Yorktown Victory Day, 2016

19 Oct 2016                                                Yorktown, VA

Victory Monument at Yorktown.

  Yorktown Victory Day began with the annual wreath laying at the tomb of Thomas Nelson, Jr., who signed the Declaration of Independence, served as a general of Virginia Militia, and was a governor of Virginia during the revolution.  President General Mike Tomme represented the SAR, President Ed Truslow represented the Virginia SAR, and 1st Vice President Mike Elston was the master of ceremonies. Virginia SAR Chaplain Gene Thomas offered the invocation and benediction; and Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt commanded the Color Guard.  Six SAR state societies and 14 Virginia SAR chapters participated in the ceremony and marched in the parade.  Participating Virginia chapters included: Col. Fielding Lewis, Col James Wood II, Culpeper Minutemen, Col. William Grayson, Fairfax Resolves, Fort Harrison, George Mason, George Washington, Norfolk, Richard Henry Lee, Richmond, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, Jr., and Williamsburg.

Advance the Colors. Front Rank, left to right, National Color Guard Commander David Hoover, with US Flag, Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, President General Mike Tomme.

Color Guard presents arms. Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, with halbard, and President General Mike Tomme at end of front rank.

Virginia SAR 1st Vice President Mike Elston, Master of Ceremonies.

Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow introduces the SAR President General.

President General Mike Tomme, keynote speaker.

     As the wreath presenters were called forward by Master of Ceremonies Mike Elston, Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt accepted and placed the wreaths.

President General Mike Tomme, escorted by National Color Guard Commander David Hoover.

Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow.

Col Fielding Lewis Chapter President John Hamilton

Fairfax Resolves Chapter, Larry McKinley.

New Mexico SAR President, Andrew Lyngar, dual member of Culpeper Minutemen Chapter of Virginia SAR.

Col. James Wood II Chaper President Brett Osborne

Richard Henry Lee Chapter President Don Smith.

Fort Harrison Chapter President Tom Pettit.

Thomas Nelson, Jr. President Bruce Meyer.

Williamsburg Chapter President Harley Stewart.

Culpeper Minutemen Chapter President Bill Schwetke.

Wreaths at Thomas Nelson, Jr's grave.

Norfolk Chapter President Maury Weeks.

Don Reynolds of the George Washington Chapter.

Mike Weyler of the Col William Grayson Chapter.

Richmond Chapter 1st Vice President Dennis Petterson.

Peter Davenport of the George Mason Chapter.

Father Henry Minick of the Thomas Jefferson Chapter.

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     Immediately after the wreath laying ceremony, approximately 40 compatriots, led by President General Mike Tomme and Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow, and supported by members of the C.A.R., mustered for the parade.  They mustered on Church Street, then marched to Main Street, five blocks down Main Street and past the reviewing stand, the fell out into the field on Zweybrucken Street for photos.

Those who marched in the parade.