Firing of Muskets l. to r. Bill Schwetke, Brookes Wheeler, Brian Bayliss, Bryan Buck, Michael Wilson, Richard Tyler and Sean Carrigan.

On 17 June 2023, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) conducted a Color Guard Muster at the Stonewall District Ruritan Club, Clear Brook, Virginia.  Twenty three guardsmen from the  SAR Virginia State Color Guard met for training in safety, flag presentations, musketry and proper conduct in a ceremony.  This comprised seven chapters of the SAR, Colonel James Wood II (CJWII), Colonel William Grayson (CWG), Culpeper Minutemen (CMM), Fort Harrison (FH), George Washington (GW), Patrick Henry (PH) and Sgt Maj John Champe (SMJC) Chapters.  Dale Corey (CJWII), Virginia State Adjutant and Marc Robinson (CJWII) Chapter Color Guard Commander gave a presentation on safety.  This included the proper safety checks for handling the musket, concern for terrain and overhanging impediments, proper hydration and the weather.  They then discussed the proper techniques for carrying flags in formation.  The guardsmen were then separated into three groups for training.  Ken Bonner (SMJC) and Barry Schwoerer (SMJC) took new guardsmen to learn and practice the proper techniques for handling a musket.  Their group included Mark Crain (CMM), Jim Cridger (CJWII), Mark Jackson (GW) and Paul McComb (GW).  Bill Schwetke (CMM) and Sean Carrigan (CJWII) conducted actual musket firing training with Brian Bayliss (CJWII), Bryan Buck (FH), Richard Tyler (CJWII), Brooks Wheeler (CMM) and Michael Wilson (CWG).  The third group trained in leading a color guard during ceremonies.  This was led by Dale Corey and Marc Robinson (CJWII).  Doug Hall (CJWII) provided a drum cadence for the drills.  The groups included Paul Christensen (CJWII), Mark Day (PH), Chip Daniel (CJWII), Kelly Ford (CJWII) and Mark Sink (SMJC). 

 photo is Musket Training l. to r. Ken Bonner, Mark Crain, Paul Christensen, Mark Jackson, Barry Schwoerer and Jim Cridge

photo is  Color Guard Commander Training l. to r. Mark Sink, Dale Corey, Doug Hall, Thomas "Chip" Daniel, Paul Christensen, Allan Phillips, Kelly Ford and Mark Day.  (Photos courtesy of Michelle Phillips.)