Colonel James Wood II Chapter Marks Grave

​On 13 June 2020, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution sponsored a multichapter grave marking in Rileyville, VA.  The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) honor the memory of Revolutionary War Patriots by placing a marker next to their headstone and having a formal ceremony to recognize the occasion.  The grave marked on Saturday belongs to Private William Robertson, a member of the 3rd Maryland Flying Camp Battalion.  The Flying Camp was an organization that served as the home guard while the local militia was away with the Continental Army.  Their duties were to serve and protect citizens in case of an invasion.  They were a unit that could pack up and leave for duty at a moments notice.  Their duties included protecting the Continental Army's supply lines, suppressing roving bands of Tories and acting as a ready reserve should General Washington have need of reinforcements.  Robertson was born and raised in Charles County, Maryland.  Sometime after 1802, he and his family moved to what is now Page County, Virginia.  He died in 1828 and was buried in the Rileyville Cemetery.  The ceremony included participation of the VASSAR President Bill Schwetke and eight SAR Chapters, three DAR Chapters and one CAR Society.  A color guard was led by Virginia State Color Guard Commander Ken Bonner leading flag bearers Don Dusenbury, Chip Daniel, Nathan Poe, Andrew Mills, Charles Jameson, Brian Felps and Steve Engelbright with a musket squad composed of Marc Robinson, Brett Osborn, Eric Robinson, Sean Carrigan, Dave Cook, Paul Christensen and Mike Dennis.   The chapters involved included the Colonel James Wood II, Colonel William Grayson, Culpeper Minute Men, Fairfax Resolves, Fort Harrison, George Mason, George Washington and General Adam Stephens Chapters.  The DAR was represented by Cat Schwetke of Fauquier Courthouse, Deborah Corey of John Alexander and Anita Bonner of the Lanes Mill Chapters.  The CAR was represented by Leona, Samuel and Jacqueline Gill.  Also participating were SAR compatriots Ernie Coggins, Ken Morris, Fred Gill, Daryl Davison, Aron Davison and the Rt Rev Larry Johnson.  After the presentation of wreaths, a musket salute was fired followed by Taps and then the retirement of the colors.
 
Pictured is the Ken Bonner led multichapter color guard.
 Submitted by  Dale Corey