​On 9 August 2020, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution conducted a Color Guard Workshop and then a Flag Raising Ceremony at the Wayside Inn, Middletown, Virginia.  The Wayside Inn provided a great place for the workshop.  Since 1797, is has been the oldest and longest continuously run inn, in the United States.  The oldest part - "Summer Kitchen" - was built as a waystation and stagecoach stope in 1742, along with the well that watered the town.  The Chapter conducted training in procedures for color guard activities and then conducted a flag raising ceremony for the inn.  The color guard was represented by Marc Robinson, Bill Schwetke, Erick Moore, Clay Robinson, Dennis Parmeter, Sean Carrigan and Brett Osborn.  Doug Hall played drums to provide a cadence.  Dale Corey and George Reeves (owner of the Wayside Inn) ceremoniously raised a new flag.  Pictured in the first picture are left to right the color guard marching into position.  Second picture is the guard at present arms for the raising of the flag.
 
Submitted by Dale Corey
 

​Mr. Michael Cecere spoke to the Williamsburg Chapter Sons of the American Revolution in a zoom meeting on August 8, 2020.  Mr. Cecere is pictured in an outfit acting as Commander of the 7th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army (re-enactors) located in the Tidewater region.  He discussed from his book on the military career of General Peter Muhlenberg, a clergyman turned soldier and admired officer of General George Washington.  At Yorktown, Muhlenberg commanded the continental light infantry that stormed Redoubt No. 10.  Chapter President Roger Cross presented Cecere with a Certificate of Appreciation and a Jefferson Cup.  Mr. Cecere has written 17 books on the American Revolution and has taught American History for over 25 years.  He was recognized by the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution as their 2005 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.  He presently resides in Williamsburg and teaches at Gloucester High School.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart
 

Chapter President Edmund Davidson awarded Craigsville VA Officer Corey Wood with the SAR Life Saving Medal on August 6 at the Craigsville Town Hall (see photo below).. 

On June 6, 2020, Officer Wood, on his own, searched for and  rescued two children from a car that had plummeted into a ravine.  Tragically, the mother of the two children did not survive the accident.  
Submitted by Edmund Davidson.

​Anna Cordle Harry and William Schermerhorn, both of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, were each awarded a Bronze Good Citizenship Medal by the Williamsburg Chapter at a ceremony at the Colonial Capital on July 16, 2020.  The award was given in recognition of their noteworthy contributions to the community in designing, organizing, and conducting historical and patriotic events and of their continued support of, and cooperation with, the Williamsburg Chapter in promoting patriotism, preserving American History, and promoting the education of future generations.  Pictured, left to right, are Thomas Campbell, Past-Board Member of the Williamsburg Chapter; William Schermerhorn, Creative Director of Signature Events at Colonial Williamsburg; Roger Cross, President of the Williamsburg Chapter; Anna Cordle Harry, Community Affairs Manager at Colonial Williamsburg; and Jeffrey Wooldridge, Board Member of Williamsburg Chapter.  Thomas Campbell made opening remarks on his 20 years working with Colonial Williamsburg and Roger Cross made award comments and presentations of the medals.
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart

Submit​On 5 July, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) held an event at the Warren County Administrative Building in Front Royal to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The CJWII commemoration was led by the chapter color guard presenting the colors with an invocation by Larry Johnson and the Pledge of Allegiance led by compatriot Fred Gill.  Chapter President Marc Robinson provided opening remarks.  Compatriot Nathan Poe presented a brief vignette of Thomas Jefferson on his death bed 50 years after the Congress adopted the document.  He was followed by Compatriot Charles Jameson giving a presentation on two African-American patriots who made great contributions for the colonies during the War of Independence.  This was followed by seven compatriots reading the Declaration of Independence.  They were Chapter President Marc Robinson, Compatriot Brett Osborn, Virginia State President Bill Schwetke, Compatriot Sean Carrigan, Chapter Vice President Chip Daniel, Compatriot Erick Moore and Compatriot Dale Corey.  A list of patriots buried in Warren County was read with wreath presentations by Compatriots Fred Gill and Charles Jameson.  This was followed by a musket salute fired by Marc Robinson, Brett Osborn, Sean Carrigan, Erick Moore, Mike Dennis, Eric Robinson and Art LaFlam. 
 
The first picture is of compatriots who participated in the ceremony.  Front row l-r are Nathan Poe, Sean Carrigan, Eric Robinson and Art LaFlam.  Back row l-r are Brett Osborn, Dale Corey, Erick Moore, Mike Dennis, Bill Schwetke, Charles Jameson, Chip Daniel and Marc Robinson.  The second picture is of the musket squad, l-r Marc Robinson, Brett Osborn, Sean Carrigan, Bill Schwetke, Erick Moore, Mike Dennis, Eric Robinson and Art LaFlam.
​Submitted by Dale Corey.