4 July 2018 Culpeper, VA   Participants at the Ceremony on the Culpeper Courthouse Lawn left to right: Lon Lacey, Jr, Brett Osborn (CJWII), Becky Ebert (DAR), Alan Lacey, Lon Lacey, III, Charles Jameson, Craig Truskey, Eric Robinson (CJWII), Marc Holma, as Thomas Jefferson, Culpeper Minutemen President Tom Hamill, Marc Robinson (CJWII), Michael Dennis, Cat Schwetke (DAR), Bill Schwetke. Of note, the two DAR ladies both hold the Molly Pitcher Medal for support to the SAR Color Guard. Today the Culpeper Minutemen gathered, with support from the Colonel James Wood, II Chapter, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Blue Ridge Chorale, to celebrate our Declaration of Independence with a crowd of about 75 patriots. The program began at noon with nine members of the Color Guard marching up Davis Street to the tune of their fife and drum from the Train Depot to the Courthouse lawn. Culpeper Minutemen President Tom Hamill was the master of ceremonies. Greetings were presented from Chairman Bill Chase of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors and Culpeper Mayor Michael Olinger. Thomas Jefferson, portrayed by Marc Holma, gave the gathering the inside scoop on the Declaration, followed by the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Jim Bayne. The Blue Ridge Chorale rendered a rousing medley of patriot songs and the Color Guard fired three volleys in salute to the Declaration of Independence. At the conclusion of the ceremony the patriots in attendance were invited to sign the copy of the Declaration. LINK TO VIDEO HERE
  In the afternoon the Culpeper Minutemen led the parade down Main Street. Our own Jim Bayne was the Grand Marshall! Crowds lined the street, especially on the west side, in the shade, a WWII Navy SNJ Trainer flew low overhead, and the DAR walked on the sides of the street passing out American flags. The Culpeper Minutemen entry in the parade won the trophy for "Best Over All".
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As part of a tradition that spans over 50 years, the George Washington Chapter organized an Independence Day Commemoration at George Washington's Mount Vernon. The parade up the bowling green in front of the mansion was led by the talented Frederick Town Fife and Drum Corps and the VASSAR Color Guard. Chapter Vice President David Thomas served as Master of Ceremonies, Chapter President Ernest Coggins delivered an address, and VASSAR Orations Contest winner, Miss Gabby Luchetti from Bishop O'Connell High School, delivered her speech. The event concluded with a wreath laying at General Washington's tomb by 1st VASSAR Vice President Pete Davenport and past George Washington Chapter President Paul Walden. Members of the SAR, DAR, and public were then invited to lay carnations at the entrance to his tomb. Over 40 compatriots from the George Washington, George Mason, Fairfax Resolves, Culpeper Minutemen, Norfolk, Richmond, Dan River, and William Grayson VASSAR Chapters participated in the event. After that event, GWSAR Vice President Dave Thomas participated in the Naturalization Ceremony for 101 new citizens in leading the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  March up the Bowling Green, led by the VASSAR Color Guard and Frederick Town Fife and Drum Corps George Washington Chapter Vice President Dave Thomas as Master of Ceremonies George Washington Chapter President Ernest Coggins addresses the audience Presentation of Wreath at Gen. Washington's tomb by past George Washington Chapter President Paul Walden (left) and 1st VASSAR VP Vice President Pete Davenport (right) SAR Participants, VASSAR Color Guard and Frederick Town Fife and Drum CorpsThe Colonel George Waller Chapter at the Independence Day celebration at Patrick Henry's Red Hill Plantation in Brookneal, VA presented its 2018 student Bronze Good Citizenship/American History Medal & Certificate to Kyle Griffith, a recent graduate of Chatham High School in Pittsylvania County. Kyle participates in the Chapter's Living History Group. Over 2,000 visitors attended the July 4th celebration at Red Hill. Photo Below L to R: Compatriot W.C. Fowlkes, Compatriot Jeff Briggs, Kyle Griffith, and Compatriot Gene Reamey Submitted by Bob Vogler, President CGW Chapter  Members of the Williamsburg Chapter sponsored and attended the 33rd annual service of Prayer and Thanksgiving at historic Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg on the morning of July 4th. The service featured three patriotic hymns: America the Beautiful, the National Anthem, and America. Members of the Williamsburg Chapter DAR also attended and the service was open to the public. Submitted by: Harley Stewart  Mike Geisinger, President, of the Dan River Chapter, presents a Sons of the American Revolution Flag Certificate to the Guthrie family of Halifax, Virginia for their patriotic display of the United States Flag. Their reason for this display is to show “Honor and Respect for all those who fight to protect this country; Past, Present and Future.” Below (left to right); Mike Geisinger, Tony, Robin and Lewis Guthrie. Submitted by Mike Geisinger  24 Jun 2018 Mattanock Town, VA
 Charter members of the Nansemond Indian Patriot Chapter. Left to right: Charles Bass, Samuel Bass (Assistant Chief), Brian Bass, Jared Bass, Andrew Bass, Aaron Bass, Eric Bass, Thomas Badamo, and Earl Bass (Chief Emeritus). The Nansemond Nation participated in the American struggle for independence, and, as a result, probably all tribal members are eligible for SAR, DAR or C.A.R. membership as appropriate. A member of the tribe, Tom Badamo, and his three sons, recently joined the Long Island Chapter, SAR in New York. The president of that chapter, Joe Vermaelen, then took on the task of bringing more members of the tribe into the SAR. Since a large number of the tribe live on or near their original homeland in Suffolk County, VA, it followed that a new chapter in Virginia could be formed from the Nansemond Nation. A big step forward to that goal was made this past Sunday with the organizational meeting of the new chapter, which adopted the name "Nansemond Indian Patriots Chapter". At this meeting eight new members were inducted and a slate of officers elected for the chapter. The next meeting will be in conjunction with the Atlantic Middle States Association District Meeting in Newport News on August 10th and 11th. The Virginia SAR Color Guard has been invited to participate in the Annual Nansemond Pow Wow on August 18th and 19th. Submitted by Bill Schwetke, 2nd VP, VASSAR Elected Officers for Nansemond Indian Patriots Chapter President & Chaplain - Sam Bass Vice President - Earl Bass Secretary - Joe Vermaelen Treasurer - Jerod Bass Registrar - Tom Badamo Chancellor - Mike Elston  Virginia SAR President Pat Kelly inducts eight new members who will be charter members of the Nansemond Indian Patriot Chapter. On the left side of the picture, looking on, are Joe Vermaelen and Tom Badamo, with whom the idea for this chapter originated.  As Secretary-elect, Tom Badamo takes over the conduct of the organizing meeting. 20-23 Jun 2018 Washington, DC Old Glory drops from the ceiling to open the DAR Continental Congress. On opening night of the 127th DAR Continental Congress President General Larry Guzy brought greetings from the SAR. Virginia SAR compatriots were also in attendance with their DAR wives: Virginia SAR 2nd Vice President Bill Schwetke and his wife Cat, George Washington Chapter Treasurer Jay Henn and his wife Bonnie, and Williamsburg Chapter President Bill Greaf and his wife Elizabeth.
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