Culpeper National Cemetery was established in 1867, and today covers nearly 30 acres of land at the edge of downtown Culpeper and is the resting place of over 11,000 veterans.  Each year a Memorial Day Service is held by The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, to render military honors to those interred in the previous twelve months without such honors.  The Culpeper County High School Band also forms as volunteers, since the school term is over, and provides patriotic music and buglers for the ceremony.  The attendance at this years ceremony easily exceeded 150 patriots including veterans of all services and all wars back to World War II.
     This year the CMM provided a six man color guard and presented a wreath.  Altogether eight CMM members, one prospective member, one member of another chapter, and four wives attended.  Attendees included Larry and Beverly Alexander, Paul Chase of the Colonel William Grayson Chapter, Len and Mary Ann Cowherd, prospective member Charles Jameson and Michelle, Don Jennings, Lon Lacey, Jake and Betsy Lay, Lance Lyngar and his friend Louis, Bill and Cat Schwetke, and Ben Works.

     In 1773 construction began on a new brick building to house the Little Fork Church.  Construction was likely delayed because many of the young men in the community answered the call of the Virginia Convention and mustered with the Culpeper Minutemen in September of 1775, then marched to Williamsburg and then fought the British at Hampton, then at Great Bridge.  The modern congregation of this historic church kindly allowed us to hold our chapter meeting today in their Fellowship Hall, located just behind the historic structure.  Ten CMM members, two prospective members, five wives, and two guests gathered today for our May meeting.
     Our speaker for today was Lori Payne, founder and chairman of the board of the Fauquier Family Cemetery Foundation.  Ms Payne talked about various cemeteries in Fauquier County which contain the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots and explained the evidence concerning these burials and the current condition of the cemeteries.  This opens many possibilities for the CMM to act on one of our core missions, preservation of our Revolutionary War heritage and honoring the patriots of that noble struggle.

Lori Payne talks about cemeteries in Fauquier County

     Next a buffet lunch was served by our favorite caterer, Maegan, and her helper, Andrea.  As always the meal was spectacular!!

     Today the DAR Virginia State Regent , Virginia Sebastian Storage, dedicated the pledge to fund one first floor room of the reconstruction of George Washington's boyhood home at Ferry Farm, just across the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg.  This pledge is the keynote project for Regent Storage's term of office. 
     The reconstruction, which is well underway, will be on the original site of the mansion, but suspended above the original foundation to maintain the artifacts in place.  This is a new and expensive building technique that is suited to preserving the history on this location and providing for a replica of Washington's boyhood home.
     The CMM were represented at the ceremony by President Bill Schwetke who accompanied his wife, Cat, to this DAR event.

     The Sons of the American Revolution gathered at Wilderness Road State Park, in Ewing, VA, to commemorate the 241st anniversary of the Raid on Martin's Station.  This is a national level event hosted by the Virginia Society.  The Martin's Station and Overmountain Men Chapters are the local hosts and 15 members of the Virginia Society from eight chapters attended.  The CMM were represented by President Bill Schwetke, who also participated in the Color Guard.  The ceremony began with a program in front of the Visitors' Center, with the local chapter president, Tom Coker as the master of ceremonies.  Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow was the keynote speaker.  President Truslow presented Tom Coker with the  Virginia Society State Service medal to recognize his significant efforts over the past years in organizing this national event.  The Captain of the reenactor Militia Company also addressed the crowd, in character, to explain the coming events.

    Next the Combined Color Guard, led by the JROTC Honor Guard in hunting shirt uniforms, marched to the Martin's Station monument, where the wreaths had been arranged for presentation.  J. Barney Penley of the Overmountain Men Chapter was the master of ceremonies for the wreath presentations.  Surgeon General Larry Leslie represented NSSAR and the Virginia Society was represented by President Ed Truslow.  Six Virginia Society Chapters presented wreaths.

photos by Kathy Schumacher

     Wednesday evening was a special time at Liberty High School in Bealeton.  The highlight of the evening for the CMM was the presentation of the award for Outstanding JROTC Cadet in Virginia to Cadet William Grimsley by the Virginia Society, SAR.  Assistant Virginia SAR Secretary Lance Lyngar represented the state society in making the presentation.  Cadet Grimsley won the competition at the chapter level, and was our nominee to state.  He will compete in July for the National award.  This evening he received a a check for $200 from the CMM and a neck medallion and a check for $1,000 from the Virginia State Society.  Cadet Grimsley's activities with the JROTC included participating as a member of the Honor Guard at Military Funerals, Honor Flight evens, and the Special Olympics.  Cadet Grimsley served this school year as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major and materially contributed to the battalion achieving the rating of "Honor Unit with Distinction."

     Major General Greg Schumacher represented the CMM in presenting the SAR Bronze JROTC Medal and a check for $100 to Cadet Garrett Smith.  Among many other significant accomplishments, Cadet Smith has participated as a member of the Liberty JROTC Honor Guard in over 30 military funerals.

                                KENT SHEPARD WEBBER  
                               CAPT. USN (Ret.) (Age 76)  
Of Catharpin, VA and formerly of Vienna, VA died on May 4, 2016, at Fairfax Hospital. Beloved husband of the late Margaret Austin Webber; father of Kristin Webber-Moore (Bill Moore, II), Stephen Webber and Kendra Mokaves (Parames); brother of Patricia Mather; grandfather of Dustin and Jesse Webber-Moore; Peyton and Parken Mokaves and step-grandfather of Billy III, Alex, Grant and Tyler Moore. Family and friends are invited to Capt. Webber''s Life Celebration at Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA on Wednesday, May 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. Services and interment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Onlne condolences and fond memories may be offered to the family at     www.moneyandking.com 

Condolences may be sent to Kent's daughter:
Ms. Kristen Webber
4015 Sanders Lane
Catharpin, VA  20143

     Tonight the Orange JROTC unit held their awards ceremony and packed the school auditorium with friends and family.  CMM 1st Vice President Jerry Hubbard presented Cadet Joseph Dieudonne Godin the SAR Bronze Medal and President Bill Schwetke did some of the photography.

     The Eastern View High School JROTC held their awards ceremony for the school year 2015-16 tonight.  The CMM were represented by 1st Vice President Jerry Hubbard and President Bill Schwetke.  Jerry Hubbard, who has participated in this ceremony for over ten years, presented the SAR JROTC Bronze Medal and a check for $100 to Cadet 1st Lieutenant  Scott Bothum.  Cadet Bothum also took command of the cadets tonight, and will be their cadet leader for the next school year.
     Major Dale Prondzinski, the senior leader, will retire after this school year ends.  Major Prondzinski has done an excellent job of inspiring the cadets at Eastern View High School.  Last year, at this same program, the CMM presented Major Prondzinski with the SAR Bronze Good Citizenship Medal.