Blog Archives - CULPEPER MINUTE MEN - MUSTER CALL

Memorial Day - 2017

5/29/2017

5-29-2017 Culpeper National Cemetery

The typical large crowd gathered at Culpeper National Cemetery to honor our dead. 6 Virginia SAR members attended from 3 different chapters: Colonel William Grayson, Culpeper Minutemen, and George Mason. 3 Virginia SAR members participated in the combined SAR/VFW Color Guard. 3 CMM members attended, Lon Lacey, Michael Dennis and Charles Jameson who presented the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Wreath.

The Combined Color Guard.

Left to right: Michael Dennis & Charles Jameson, with the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Wreath that Charles presented.

Washington DC Parade

CMM Registrar Bill Schwetke led the Virginia SAR Color Guard in the Annual Washington, DC Memorial Day Parade, which was televised on national tv.

The Virginia Dispatches report includes a video of the SAR in the parade - link here

237th Anniversary of the Battle of Waxhaws

5/27/2017

A crowd of nearly 100 people gathered to commemorate the 237th anniversary of the Battle of Waxhaws, where British and Tory forces under Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton defeated mostly Virginia Forces under Col. Abraham Buford. Over 100 patriots were killed, approximately 150 wounded, and approximately 50 taken prisoner; a significant defeat for the patriots. However the merciless slaughter of patriots, many of whom laid down their arms and attempted to surrender, turned sentiment against the British.
Virginia SAR President Mike Elston represented the Virginia Society, gave remarks, and presented our wreath. He also spread a box of Virginia soil on the mass grave of 82 of the patriots who died here. Registrar Bill Schwetke presented the CMM wreath and participated in the Color Guard. Participating in the ceremony were 5 SAR State Societies, the DAR, C.A.R., and the South Carolina Park Service. Approximately 30 wreaths were presented.

Wreaths placed around the mass grave.

CMM Registrar Bill Schwetke salutes the monument at the presentation of the wreaths.

Virginia SAR President Mike Elston spreads Virginia Soil on the mass grave.

Participants from Virginia and North Carolina, left to right Virginia SAR 3rd VP Bill Schwetke, SAR Foundation President Sam Powel, unknown, Virginia SAR President Mike Elston, John Misenheimer.

Link to Virginia Dispatches Story on this event

Special Children’s Naturalization Ceremony

5/23/2017

23 May 2017 President Lincoln's Cottage, Washington, DC

20 young new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance at President Lincoln's Cottage.

Today was a special day for 20 new young citizens and their families. In a special Naturalization Ceremony, at President Lincoln's Cottage on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Northeast DC, these 20 young men and women became citizens of our great country. The Virginia SAR presented the colors and posed for many pictures with the new citizens and their families. To honor the location each new citizen was given a Lincoln top hat. The Virginia Color Guardsmen who participated represented three chapters Colonel William Grayson, Culpeper Minutemen, and Fairfax Resolves. The CMM were represented by Bill Schwetke. The ceremony was covered by NBC4 of Washington, D.C.

Virginia SAR Color Guardsmen, left to right: Vern Eubanks, Paul Chase, and Bill Schwetke.

Plaque Dedicated at Menokin, Home of Declaration of Independence Signer Francis Lightfoot Lee

5/21/2017

21 May 2017 Warsaw, VA

Menokin, the home of Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lightfoot Lee, is undergoing a unique renovation. It will be partly restored, and the rest will be enclosed in steel supported glass. The structure is currently protected by a large steel cover, that will be removed when the restoration is completed. A joint SAR/DAR plaque for Menokin was dedicated in a ceremony conducted by Rappahannock Chapter President Carl Strock, with the Henricopolus Chapter, NSDAR. The Virginia SAR was represented by President Mike Elston, who was the keynote speaker, and members of six chapters: Col Fielding Lewis, Culpeper Minutemen, George Washington, James Monroe, Rappahannock, and Thomas Jefferson. Three members of the Virginia SAR Color Guard also participated in the ceremony. Compatriot Will Elston also represented the C.A.R. as the Virginia State Historian. The CMM Chapter was represented by Registrar Bill Schwetke, who presented the chapter wreath and participated in the Color Guard.

Part of the approximately 35 people who attend the ceremony.

Virginia SAR President Mike Elston delivers the keynote address.

The Three Member Color Guard forms a backdrop for the wreath presentations.

After the ceremony light refreshments were served and a tour of the restoration work at Menokin was conducted.

Hard Hats were required for the tour of the restoration.

Chapter Meeting - May 2017

5/20/2017

20 May 2017 Pancho Villa's Restaurant, Culpeper, VA

Today we gathered in Poncho Villa's Mexican Restaurant in Culpeper for our May Chapter Meeting. There were 20 attendees, 11 members, 2 prospective members, and 7 wives, 4 of whom were DAR members. Michael Dennis was inducted as our newest member and Charles Jameson was our keynote speaker.

CMM President Jerry Hubbard, who chaired the meeting, holds up a donation form to support one of Vivrginia SAR President Mike Elston's initiatives.

Our newest member, Michael Dennis, third from the left, was inducted by Virginia SAR 3rd Vice President Bill Schwetke, fourth from the left, assisted by Michael's sponsor, Charles Jameson, on the left, Michael's wife, Christina, second from the left, and CMM President Jerry Hubbard, on right.

We each ordered from the menu - fajitas being served

Our speaker, CMM Historian Charles Jameson, delivering a great talk on the discoveries and thrills of researching a distinguished local family - his own.

Charles Jameson displays the "Culpeper Colonel" Award he recently received from the Cupleper Board of Supervisors for service "above and beyond the call of citizenship".

CMM Compatriot Charles Jameson Named a "Culpeper Colonel"

5/19/2017

from the Culpeper TImes

Charles Jameson proudly wears his "Culpeper Colonel" pin on his right lapel at Saturday's meeting of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter.

"for service above and beyond the call of citizenship"

Raid at Martin's Station

5/13/2017

13 May 2017 Wilderness State park, Ewing, VA

Part of the Suttler's Camp at Martin's Station.

The Raid at Martin's Station was commemorated today by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution today. 5 Virginia SAR Chapters were represented among chapters from five states. Virginia SAR 1st Vice President Pat Kelly represented the NSSAR and the Virginia SAR The CMM was represented by Registrar Bill Schwetke, who also commanded the Color Guard.

Militia prepares a rifle volley

Bil Schwetke with the CMM wreath.

Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Presents JROTC Medals

5/10/2017

Link to reports on other JROTC and ROTC Medal Presentations around Virginia.

10 May 2017 Culpeper County High School, Culpeper, VA

On May 10th Culpeper Minutemen Chapter President Jerry Hubbard presented the Enhanced JROTC Medal to Cadet Collin Gibbons, and the ROTC Bronze Medal to Cadet Eber Martiniz at Culpeper County High School.

5 May 2017 Liberty High School, Bealeton, VA

On May 5th, CMM Registrar Bill Schwetke presented Cadet Tyler Greeley of Liberty High School in Bealeton with the JROTC Brronze Medal.

SAR/DAR Webcast Presentation

5/7/2017

6 May 2017 Manassas, VA

Left to right: Bill Schwetke, Cupeper Minutemen Chapter; Cat Schwetke, Fauquier Court House Chapter Regent; Co-Hosts LV Dennis & Lauren Morton.

This afternoon on the Webcast LV's Dining Room Discussions Show LLC the hosts featured the SAR and the DAR by interviewing a husband and wife team representing both organizations. The SAR was represented by CMM Registrar Bill Schwetke and the DAR by his wife, Cat Schwetke, Regent of the Fauquier Court House Chapter.

Link to Webcast on Facebook here.

May Birthdays and Service Anniversaries

5/1/2017

Patrick Henry
29 May 1736 - 6 Jun 1799

May Birthdays
Junior Edens
Jackson Lee Fray
Donald Elton Jennings
Kenneth Louis Jordan
Alonzo Leonard Lacey, III
Myron Edwin Lyman, Sr.
Andrew Stephen Lyngar, Jr.
Price Edward Martin
William James Messick
William Nicholas Mutziger
Gregory Alan Schumacher
Richard Warren Tucker

May Service Anniversaries
Evin Borroum Hume - 33yrs
Larry Ray Alexander - 16yrs
Richard Warren Tucker - 15yrs
Michael Eugene Howard - 12yrs
Alonzo Leonard Lacey, Jr. - 12yrs
Alonzo Leonard Lacey, III - 12yrs
Thomas Alan Lacey - 12yrs
James Wade Lillard - 12yrs