A lunch provided by Red Hill which was followed by a Color Guard Workshop that emphasized musket firing and was conducted by CMM dual member Dale Corey.

     This morning the Virginia SAR provided a Color Guard for the Naturalization Ceremony that welcomed 33 new citizens.  John Kuvakas and Bill Schwetke participated in this ceremony.  Pictures as soon as they are available.

     This evening we gathered at Greenlee Taven at Mountain Run Winery for our May meeting which was delayed a week to allow the return of our president from Croatia.  Chaplain John Kuvakas organized the meal with the help of several volunteers and John smoked 10lbs of pork for the main course - enjoyed by all!  There were nineteen attendees: eleven members, two prospective members, and six guests.  The speaker for this evening was Bill Schwetke who talk on "Could You Make a Difference - 09 Dec 1775".  Another highlight was the presentation of the Virginia Society Medal to President Jim Bish which was awarded to him by the Virginia SAR for his service to the Virginia Society the past year.

     On Memorial Day compatriot Keith Price was the Master of Ceremonies and the Culpeper Minutemen Color Guard presented the Colors during the ceremony.  Participating in the Color Guard were President Jim Bish, Vice President Mark Crain, Color Guard Commander Michael Dennis, Tom Hamill, Charles Jameson, Virginia SAR Chaplain John Kuvakas, and Bill Schwetke.

     At the Waxhaws Battlefield on Saturday of the Memorial Day Weekend the NSSAR commemorated the Battle of Waxhaws, also known as Buford's Defeat, where over 100 of Buford's men, almost all Virginians, were killed.  Many of the Virginia dead lie in a mass grave now in the park that covers part of the historical battlefield.

     Four members of the CMM participated in the ceremony.  Virginia SAR Chaplain (and CMM Chaplain) John Kuvakas gave the Invocation and Bendiction and also participated in the Color Guard, notably escorting Virginia SAR President Michael Weyler (a dual CMM member) with prayers as he spread the Blessed Soil of Virginia on the mass brave of the Virginia dead.  This soil had been gathered and blessed on April 26th at Graves Mountain and carried to South Carolina for this ceremony.  Bill Schwetke carried the Virginia SAR Flag in the Color Guard and provided an armed escort for President Weyler as he spread the soil on the mass grave.  Virginia 2nd Vice President Ken Bonner (also a dual CMM member) participated in the Color Guard and commanded the Flag Detail for the Soil Spreading Ceremony.

     Brass plates with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were dedicated in Orange, VA this morning in a ceremony with over 80 attendees. Foundation Forward provided the plaques and significant support for the construction of the display.  The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter provided the Color Guard, augmented by Michael Wilson of the Col William Grayson Chapter and his daughter Jocelyn.  CMM Color Guard participants included President Jim Bish, Tom Hamill, Bill Schwetke, and Doug Schwetke.

     Today Mayor Frank Reaves, Jr. installed time capsules in the Charters of Freedom in Culpeper's Yowell Meadow Park.  The charters were donated to Culpeper by Foundation Forward who also helped with the construction of the plaza where the Charters and the Culpeper Minute Battalion Monument reside.  The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter was the lead on both projects.

     The Virginia SAR commemorated the 250th Anniversary of the Williamsburg Gunpowder Incident at the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg.  The CMM were represented by Doug and Bill Schwetke, both of whom marched in the Color Guard.