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April 28th, 2015

4/28/2015

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Former CMM Member WIlliam O. Hill Dies

     William O. Hill, a former member of the CMM whose membership lapsed a few years ago, but is known to some of us, died on Tuesday, April 28th.

William O. "Billy" HillWilliam O. "Billy" Hill, long-time postmaster of Brandy Station, Va., born September 14,. 1926, died on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at the age of 88.Billy attended Forest Park High School and Strayer Business College, both of Baltimore, Md., prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army on New Year's Day, 1944 during World War II. He served in the 24th Infantry Division, and was shipped to the Philippines at the end of the war, where he worked as a military postmaster and attended the University of the Philippines until his discharge in December, 1946.Returning to his family's home in Brandy Station, he met Ruth "Sis" Floyd, beginning a romance that that led to their marriage in October, 1948. Their devotion and love for each other was an inspiration for their family until they were separated by death after 64 years of marriage.Billy lived a life of community service, and was well-known in Brandy Station as the postmaster from 1947 until his retirement in 1983. He was the Postmaster of the Year for the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1973, the year that he also served as the president of the Virginia branch of the National League of Postmasters. Billy was a charter member of the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Company, which was organized in 1951. He served as a director of the BSVFD from 1970 to 1976.Billy was a Master Mason, member of the Stevens Lodge No. 169, A.F.&A.M., and was a former commander of the Adjutant Camp 1311, Culpeper, of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He was also a life member of National Rifle Association, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2425, and a life member of the American Legion Post 330.Billy was preceded in death by his father, William Oscar Hill; his mother, Pearle Cornelia (May) Hill; and his wife, Ruth "Sis" Floyd Hill. He is survived by many loving cousins.The family would like to thank the staff of Gordon House at Gordonsville, Va. and the nurses and staff at Hospice of the Piedmont for the wonderful care given Billy during his illness.Funeral services will be held Monday, May 4, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at Clore-English Funeral Home with interment immediately following the service in Culpeper Masonic Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service time.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department, 19601 Church Road, Brandy Station, VA 22714 or to Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, Virginia 22911.Condolences may be given at clore-english.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Clore-English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, VA 22701.

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James Monroe's 257th Birthday

4/28/2015

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28 Apr 2015                       Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA                                            

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     Today we honored President James Monroe's 257th birthday at his tomb in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.  President Obama was represented by Brigadier General John Haley, US Army Chief of Ordnance and Commandant US Army Ordnance School, who presented a wreath and made remarks honoring President Monroe.  This was followed by a ceremony by the James Monroe Memorial Foundation, which featured several speakers and presentation of 17 wreaths, including one from the CMM.  CMM members in attendance were Past President Mike Lyman and President Bill Schwetke, who presented the wreath on behalf of the CMM.
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CMM members President Bill Schwetke, on left and Past President Mike Lyman, on right, with the CMM wreath.
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James Monroe's 257th Birthday at His Colonial Beach Birthplace

4/25/2015

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25 Apr 2015                              Colonial Beach, VA

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     The James Monroe Memorial Foundation hosted a 257th Birthday Celebration Ceremony for President James Monroe at the site of his birthplace in Westmoreland Co., VA, today.  A crowd of about fifty gathered at the Visitor's Center for the ceremony.  The Virginia Society was represented by 1st Vice-President Ed Truslow and the CMM were represented by Past President Mike Lyman and President Bill Schwetke.  Mike Lyman also participated in the combined SAR/War of 1812/ OFPA Color Guard.  President Bill Schwetke presented a wreath on behalf of the CMM.  By next year the Foundation plans to have a replica of James Monroe's birthplace constructed on the site.
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Part of the crowd at the Visitor's Center gathered for the ceremony.
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Color Guard, CMM Past President Mike Lyman is second from the left.
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CMM President Bill Schwetke on left and Past President Mike Lyman on right with the CMM Wreath.
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Little Fork CHurch

4/19/2015

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19 Apr 2015                                        Rixeyville, VA

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Little Fork Church - this structure was constructed from 1773-1776
     Four CMM, three wives (one in period dress), and one other compatriot attended the service today at Little Fork Episcopal Church honoring Culpeper Remembrance Days.  Little Fork Church, the only surviving colonial church in Culpeper County, has been restored to look as it did in 1776.
     Attendees included Lon Lacey and his wife Mary Margaret, Don Jennings and his wife Kathryn, Past President Lance Lyngar, and President Bill Schwetke and his wife Cat, who wore a period dress.  We were joined by our dear friend from the Col William Grayson Chapter, Paul Chase.  All SAR members were in revolutionary uniform or militia attire.
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From left to right: President Bill Schwetke, Cat Schwetke, Little Fork Pastor Brad L. Jackson, Paul Chase, Past President Lance Lyngar, Treasurer Don Jennings, Kathryn Jennings, Mary Margaret Lacey, CMM Color Gurad Commander Lon Lacey.
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Seven-Chapter Meeting

4/18/2015

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18 Apr 2015    Graves' Mountain Lodge, Syria, VA

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     Today was a beautiful Spring day in the Blue Ridge Mountains, quite suitable for the 20th Anniversary Multi-Chapter Meeting at Graves' Mountain Lodge in Syria, VA.  Members of the Thomas Jefferson, Culpeper Minutemen, Fort Harrison, Col. Fielding Lewis, Gen Daniel Morgan, Col William Grayson, and Col James Wood II Chapters, plus many members of the Virginia Society Leadership, met for camaraderie and fellowship in the spirit of our patriot ancestors.  Sixty-five compatriots, wives, and friends attended, including ten CMM with five wives, and two special guests.  Our special guests were Dewey Lillard and his wife Joyce.  In 1987, Dewey Lillard, as president of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, was responsible for starting the tradition of Spring meetings at Graves' Mountain Lodge.
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1987 CMM President Dewey Lillard and his wife Joyce
     VASSAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt led the Combined Color Guard that included the US and Virginia Flags, and each of the seven chapter flags, with an escort of musket men.
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Combined Color Guard at Graves' Mountain Lodge. Left to right, David Adamy, Col William Grayson Chapter, with musket; Bill Schwetke, with US Flag, CMM; VASSAR President Reverdy Wright; VASSAR Color Guard Commander, Darrin Schmidt; Lance Lyngar, with Virginia Flag, CMM; Don Jennings with CMM Chapter Flag; Larry Johnson with Col John Wood II Chapter Flag; Edmund Davidson with Gen Daniel Morgan Chapter Flag; Roy Martin, VASSAR Chaplain, with Fort Harrison Chapter Flag; John Hamilton with Col Fielding Lewis Chapter Flag; Paul Chase with Col William Grayson Chapter Flag; and Ken Wallenborn, VASSAR Surgeon, with Thomas Jefferson Chapter Flag.
     To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Multi-Chapter Meetings at Graves' Mountain Lodge, and to thank the Lodge for their support of our meetings, a Certificate of Appreciation, signed by all seven chapter presidents, was presented to Rachel, representing  Graves' Mountain Lodge.
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Left to right, President Tom Pettit, Fort Harrison Chapter, President Bill Schwetke, CMM, Rachel, representing Graves' Mountain Lodge, President Edmund Davidson of Gen Daniel Morgan Chapter, John Harrison of Col Fielding Lewis Chapter, Past-President Dewey Lillard of CMM 1987, President Gary Howard of Col William Grayson Chapter, President Bob Short of the Thomas Jefferson Chapter, and just out of the picture, President Todd Golding of the Col John Wood II Chapter.
     The Keynote speaker was author John A. Nagy, who has written extensively on spycraft in the Revolution and talked on that topic.
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During the meeting, the CMM were presented the acrylic award for the best Chapter Scrapbook in 2014 by VASSAR President Reverdy Wright - President Bill Schwetke accepted for the chapter.
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Culpeper Remembrance Days

4/18/2015

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18 Apr 2015               AMTRAK Depot, Culpeper, VA

     Lon Lacey represented the CMM with a display in the waiting room of the Culpeper AMTRAK Depot for Culpeper Remembrance Days that included a display of Revolutionary Flags.
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Lon Lacey, on right, with one of the interested visitors to the CMM display in the AMTRAK Depot.
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Thomas Jefferson's 272nd Birthday

4/13/2015

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13 April 2015                                    Monticello

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VASSAR Color Guard at Monticello, left to right, VASSAR 3rd Vice President Pat Kelly, Compatriot Bob Vogler, Compatriot Paul Chase, CMM President Bill Schwetke, VASSAR Surgeon Ken Wallenborn.
     Today we celebrated Thomas Jefferson's 272nd birthday at his home, Monticello.  VASSAR provided the color guard for the occasion, and the CMM were represented by President Bill Schwetke.  The Army's Old Guard provided fife, drum, and bugle music, looking splendid in their Revolutionary War Uniforms.  The keynote speaker was Congressman John Lewis, a hero of the civil rights movement.  Pat Kelly presented VASSAR's wreath and Bill Schwetke presented the CMM wreath.  The VASSAR Color Guard posted the colors at the beginning of the ceremony, and then retired them at the end.  It was a beautiful sunny day, temperature in the low 70's, and a brisk wind to keep the flags unfurled.
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Photos by Ryan M. Kelly of the Charlottesville Daily Progress
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            VASSAR Gold Good Citizenship Gala    

4/11/2015

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11 Apr 2015      Fort Hunt Country Club, ALexandria, VA

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Presentation of the SAR Gold Good Citizenship medal to Marine General Earl E. Anderson. From left to right: VASSAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, George Washington Chapter President Dwight Whitney, Fairfax Resolves Chapter President Bill Price, General Anderson, Compatriot Andy Johnson, CMM Past President Lance Lyngar (hidden), Past VASSAR President Larry McKinley, CMM President Bill Schwetke, Compatriot Vern Eubanks.
     Tonight the Virginia Society honored Marine General Earl E. Anderson with the SAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal at the Fort Hunt Country Club in Alexandria, VA.  The CMM were represented by Past President Lance Lyngar, President Bill Schwetke, and Bill's wife, Cat.
     General Anderson was born in 1919 in Morgantown, WV and graduated from the University of West Virginia in 1940.  He was commissioned in the Marines in 1940 and served aboard the USS Yorktown, an aircraft carrier that was engaged in the early fighting in the South Pacific.  The Yorktown was heavily damaged at Coral Sea, and then sunk at Midway.  General Anderson recovered from his injuries and was trained as a pilot, then commanded Marine Bomber Squadron 443, flying PBJ-1 Mitchell bombers in combat in the Pacific.  In the Korean conflict General Anderson command Marine Observation Squadron 6.  In Vietnam he flew combat missions during his first tour, 1963-4, and returned as the Commanding General of Marine Amphibious Forces during the Battle of Khe Sanh and the Battle of Hue City.  He continued to rise in rank and in 1972 became the youngest marine to attain four stars and served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.
     General Anderson's military decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two stars, the Legion of Merit with two stars and valor device, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one star, the Bronze Star with valor device, and the Purple Heart.
     After retiring from the Marine Corps General Anderson became a very distinguished member of the American Bar Association, notably chairing the Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel.
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General Anderson with, on the left, Cat Schwetke, and on the right, CMM President Bill Schwetke.
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Guard of Honor forms a backdrop to to the speaker's podium. From left to right: VASSAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, CMM President Bill Schwetke, Compatriot Andy Johnson, CMM Past President Lance Lyngar, Compatriot Vern Eubanks. At the podium George Washington Chapter President Dwight Whitney, and in the right foreground Past VASSAR President Larry McKinely.
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CMM members Lance Lyngar and Bill Schwetke march in as part of the VASSAR Honor Guard.
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Senator John Warner, though not attending, dropped in from another event to greet those attending. Senator Warner is shown with General Anderson on the left, and VASSAR President Reverdy Wright on the right.
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President's Message for April 2015

4/4/2015

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Compatriots and Friends,
     Capt Asa Lay joined the patriots besieging Boston shortly after Lexington and Concord and served until the successful end of our Revolution.  His actions brought him to the attention of General Washington.  After the war General Washington encountered one of Asa Lay's sons and asked him to "Give my Love to your father; I knew him well; he was a brave man."  Very high praise from one remarkable man to another.  Asa Lay also has many remarkable descendents, some of whom are or have been sturdy members of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter.  This past month we buried one, Dan Lay, Asa Lay's 4xgreat grandson, and welcomed another, his 6xgreat grandson Raymond Mills, our newest member.  We should each strive to emulate the Lay family in honoring Asa Lay and our other patriot ancestors.
     Along with welcoming Raymond Mills, we welcomed a reinstated transfer, Ben Works.  There is now a very healthy stream of new members in the process of being approved and our future is brighter because of them.
     The 250th Anniversary of our patriot ancestors' struggle is a most appropriate time to honor their accomplishments.  I have set a goal for our chapter of appropriately honoring the quarter millennium milestones of significant events in our Revolution.  One event has passed: the Stamp Act of 1765 was a milestone in setting our ancestors against England, and it was marked by Jim Baynes' article in the Culpeper Star-Exponent.  We should not let any similar milestone pass unnoticed.  The pace will be naturally slow at first and this project will last for at least another 18 years.  The highlight for us will be the 250th anniversaries of the forming of the Culpeper Minutemen and the Battle of Great Bridge in 2025.  We should call national attention to these two events.  We have ten years to do this, but it is not too early to start.  One project I propose is a postage stamp honoring the Culpeper Minutemen, or one commemorating the Battle of Great Bridge that prominently features the Culpeper Minutemen.  Your idea's are needed.
     I hope you're enjoying the warmer weather and will join me in enjoying a fine spring day at Graves' Mountain Lodge with the camaraderie of seven SAR chapters and our state leaders.
Your Servant,
Bill

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April Birthdays and Service Anniversaries

4/3/2015

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William Dawes
6 Apr 1745 - 25 Feb 1799

with Paul Revere and others made the midnight ride to warn Patriots at Lexington and Concord that
"the British are coming!!"

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April Birthdays
Leonard M. Cowherd
Fred W. Goodenough
Philip N. Johnson
Austin T. Martin
Nathan R. Skipper III
April Service Anniversaries
Dwight D. Lyman, 14 yrs
William R. Hurst, 10 yrs
Donald J. Cope, 4 yrs
German P. Culver, Jr., 3 yrs

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