The Colonel William Grayson Chapter Flag Committee Chairman, Kevin Schwoerer, presented a NSSAR Flag Certificate to the Schenkl family of Aldie, Virginia on 22 April.   He also presented Navy Veterans Adam and Trisha Schenkl, Certificates of Appreciation for  their military service.

     The Thomas Jefferson Chapter presented a flag certificate to Thomas Dolan, former Nassau County, N.Y., police helicopter pilot who was present in NYC on 9/11.  Also pictured is neighbor Aubry Breeden, who received our flag certificate a few years ago.  They are with Compatriot Fr. Henry Minich, Thomas Jefferson Chapter, VASSAR.

FINCASTLE RESOLUTIONS CHAPTER, Roanoke, presented a Flag
       Certificate on March 21 to Rick & Jean Hogue -- an ex- Marine, who
       flies a lighted Marine Flag, superimposed by our National Flag at his
       home daily in Moneta, VA.  He served at Quantico - 1961-65 -- as a
       highly classified courier for Marine Logistics, Preparation, & Deployment
       between Quantico and Camp LeJeune -- Vietnam & Cuba Missile Crisis.
       Phil Sheridan, President -- Fincastle Resolutions Chapter, SAR

     At the Sunday Morning Service on April 2nd, James Monroe President Charles Belfield presented a flag certificate to Cobham Park Baptist Church in Warsaw. They have a beautiful Memorial with the names of their members that were veterans and fly the flag properly over it. Mr, Webster Sanders a life long member of Cobham Park Baptist is pictured receiving the certificate.

     The Fairfax Resolves Chapter presented 5 Flag Certificates to local residents for their patriotic display of the American Flag on Washington's Birthday Holiday.. In the photos, certificates were presented to Debbi and Dave Johnson, a Navy veteran who served from 1964-1968, and to Philip and Jacob Johnson. The presentations were made by President Jeff Thomas, Color Guard member Vern Eubanks and CAR member Justin Thomas, resulting in one potential new member whose sister is a DAR member.

     The Kroger Food Market at Bellgrade Shopping Center in Midlothian, VA
and its Manager Albert Espinoza were honored January 26 by the Richmond Sons of the American Revolution.

     For proper display and flag etiquette, Mr. Espinoza was presented an award by Robert Halpern, a Vice President of the Richmond SAR. “This flag salutes our country proudly 24 hours a day and is properly lighted at night,” Halpern told the Kroger officer. “Our organization encourages businesses and private citizens to always display our American symbol properly and lighting it at night is an important protocol. Not everyone does this as they should.”

     Espinoza thanked the SAR for its recognition saying his SAR award certificate would be proudly displayed in his store.

     Today, January 28th, the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter presented a Flag Certificate to Steven Hunsberger, of Culpeper.  Mr. Hunsberger is an officer with the Prince William County Police.  He proudly and properly displays the US Flag on his new flag pole that is illuminated at night.

     Virginia SAR's Flag Recognition Program for 2017 is off and running.  Today Kirk Sheap presented a Flag Certificate on behalf of the Fort Harrison Chapter to Betsy Putney, Public Works Coordinator for the Town of Bridgewater in recognition of the proper display of the American Flag in front of the Town Hall.

     Kirk Sheap presented a Flag Certificate today, January 16th, to Kingmor Supply, Inc. of Mt. Crawford, VA (actually a shade to the north of Mt. Crawford on U.S. 11).  Receiving it are the owners, Floyd and Brenda Morris.

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Seven compatriots from the George Washington Chapter participated in the annual Wreaths Across America at Alexandria National Cemetery on 16 Dec.    Below (L to R)  Ernie Coggins, Jack Coulter, Paul Walden, Jamie Callender, John Brigden). Compatriot and VASSAR Historian Tom Roth was the photographer.  The George Washington Chapter donated funds to purchase 140 wreaths at this cemetery. Overall, 59% of the 5,001 veteran graves at Alexandria National Cemetery were decorated with a wreath on this event, which is a big increase over past years. 

Paul Briggs  (below) led the George Washington Chapter participation

George Washington Chapter Compatriot and VASSAR Registrar  David Thomas laid a wreath at the grave of Pvt. Lawrence Hurdle (MD) as part of the Wreaths Across America event at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Alexandria.  This was the same cemetery where the chapter had dedicated a plaque in 2015 memorializing all the Patriots interred there.

report by Lew de Seife

An annual tradition of the George Mason and George Washington Chapters has been to have a joint meeting in December.  At the December 9 meeting at Mount Vernon Country Club in Alexandria, we were honored to have Virginia Society President Michael Elston install the 2018 officers for both chapters.

Left to right:    Joe Dooley, Gene Thomas, Andy Johnson, Ken Morris, and Pete Davenport, (George Mason Officers), VASSAR President Elston, Ernie Coggins, Dave Thomas, Jay Henn, and Tom Roth (George Washington Officers) 

     At the Founder's Inn on the evening of Sunday, December 3rd, Honor and Remember hosted a "Family Evening" for Gold Star Families. George Lutz, father of a fallen soldier, is the founder and executive director of Honor and Remember, Inc.  This organization's purpose is to recognize the sacrifices of our fallen service members and their families.  The Family Evening is held once a year, on the first Sunday in December.  Gold Star families are sponsored for an evening to honor and remember these sacrifices.  The Virginia SAR Color Guard, under the leadership of Southeast Region Commander Chris Melhuish, has provided the Color Guard to present the colors to begin each evening for the past five years.  This year Chris was joined by three members of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, Michael Dennis, Charles Jameson and Bill Schwetke.