DISPATCH
  • LATEST NEWS
  • COMING EVENTS
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • The Color Guard
    • How to Join the Guard
    • Event Schedule
    • Requesting Guard Support
    • Messages to the Guard
    • Resources
    • CG archives 2022
    • CG archives 2021
    • CG archives 2020
    • CG archives 2019
    • CG archives 2018
    • CG archives 2017

VIRGINIA SOCIETY SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION SUPPORTS MILITARY PROMOTION CEREMONY

2/13/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
​On February 4, 2022, members of the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) had the honor of participating in the promotion ceremony for Chaplain (Lt. Col.) J. Mark Morgan to the rank of colonel. The Colonel William Grayson Chapter co-sponsored the ceremony. The ceremony was held at the historic Pohick Church in Lorton, Virginia. Pohick was the first permanent church in the colony to be established north of the Occoquan River, sometime prior to 1724 and is where George Washington frequently attended services. The presiding officer over the ceremony was Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Thomas L. Solhjem, 25th Chief of Chaplains, United States Army.
 
Chaplain Morgan, who is assigned to the Department of the Army staff, enlisted in the United States Army in 1988 at the age of 20.   After completing basic training, he received a two-year Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship at the University of North Alabama.  Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps, eventually entering active duty in the Chemical Corps.  In 1997, he resigned his commission to pursue full time ministry.  He graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Science and then from Oral Roberts University with a Master of Divinity in 2006.  He was endorsed as a chaplain by the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches and reentered active duty as a member of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.
 
The ceremony began with SAR compatriot Leamon Duncan (Master Sgt., USA, Ret.) as master of ceremonies portraying his ancestor Private Gerard Green who fought at the Battle of Yorktown.  An opening procession was led by William “Bill” Schwetke escorting Chaplain Solhjem and Dale Corey escorting Chaplain Morgan to their positions of honor.  Chaplain Morgan with his brothers Tony and David led the singing of the National Anthem.  Sentinels from the SAR were David Cook, Forrest Crain, Thomas “Chip” Daniel, Allan Phillips and Michael Weyler.
 
The Reverend Thomas Costa participating in colonial attire with his wife Susan, portrayed the Reverend Lee Massey, Rector to the Pohick Church.  He gave a brief history of the church and the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.  The Chaplain Corps is one of the oldest and smallest branches of the Army.  The corps dates to 29 July 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized one chaplain for each regiment of the Continental Army, with pay equaling that of a captain.  In addition to chaplains serving in Continental regiments, many militia regiments counted chaplains among their ranks.  Chaplain Solhjem presided over the reading of the orders and the pinning on the rank of colonel by Chaplain Morgan’s wife, Tracey, and their daughter, Brittany.
 
Members of the Virginia SAR came from across Virginia to support the ceremony. SAR support to the ceremony aligns with one of the National Society’s Patriotic Goals to support our Veterans who sacrifice so much in the service to our great Nation.  SAR support for the event was organized and led by Leamon Duncan, Colonel William Grayson Chapter. Supporting compatriots included Mike Weyler, Colonel William Grayson; William (Bill) Schwetke, Culpeper Minutemen; Dale Corey, Allan Phillips, and Thomas “Chip” Daniels, Colonel James Wood II; and David Cook and Forrest Crain, Fairfax Resolves. 
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

  • LATEST NEWS
  • COMING EVENTS
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • The Color Guard
    • How to Join the Guard
    • Event Schedule
    • Requesting Guard Support
    • Messages to the Guard
    • Resources
    • CG archives 2022
    • CG archives 2021
    • CG archives 2020
    • CG archives 2019
    • CG archives 2018
    • CG archives 2017