Information and Directions

September 7th, 2024, Saturday (11:00 am) – 243rd Commemoration of the Battle of the Virginia Capes, Virginia Beach, VA
Event Level: National
Host/POC:  Norfolk Chapter Virginia SAR / John Hall / [email protected].
Location:  Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse Statue, Fort Story, Virginia Beach, VA. (For inclement weather, the ceremony will be held indoors at the First Landing Chapel, 600 Port au Prince Rd, VA.  This is a few hundred yards away from the outdoor site.)
Firing Event: No
Event Color Guard Commander:  Thompson.
Heat Index:
Details: The Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as the Battle of the Virginia Capes or simply the Battle of the Capes, was a crucial naval battle in the American Revolutionary War that took place near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on September 5, 1781. The combatants were a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves and a French fleet led by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse. The battle strategically prevented the Royal Navy from reinforcing or evacuating the besieged forces of Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. The French achieved control of the sea lanes against the British and provided the Franco-American army with siege artillery and French reinforcements. These proved decisive in the Siege of Yorktown, effectively securing independence for the Thirteen Colonies.  The guest speaker is Rear Admiral Frédéric de Rupilly, French Navy, DCOS Plans Joint Force Command Norfolk.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: 
French Military Color Guard:

Use the link below for directions:

https://goo.gl/maps/ZuAcuqsRFTj67vQX7

To Register use the link below:

 https://www.virginiasar.org/battle-of-the-virginia-capes-2024