On Saturday, April 29th, at 4:30 PM, in the beautiful cemetery overlooking the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, The West Virginia Society SAR and the Virginia Society SAR joined to honor a patriot who was born, raised and served from Culpeper County, Virginia; and died and was buried in Harper's Ferry, now West Virginia.
     Last Spring, workers at Harper's Cemetery in Harper's Ferry, WV, discovered the tombstone that had been knocked over, broken, and buried.  When it was uncovered it was discovered to be the tombstone of Lt. William Broadus, who fought at Barren Hill and at Monmouth.  He enlisted in 1776 and served in the Virginia State Marines, then in Colonel George Gibson's 1st Virginia State Regiment and also, for a time, in General Wayne's Light Infantry.   Broadus was born in Culpeper, VA in 1755, and late in life moved to Harper's Ferry, VA, where he died in 1830.  His first wife, Martha Slaughter Jones, was from a prominent Culpeper Family.
     The name Broadus, is, of course, familiar to the Virginia Society.  Our Society President in 2014-2015 was Bill Broadus, a relative, though not direct descendant of Lt. William Broadus.  Our Bill Broadus was actively engaged in the effort to restore this tombstone.
     The restoration, not yet complete, is being done by Robert Mosko, an expert in tombstone restoration.  Professor Mosko owns Mosko Cemetery Monument Services in Hanover, PA, which is wholly devoted to monument restorations.  The West Virginia and Virginia Societies have shared the cost and time for the tombstone restoration and planning the ceremony. 
     The Knight Patty Fund has provided the majority of the funding from the Virginia Society.  They can provide significant help with your project - put the State Society to work for you through the  Knight Patty Fund.
     President Mike Elston led the Virginia delegation to the dedication ceremony.  Six Virginia SAR Chapters participated: Colonel Fielding Lewis, Colonel James Wood II, Colonel William Grayson, Culpeper Minutemen, Fairfax Resolves, and George Washington.  Six members of the Virginia SAR Color Guard participated in the Combined Color Guard and the 21 Gun Salute.
     President Jerry Hubbard represented the CMM and presented our wreath.  Other CMM participants were Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey, Lance Lyngar, and Bill Schwetke, all of whom participated in the Color Guard.
     A total of eleven state societies and chapters from the SAR, DAR, and CA.R., representing three states, participated in the program.  Also participating were the Mayor of Harper's Ferry, the Superintendent of the Harper's Ferry National Historic Park, and the President of the Harper's Cemetery Board of Trustees.

     14 compatriots from 8 chapters participated in James Monroe's 259th Birthday Celebration Ceremony today at his tomb in Hollywood Cemetery, overlooking the James River in Richmond.  3rd Vice President Bill Schwetke led the Virginia Society representatives and presented the Virginia SAR wreath.  Wreaths were also presented by the following chapters: Colonel Fielding Lewis, Colonel William Grayson, Culpeper Minutemen, James Monroe, Richard Henry Lee, Richmond, Thomas Nelson, Jr, and Williamsburg. The CMM were represented by Mike Lyman and Bill Schwetke.  Registrar Bill Schwetke presented the CMM wreath. 
     The program began with Brigadier General David Wilson, Army Chief of Ordnance, representing President Trump in placing a wreath at Monroe's tomb.  General Wilson then delivered remarks.  The colors were presented by the U.S. Army Ordnance School Honor Guard.
     The keynote speaker was former Governor of Virginia James S. Gilmore, III.  Richmond Chapter compatriot Peter Broadbent acted as master of ceremonies for the wreath laying.
     The recently restored cage around James Monroe's tomb looks splendid in it's restored original color.

  The March meeting held at Little Fork Church was well attended. We had a total of 26 people and the speaker only put a couple folks to sleep. His talk generated several comments after the meeting.
  The April meeting was the Graves MT Multi-chapter meeting.   Sixty plus people attended the meeting. If you did not attend, you missed a good time with fellow Compatriots.
  Our May meeting will be held Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the Poncho Villa Mexican restaurant, located at 891 Willis Lane, Culpeper, VA 22701.   This is located on the south side of Culpeper next to the Best Western Hotel. Gather at 11:00 a.m., 11:30 start meeting. Everyone will order off the menu and receive a separate bill. Speaker is Charles Jameson.
  The June meeting has been moved to the second Saturday of the month June 10th, we will meet at the DAR monument located by Yowell Meadow Park at 10:00 am. Hold a ceremony honoring the CMM Battalion, and then move to Luigi’s Italian restaurant at 11:00. Cost is $25.00 per person. Speaker is Lon Lacey.
  Congratulations to Historian/Compatriot Charles Clifton Jameson on being awarded the honorary title of Culpeper Colonel. He was given the honor by the County of Culpeper for his work and volunteering in the community. This is the second member of CMM VASSAR to be given the title. George Washington Bryson, Jr. received his several years ago.
Hebron Lutheran Church located at 899 Blankenbaker Road, Madison, Virginia will celebrate its 300th anniversary on 30 April 2017. Church service will start at 11:00 a.m. The CMM guardsman will man a table to answer questions about SAR. Pamphlets and other information will be available.
  I regret to inform CMM Compatriots about the passing of Past Vice President John Amos Eden on April 13, 2017. He was 96 years old. Compatriot Eden was a World War II vet, an ambulance driver and medic for three years in the European Theatre.
  Compatriot Bob Bowen has published a book titled "My Life and Lens"
The story of a Marine Corps Combat Correspondent.
NOW AVAILABLE AT Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and iUniverse Publishing Bookstore
  This Chapter is your chapter and needs your help to succeed. The more you are involved the better the chapter.
Jerry

                       GEORGE DIVERS (ca 1748 – 1830)
     George Divers was born about 1748, probably in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia Many of the government records of that time period were destroyed in both the American Revolution and the American Civil War. Sources have not yet been found which identify his ancestors.
     George is listed as a signer of the Dissenters Petition, Albemarle, Amherst and Buckingham, supporting the Declaration of Independence and disagreeing with any who would support a state church. The signers said, “to put every religious Denomination on equal Footing, to be supported by themselves, independent of one another, would not only be a just and reasonable mode of Government, but would most certainly have an happy Influence of the greater Purity of the several Churches; on their more free and friendly Intercourse with one another.” This petition was presented to the State Legislature in November, 1776.
     During the American Revolution, George served as a paymaster in the 14th Regiment, Continental Army which was formed in Virginia in 1777.
     In 1785 George purchased ‘Farmington’ from the family of Francis Jerdone, Sr. He became a merchant and an avid farmer. Farmington was said to have been the seed nursery for Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson would bring seeds and plants from his travels. He then gave them to George to nuture. George maintained three huge, brick-walled gardens in which he experimented with a large variety of plants and seeds. One of the favorite neighborhood activities was to see who would harvest spring peas first; the winner hosted a neighborhood dinner. That dinner was usually held at Farmington.
     George and Mr. Jefferson, became interested in raising sheep for their wool and meat. Up to this time, sheep were mostly raised for manure for fertilizer. The meat and wool were of poorer quality, so they were used to feed and clothe the slave population on the plantation. However, Jefferson had come home from Europe with tales of sheep whose wool was so fine that a pair of socks made from it could cost as much as a guinea a pair ($300). He and George began obtaining more exotic animals from Scotland, Spain and Tunis which had this fine wool or higher quality meat.
     Because George and Martha had no children who lived to become adults, George willed the property to nieces and nephews of Martha. One story told of them is that one nephew, in particular, named Isaac White, they had never met. When a young man appeared claiming to be said Isaac White, a ball was held in his honor. The young man was given a gold watch. He proved to be an imposter when the real Isaac White arrived!
     George died at Farmington in 1830 – a year after his wife, Martha. His obituary states, ‘In his death, society at large and a widely extended circle of friends and connections have sustained a loss deeply to be deplored. Society, at large, because he was a public benefactor by his example and his worth; and his friends and connexions because they have felt his kindness and know his charity.’

    After lunch, Edmund Davidson introduced our speaker, Virginia SAR President Mike Elston.  President Elston gave a succinct description of his presidential initiatives (they can be seen here).  Afterwards, a check from the seven chapters, made out to President Elston's "Washington's Friends and Foes Initiative," was presented to President Elston.

     Edmund Davidson also displayed some his trade craft: beautifully made knives, worth many thousands of dollars each.  He is making two such knives, with elaborate engravings, to be auctioned to help fund our hosting of the 2020 Congress.