Blog Archives

260th Anniversary of the Leedstown Resolutions

2/28/2026

28 Feb 2026 Oak Grove, VA

The ceremony being held at Ingleside Winery.

A crowd approaching 150 gathered today at Ingleside Winery in Oak Grove to celebrate the Leedstown Resolutions. These resolutions against the Stamp Act were drafted by Richard Henry Lee who a little more than ten years later would, as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, rise to offer a motion that "That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States..." Today Secretary Tom Hamill and Registrar Bill Schwetke represented the CMM at this celebration of wisdom and courage. Both Tom and Bill marched in the Color Guard which Bill commanded, and Tom presented the CMM wreath.
After the ceremony fried oysters were served to everyone, followed by a lunch buffet for those who had registered for it.

The wreath presentations, with Tom Hamill, second from the right, presenting the CMM wreath.

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245th Anniversary of the Crossing of the Dan

2/14/2026

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14 Feb 2026 South Boston, VA

The attendance was well over 200.

Today the Dan River Chapter and the City of South Boston hosted a celebration of the successful escape across the swollen Dan River on 14 Feb 1781. This was a key part of a string of events that led to Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown just eight months latter. State and CMM Chaplain John Kuvakas represented the Virginia SAR while Secretary Tom Hamill presented the CMM wreath. Bill Schwetke carried the US Flag in the presentation of the colors and fired in the musket salute. All three participated in the Color Guard.

Virginia SAR Chaplain John Kuvakas brings greetings from the Virginia SAR as Phil Williams (on right) past Virginia SAR President and the Master of Ceremonies looks on.

The SAR Color Guard leads the parade down to the river.

Virginia SAR Chaplain John Kuvakas presents the State Wreath, escorted by Bill Schwetke.

Secretary Tom Hamill presents the CMM Wreath.

Halifax County High School JROTC Cadet Lt Col casts a wreath into the Dan River in honor of the heroes that managed to get General Greene's Army across the river to safety.

CMM compatriots at Crossing of the Dan, left to right: Registrar Bill Schwetke, Chaplain John Kuvakas, and Secretary Tom Hamill.

We were joined by tow of our wives who presented the Fauquier Court House Chapter NSDAR Wreath, left to right: Chaplain Kelly Kuvaks, and Honorary Regent Cat Schwetke.

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George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town Alexandria

2/14/2026

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14 Feb 2026 Alexandria, VA

The SAR Color Guard leads compatriots and friends in the Washington's Birthday Parade in Old Town Alexandria.

The SAR Color Guard led a contingent of compatriots and friends in the little over a mile-long parade. CMM President Mark Crain marched with them.

The Grand Marshals of the parade were SAR President General Mike Elston of Virginia and DAR President General Virginia Sebastian Storage of Virginia.

CMM President Mark Crain, second from left, marched with the SAR Color Guard not too far behind the Grand Marshals.

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Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier

2/14/2026

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14 Feb 2026 Alexandria, VA

CMM President Mark Crain with the Chapter Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Old Town Alexandria.

In Old Town Alexandria there is a tomb of a a soldier found in 1826 and given an honorable burial in the cemetery of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House. Each year, while celebrating George Washington's Birthday, the SAR, DAR and C.A.R. gather to honor this unknown patriot. The CMM was represented at this ceremony by President Mark Crain.

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245th Anniversary of General Greene's Encampment on the Bannister River

2/13/2026

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13 Feb 2026 Halifax, VA

This evening the local community in Halifax, VA gathered to mark the encampment of General Greene's Army on the Bannister River after their dramatic escape across the Dan River which was a key link in the chain of events leading Cornwallis to defeat at Yorktown. The CMM was represented by Chaplain John Kuvakas and Registrar Bill Schwetke. Both participated in the posting of the colors, with Bill in command, and Bill participated in the night time firing of the musket salutes. Their wives, Kelly Kuvakas and Cat Schwetke, also attended the program.
The evening began in Beth Car Baptist Church were about 50 members of the community gathered. Members of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, Col James Wood II Chapter, and the Host Dan River Chapter presented and posted the colors. Then there was a talk on "The Recrossing of the Dan" by William Guerrant. Then the Color Guard led the gathering to Halifax Veterans Memorial where three musket volleys were fired.

Musket Salute

John Kuvakas narrates the musket safety checks after firing.

Left to right: John Kuvakas, Kelly Kuvakas, Cat Schwetke, Bill Schwetke.

Pictures by Kelly Kuvakas & Cat Schwetke

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New Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Community Guide and Business Directory Features the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter on It's Cover

2/9/2026

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09 Feb 2026 Culpeper, VA

Left to right: Marc Robinson (CJWII) Sean Carrigan (CJWII), Michael Weyler (CWG), Tom Hamill, Barry Schwoerer (SMJC), Bill Schwetke.

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2026 Annual Meeting of the Virginia SAR

2/7/2026

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6-7 Feb 2026 Glen Allen, VA

151 attendees gathered at the Virginia Crossings Conference Center and Hotel in Glen Allen, VA, for the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Virginia SAR. The CMM were represented by President Mark Crain, Secretary Tom Hamill, Chaplain (also Virginia SAR Chaplain) John Kuvakas, and Registrar Bill Schwetke. Bill's wife, Cat, also attended.
During the meeting the following compatriots were elected as state officers and installed by President General Mike Elston:

Virginia SAR Officers for 2026-2027
President - Darrin Schmidt
1st Vice President - Ken Bonner
2nd Vice President - Randy Atkins
3rd Vice President - Forrest Crain
Secretary - Tim Dioquino
Treasurer - Jon Rymer
Chancellor - Eric Monday
Chaplain - John Kuvakas
Historian - Tom Roth
Surgeon - Dr Charles Driscoll

Left to right: Chaplain John Kuvakas, Surgeon Dr. Charles Driscoll, Historian Tom Roth, 1st VP Ken Bonner, President General Mike Elston, President Darrin Schmidt, Secretary Tim Dioquino, 2nd VP Randy Atkins, 3rh VP Forrest Crain, Treasurer, Jon Rymer.

During the meeting the winners of the Virginia Cup and Best Chapter, by size, were announced. The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter was named as:

Winner of the Virginia Cup for Medium Size Chapters
2nd Best Chapter for Medium Size Chapters

President Mark Crain accepts the streamer for winning the Virginia Cup. Left to right: Awards Committee Chairman Ken Hawkins, CMM President Mark Crain, Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler.

As part of the entertainment the wives had their Friday Lunch at the Thomas Jefferson Hotel in Richmond and also a game night that evening. In the foreground of the picture of the ladies board in the bus to the Thomas Jefferson Hotel are Un Hui Davenport, Cat Schwetke, and Anita Bonner.

The ladies lunch is at the left side of this picture of the Jefferson Hotel.

As the Virginia SAR Chaplain, John Kuvakas conducted the Memorial Serv ice for those compatriot who had died the previous year.

During the Saturday Evening Banquet a CMM member and spouse also received medals from the Virginia SAR. Bill Schwetke received an oak leaf cluster to his State Meritorious Medal and Cat Schwetke received the second oak leaf cluster to her Daughters of Liberty Medal. Bill also received the Silver Hannah Arnett Medal from Virginia SAR Regent Kathleen Mayer Rugh .

Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler presents the Daughters of Liberty Medal 3 olc to Cat Schwetke.

Left to right: Virginia DAR Regent Kathleen Mayer Rugh, Bill Schwetke, Cat Schwetke.

Also at the end of the Saturday Night Banquet there was a change of command of the Virginia SAR Color Guard in which Brett Osborn relinquished command and John Lynch assumed command. Bill Schwetke marched in the Color Guard and participated in the ceremony (Bill was the Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander 2017-2019).

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260th Anniversary of the Leedstown Resolutions

28 Feb 2026 Oak Grove, VA

245th Anniversary of the Crossing of the Dan

14 Feb 2026 South Boston, VA

George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town Alexandria

14 Feb 2026 Alexandria, VA

Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier

14 Feb 2026 Alexandria, VA

245th Anniversary of General Greene's Encampment on the Bannister River

13 Feb 2026 Halifax, VA

New Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Community Guide and Business Directory Features the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter on It's Cover

09 Feb 2026 Culpeper, VA

2026 Annual Meeting of the Virginia SAR

6-7 Feb 2026 Glen Allen, VA

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