Virginia Society Honors Compatriot Lt. Jeffery Douglas Cooper at His Burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

photos by Kate Melhuish

The caisson bearing Lt Cooper proceeds with the Honor Guard to his final resting place.

     1st Lieutenant Jeffery Douglas Cooper, an SAR compatriot, was killed in an accident while deployed to Kuwait.  His father, also an SAR compatriot, from Washington State, requested that the Virginia Society provide the SAR Funeral Ritual at the graveside service today.  1st Vice President Mike Elston organized the Virginia Society participation and eleven members of seven chapters, from as far as Norfolk, answered the call to honor Lt Cooper.  Peter Davenport officiated our ritual and commanded the color guard, Paul Walden, Don Reynolds, and Wayne Rouse also had active roles in the ritual.  The Color Guard included five compatriots in Regimental Uniforms.  Chris Melhuish's wife, Kate, took the photographs for this report.

The Virginia SAR Color Guard prepares to lead the compatriots to the ceremony.

Virginia compatriots render honors during the military ceremony.

Peter Davenport leads the Virginia compatriots in the SAR ritual.