The original chapel was on the grounds of the current cemetery and was funded by the efforts of Colonel John Fitzgerald, who had served as General George Washington's aide de camp. General Washington was the first donor in support of the chapel. The ceremony today was conducted by the George Washington Chapter and included significant participation by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Children of the American Revolution, and students of Saint Mary's School. Past President General Joe Dooley presented greetings to the gathering and noted the significance of the honor paid to these patriots by the school children. Virginia SAR 2nd Vice President Mike Elston presented greetings from our society. The biographies of the patriots being honored were read by students of Saint Mary's School, then the winners of the Louis Beach Memorial Scholarships read their winning essays on patriotism. The sunny skies, cool, but pleasant temperatures, and the participation of so many young patriots made this a suitable tribute to the patriots buried here.  Participants in today's ceremony  Fron row, left to right: unknown, past PG Joe Dooley, unknown, unknown, Virginia SAR 2nd VP Mike Elston, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Fauquier Court House Chapter, NSDAR representative Cat Schwetke, unknown. Back row, left to right: past Virginia SAR President Don Reynolds, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Culpeper Minutemen Chapter President Bill Schwetke, unknown, George Washington Chapter President Dwight Whitney. 5 Dec 2015 Chesapeake, VA pictures by Kirk Sheap, Norma Sheap, & Cat Schwetke, unless otherwise noted.  The SAR Color Guard, under the command of Darrin Schmidt, presents the colors at Great Bridge. Co-host Norfolk Chapter President Maury Weeks is at the Podium. Virginia SAR President Reverdy Wright led the Virginia contingent to mark the 240th Anniversary of the Battle of Great Bridge. The National Society was represented by Vice President General Mike Elston, who is also Virginia SAR 2nd Vice President. The stirring ceremony was well organized by compatriot Tom Whetstone as chairman of the Battle of Great Bridge Observance Committee and was blessed with perfect weather: sunny, high 50's, and an occasional breeze to stir the flags. 240 years ago a force assembled under Col Woodford, commander of the 2nd Virginia, and repulsed an attack by British regulars backed by Tory Militia and freed slaves. They inflicted significant casualties on the British and their allies at the cost of one minor wound to one of their own. Col Woodford's force included elements of his own 2nd Virginia Regiment, local militia and minutemen, militia from North Carolina, and notably the Culpeper Minute Battalion. The defeated British soon took to the safety of their ships leaving Virginia in the hands of the patriots.  CMM Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, in command of the SAR Color Guard, makes ready to parade the colors, as the bagpiper, far right, makes ready to play.
 The crowd gathers before the ceremony.  Great Bridge Monument Park. Later that day several compatriots augmented the Norfolk Chapter and marched in the Chesapeake Christmas parade behind their banner.  The Color Guard in the Chesapeake Christmas Parade, left to right: Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, Virginia SAR Color Guard Deputy Commander (Tidewater Region) Chris Melhuish, SAR Foundation President Sam Powell of North Carolina, Culpeper Minutemen President Bill Schwetke, Norfolk past President Tom Whetstone (also chairman of the Great Bridge Commemoration of 2015) and Fairfax Resolves President Vern Eubanks, |
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