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The Virginia Society of the Sons of the AMerican Revolution is Celebrating 125 Years of Honoring our Patriot Ancestors 1890-2015

2/28/2015

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2015 Annual Meeting of the Virginia Society

2/22/2015

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20-22 February 2015 Omni Hotel RIchmond
Celebrating 125 Years
1890--2015

CMM Attendees at VASSAR Annual, left to right: Past President Mike Lyman, Past President Lance Lyngar, Cat Schwetke, President Bill Schwetke.

The 125th Anniversary Annual Meeting of the Virginia Society met at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Richmond from February 20th to the 22nd. CMM attendees included Past President Mike Lyman, Past President Lance Lyngar, President Bill Schwetke, and Cat Schwetke.

Mike Lyman, VASSAR Graves Registration Chairman, presented his strong pitch for graves registration during the Friday evening Board of Managers Meeting that was also attended by Lance Lyngar and Bill Schwetke.
VASSAR also presented Award Streamers for the Flag Certificate Program and the two VASSAR Presidential Initiatives: The Joint Revolutionary War/War of 1812 Monument Dedication and Grayson Family Grave Marking.

Flag Certificate Awardees, CMM President Bill Schwetke is in uniform, back row, 5th from the right.

Joint Revolutionary War/War of 1812 Streamer Awardees, CMM President Bill Schwetke, in uniform, sixth from the right.

Grayson Family Grave Marking Streamer Awardees, CMM President Bill Schwetke, in uniform, sixth from the left.

At the Saturday morning Membership Meeting CMM President Bill Schwetke reminded the gathering of the approaching 250th Anniversary of the Stamp Act on March 22nd and encouraged expressions of outrage over the heinous tax passed without representation! He also encouraged attendance at the Seven Chapter Meeting at Graves' Mountain to be held on April 18th and the Gabriel Long Memorial Dedication, tentatively scheduled for June 27th.
In the afternoon Awards Service the CMM Eagle Scout Award nominee, Alex Habashi, received the second place prize - his twin brother Bryan won first place.

CMM Past President and VASSAR Eagle Scout Committee Chairman Lance Lyngar, third from left, assists VASSAR President Bill Broadus in recognizing the Eagle Scout Honorees who were accompanied by their sponsoring chapter presidents. CMM President Bill Schwetke is fourth from the left, our nominee and VASSAR second place winner, Alex Habashi, is sixth from the left, and his twin brother, Bryan Habashi, first place winner, is fifth from the left.

The CMM also received a streamer for participating in judging History Day Competitions.

History Day Streamer recipients: CMM President Bill Schwetke is fourth from the left.

Left to right: Past President Lance Lyngar, President Bill Schwetke, and VASSAR President Bill Broadus.

The CMM received the streamer for the best Chapter History Scrapbook for 2014. Accepting the Chapter History Scrapbook streamer from VASSAR President Bill Broadus for the CMM were Past President Lance Lyngar and President Bill Schwetke.

The CMM also received a Chapter Excellence Ribbon for 2014.

Chapter Excellence Award Winners. CMM President Bill Schwetke accepted for the CMM, in back, fifth from the right.

At the Formal Banquet on Saturday evening Past President Lance Lyngar and President Bill Schwetke participated in the color guard.

VASSAR Color Guard, from left to right: VASSAR's new 3rd Vice President, Pat Kelly, Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, CMM President Bill Schwetke, Compatriot Paul Chase, and CMM Past President Lance Lyngar.

Larry Aaron

The Keynote speech, "The Early Years of VASSAR, 1890-1920", was presented by VASSAR Historian Larry Aaron.

Two CMM Members received very special awards at the Formal Banquet. Past President Lance Lyngar received the Silver Roger Sherman medal for sustained excellence as VASSAR Eagle Scout Committee Chairman and Assistant Web Master. Mike Lyman received the Patriot Medal for over ten years sustained excellence as the VASSAR Revolutionary War Graves Publications Chairman.

CMM Past President Lance Lyngar, left, receives the Silver Roger Sherman Medal from VASSAR President Bill Broadus.

CMM Past President Mike Lyman receives the Patriot Medal from VASSAR President Bill Broadus.

2015 VASSAR President Reverdy Wright, PhD, was sworn in by Atlantic Middle States Association Vice President General J. Thomas Showler. President Wright intends to stress working together with other chapters to accomplish greater goals. He also will emphasize the chapters and historic events west of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the coming year. He has found strong support in the CMM for both initiatives. He also asked that chapters not fail to note that this year is the 125th anniversary of VASSAR at meetings and events during the year.
President Wright also announced several appointed positions, including the appointment of CMM Past President Lance Lyngar as the State Headquarters Chapter President, and as VASSAR Assistant Secretary. This will be a very busy year for Lance.

2015 VASSAR President Reverdy Wright, PhD, is sworn in by Atlantic Middle States Association Vice President General J. Thomas Showler.

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235th anniversary of Crossing of the Dan

2/14/2015

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14 February 2015 South Boston, VA

NSSAR Color Guard forms under command of VASSAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, far right. CMM Past President is the right guide of the first rank, with a musket.

The 234th anniversary of the Southern Army under General Greene crossing the Dan River ahead of Gen Cornwallis was celebrated in South Boston, VA on 14 February. CMM Past President Lance Lyngar represented the CMM by participating in the Color Guard and presenting a wreath.

VASSAR Color Guard participants muster in front of the Crossing of the Dan Memorial obelisk, from left to right: VASSAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, VASSAR 3rd Vice President Mike Elston, Will Elston, Andy Doss, Bob Vogler, unknown from NC, Past VASSAR President Larry McKinley, Pat Kelly, CMM Past President Lance Lyngar, Peter Davenport, unknown from NC.

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Col William Grayson Grave Marking and Monument Dedication

2/7/2015

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7 February 2015 Woodbridge, VA

VASSAR Color Guard, from left, VASSAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, Past VASSAR Color Guard Commander Peter Davenport, CMM President Bill Schwetke, Vern Eubanks, Past VASSAR President Larry McKinley, Alan Brahin, Paul Chase, Andrew Johnson.

A crowd of about 75 people gathered at the grave of Col William Grayson in Woodbridge, VA, today to mark his grave and dedicate an SAR monument. The event was hosted by the Colonel William Grayson Chapter, and the master of ceremonies was Thad Hartman. The CMM were represented by President Bill Schwetke and Past President Jerry Hubbard.

William Grayson volunteered at he beginning of the Revolution and was an aide-de-camp to General Washington. Later he commanded his own regiment at Brandywine, Valley Forge and Monmouth. Colonel Grayson then left active military service and served on the Congressional Board of War. After the war he was a delegate to the Confederation Congress from 1785 to 1787. Though he opposed the new Constitution in 1788, he was elected to be one of the first two Senators from Virginia. He died in office and was buried in the Grayson Family plot on the Belle Aire Plantation where he had been born.

The crowd at the ceremony.

Three Volley musket salute. On the left, Peter Davenport; on the right, CMM President Bill Schwetke

CMM Compatriots at the ceremony. On the left, CMM President Bill Schwetke; on the right, CMM Past President Jerry Hubbard.

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Major Gabriel Long Memorial Wins Approval

2/2/2015

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      Lon Lacey, Jerry Hubbard, and Bill Schwetke met with the Culpeper City Parks and Recreation Commission this evening to present the CMM plan for a memorial to Maj Gabriel Long in Yowell Meadow Park and a ceremony to dedicate the new memorial. The Commission unanimously approved our request. Culpeper Town Planner Charles Rapp also attended and expressed support for our proposal. Next we need approval from the Culpeper City Council which should be granted with the strong support we received from all present.
     Currently we have requests pending before VASSAR's Knight Patty Trust Fund for help with financing the project, and with the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps for their support for the dedication ceremony. The dedication ceremony is tentatively scheduled for June 27th, rain or shine, with a inclement weather venue of Culpeper County High School.
     This will be the first of a small group of markers to recognize notable patriots from the original Culpeper Minute Men of 1775. Lon Lacey, our Gabriel Long Memorial Committee Chairman, has done great work in moving this project toward completion. He has received noteworthy assistance from Jerry Hubbard, Don Jennings, and Gar Schulin.

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The Virginia Society of the Sons of the AMerican Revolution is Celebrating 125 Years of Honoring our Patriot Ancestors 1890-2015

2015 Annual Meeting of the Virginia Society

20-22 February 2015 Omni Hotel RIchmondCelebrating 125 Years1890--2015

235th anniversary of Crossing of the Dan

14 February 2015 South Boston, VA

Col William Grayson Grave Marking and Monument Dedication

7 February 2015 Woodbridge, VA

Major Gabriel Long Memorial Wins Approval

Previous Muster Call Newsletters

20-22 February 2015 Omni Hotel RIchmond
Celebrating 125 Years
1890--2015