Well over 200 local citizens gathered at Culpeper National Cemetery to honor our fallen on Memorial Day.  VFW Post Commander, and CMM compatriot Keith Price organized and mc'd the ceremony.  Other participants included the VFW, and the Culpeper County High School Band.  The CMM was led by President Tom Hamill and also included Len Cowherd, Michael Dennis, Charles Jameson, Keith Price, and Bill Schwetke.  Tom, Michael, Charles, and Bill participated in the Color Guard.

     Today was Patrick Henry's 286th Birthday and Virginia SAR President Bruce Meyer made the celebration of this special day a presidential initiative.  The ceremony was held at Red Hill, Henry's last home, at his tomb.  Bill Schwetke presented the chapter wreath and marched with the Color Guard including leading the musket firing.

     242 years ago Virginia soldiers under the command of Col Abraham Buford of Culpeper, turned to meet the British dragoons who had run them down on their retreat from Charleston.  In the melee many Americans were cut down by the dragoon's sabres as they attempted to surrender.  Well over half of Buford's force was killed, wounded, or captured.  Many of the dead were buried in a mass grave.  It was a terrible defeat, but the brutality of the British stirred up patriots in the South, contributing to the eventual defeat of the British.

     Virginia SAR President Bruce Meyer led a contingent of seven Virginia SAR compatriots and presented the Virginia SAR wreath.  CMM President Tom Hamill led the three chapter members participating and presented the chapter wreath.  CMM dual member Greg Ohanesian organized the event and was the Master of Ceremonies.

Information for your Patriot Grave Marking Medal Form for four of the six patriots

     Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Honrary President Charles Jameson was honored this evening at a Watch party at the Culpeper Baptist Church that, along with gathering in four other counties, gathered to watch a Facebook video on each counties honored citizen over fifty years old.  The writeup above describes Charles' accomplishments for whcih he was honored.  Three other CMM members attended the Watch Party, President Tom Hamill and Bill Schwetke.

     The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) recently donated the book Genealogical, Burial, and Service Data for Revolutionary War Patriots Buried in Virginia to the Rappahannock County Public Library.
 
     SAR Compatriot Bryant Welch of Castleton presented this reference to librarian Amanda Weakley on behalf of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter.  Compiled by Myron E. Lyman, Sr., this comprehensive reference includes available detailed data about each Revolutionary War Patriot buried in Virginia including rank, cemetery, pension, and spouse. There is also a section with photographs of memorials to Patriots buried in cemeteries throughout the Commonwealth.
 
     The appendices include a Patriot and cemetery list by county and independent city.  The list of Patriots buried in Rappahannock County includes surnames of founding families and current residents such as Amiss, Griffin, Hitt, Jackson, Lillard, Miller, and Woodard.  The cemetery name, GPS coordinates, and location directions for Rappahannock’s Patriot burials are included in the cemetery section.
 
     “We thank the Culpeper Minutemen for this important addition to our reference collection. Residents should take a look and see if you can find your Rappahannock ancestors or family in the index,” said Ms. Weakley.
 
      “It is important to research, remember, and honor ancestors who fought to ensure our freedoms,” said Welch.  “By joining the SAR, I have been able to learn more about my family’s participation in the American Revolution in Virginia and South Carolina.”

     The May 2022 CMM Chapter Meeting was held at Mountain Run Winery.  It was attended by eight members, one dual member, one prospective member, and three wives, two of whom were DAR.  The meal was pot luck and there was no program.

     Mountain Run Winery owner David Foster (a prospective member), not only donated the use of his winery for our meeting, but from the proceeds of the Culpeperpaloz at Mountain Run Winery, he donated $500.  We have held several chapter meetings at this winery and they are the most gracious of hosts.  The chapter will use the donation to support the 2025 Culpeper Minute Battalion Muster Reunion.

     Once again, the national event "Raid at Martin's Station" was not held at the Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia.  The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation  would not allow our ceremony this year (we hope to resolve this by 2023).  It place of the State Park, the Martinsville Community welcomed us with open arms and participated in the ceremony.  The purpose behind this event is to remind us of the forgotten  theater of the Revolutionary War, the frontier conflict with Native Americans, often encouraged and support by the British Military.

     Today's ceremony included representatives of the Virginia SAR, the French Society SAR, the Virginia Order, Founders and Patriots, descendants of General Joseph Martin, a representative of Congressman Morgan Griffith, a representative of Virginia Delegate Les Adams, nine Virginia SAR Chapters (including the CMM), and three chapters of the Virginia DAR.

     Most of the ceremony was held inside the Courthouse due to intermittent periods of rain, but the rain relented and allowed us to do the wreath presentations in front of the Courthouse.

     The CMM was represented by Bill Schwetke, who marched in the Color Guard and presented the chapter wreath.  Four other CMM dual members participated: Virginia SAR 1st VP Ernie Coggins, Pat Kelly, Jeff Thomas, and Virginia SAR 3rd VP Mike Weyler.

     Today the Fauquier Court House Chapter, DAR, held their May Meeting in the Warrenton Presbyterian Church.  Bill Schwetke represented the CMM and brought greetings on behalf of President Hamill and our chapter.  Cat Schwetke also presented to the chapter an opportunity to participate with the CMM in honoring John Marshall this September, which was warmly received.

     The new regent, Belinda Glenn, presented two challenge coins that she said honored inspired daughters.  One of the coins was presented to Bill Schwetke for his support of the Fauquier Court House Chapter, along with an explanation that "daughter" might not apply in this case.