"The SAR Veterans Bugle", newsletter of the Veterans Recognition Committee contains information and form for veterans to complete.  Please take a moment to read the newsletter, and if you are a veteran, complete and submit the form.

     Virginia SAR President Reverdy Wright's Presidential Initiative to dedicate a marker to the 45 known Revolutionary War Patriots buried in the Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church Cemetery was brought to completion with the dedication of the plaque in a ceremony today.  The ceremony was conducted jointly with the Society of the War of 1812 in Virginia which dedicated a similar plaque to War of 1812 veterans known to be buried there.  Past Presidents Lance Lyngar and Mike Lyman, and President Bill Schwetke, represented the CMM.  Lyngar and Schwetke both participated in the Color Guard.

     The General Daniel Morgan Chapter was the host for the dedication, and chapter president Edmund Davidson conducted the ceremony.  Remarks were given by Virginia SAR President Wright and War of 1812 1st Vice President Walter Scheffield.  Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander, Darrin Schmidt, led a combined SAR/War of 1812 Color Guard to post the colors and fire a three-volley musket salute.

     In 1779 a force of about 150 men from the 8th Pennsylvania and 13th Virginia Regiments withstood a siege by British and Indian Forces and preserved this outpost on the frontier which had been intended as a staging point for an attack on the British garrison at Detroit.  Their struggle was honored to\day in an SAR national event.  The keynote speaker was Bob Bowen of the CMM, who is also Virginia SAR past President and past Historian General.

Good morning....
      This is my sixth straight visit to this commemorative program. And, each time I've been here I've been told about how the fort located on these hallowed grounds was garrisoned by men from Pennsylvania and Virginia.  Well, they were not the only people here.
      Last year, when I returned home from here, I went online and found an interesting book about Fort Laurens on EBAY.  It was the Archaeological Record of research done here in 1972 and 1973 by the Ohio Historical Society. Richard Michael Gramly is the author.
      The history of fortification here began in 1764 with the construction of a blockhouse that was used to store provisions and protect a line of communications between Fort Pitt and British Col Henry Bouquet's westward expedition during Pontiac's War.  The blockhouse was manned by a garrison of about 50 militiamen for about one month.
      By 1775, the blockhouse was no more.  Speculation is that the structure was burned down by local Indians who removed the nails for their own use.
      General Lachlan McIntosh arrived here on November 18, 1778, and commenced to building Fort Laurens.  With McIntosh, were companies of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, and the 13th Virginia Regiment, forty North Carolina Dragoons, a portion of another North Carolina Brigade, militiamen from western Virginia counties, some Delaware Indian scouts, a few French officers, and many camp followers.
      The main body totaled about 1,200. They occupied about 58 acres in and around where we gather today, while the fort was under construction.  The militiamen and North Carolina detachments returned to Fort Pitt on December 9th.  Fort Laurens was not yet completed, but 180 men would remain to complete the work and garrison the stockade.
      The Virginia 13th had the first watch here ... from December 1778 to March 1779.  They were replaced by the Pennsylvania 8th who stayed here through June.  The Virginia 13th Regiment was re-designated the 9th Virginia in May and a detachment from the new Virginia 9th, along with members of a Maryland regiment, held the fort for the next two months, ending the operations here in August 1779.
      During the 10-month period Fort Laurens was in existence, as many as 24 defenders died.  The first deaths were recorded on January 22, 1779, when a supply detachment, en route to Fort Pitt, was attacked by a group of Indians led by Simon Girty.  Two Virginians were killed and buried just outside Fort Laurens' main gate.  The following day, John Nash was killed while searching for food outside the fort.
      The greatest loss occurred on February 23 when Captain Henry Bird of the  8th Regiment of Foot, a few British soldiers, and a couple hundred local Indians sprung a successful ambush within sight of the fort. Seventeen members of the fort's garrison were killed.  The siege continued until March 20.  The remains of the 17 men were buried in a mass grave and their final resting place is marked by the small white American flags to the front and rear of where we sit today.  Two more deaths were recorded in early March but were not hostile. They were caused by eating poisonous roots. The final deaths came on the 28th of March when a firewood party was overpowered by Indians and two men were killed.
      We gather here today to celebrate the lives of all the men who served and died at Fort Laurens between November 1778 and August 1779 ... but we focus our attention on one unknown deceased soldier, re-interred in this grave ... dedicated on June 26, 1976.
      May God bless him.  May God bless the S A R, and may God continue to bless these United States of America.

     Today eight chapter members, four wives, and two guests, gathered at Mountain Run Lake Park for the Annual Chapter Picnic.  Those attending included Jim Bayne and his daughter Melanie, Len Cowherd and his wife Mary Ann, Don Jennings and his wife Kathryn, Jerry Hubbard, Jake Lay and his wife Betsy, Lance Lyngar and his friend Louis, Bill Schwetke and his wife Cat, and Ben Works.
     The meeting began with a blessing from Chaplain Len Cowherd.  Next was the presentation of Certificates of Apprciation for the fantastic decorated trailer that we used in the Culpeper Independence Day Parade.  These were presented to Jim Bayne, his daughter Melanie, and Melanie's husband Jack Dickerson. 

     The next presentation was the award of the Bronze Roger Sherman medal to Don Jennings and to Jerry Hubbard by Awards Committee Chairman Lance Lyngar.  Lon Lacey, who was absent today, will also receive this medal at the next opportunity.  This medal was awarded for their long service to the chapter, recently capped by their exceptional efforts that resulted in the placement of a monument to Major Gabriel Long in Yowell Meadow Park.  This was our chapter's most significant accomplishment in many years, and though many others also worked hard to make this happen, the heaviest lifting was done by Lon, Don, and Jerry.

     It is Independence Day in Culpeper and the CMM celebrated with our "Historic Event" on the Culpeper Court House Green as we have now for ten years.  Nine CMM members, one prospective member, and two wives were on hand with an audience of about 75 celebrating our Declaration of Independence.  CMM members present were the project leader, CMM Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey and his wife, Mary Margaret; past Virginia SAR President Jim Bayne; Junior Compatriot Marcelo Gordillo, Treasurer Don Jennings, Jim Lillard and his wife Linda, past President Lance Lyngar, past President Gar Schulin, President Bill Schwetke, and Ben Works.  The prospective member was Bob Burnette, who is also the director of the Blue Ridge Chorale.
     Today's program included several patriotic melodies by the Blue Ridge Chorale, patriotic speeches by Culpeper City Mayor Mike Olinger and Culpeper County Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Nixon.  The Keynote speaker, fresh from 1776 Philadelphia, was Dr. Benjamin Franklin (portrayed by Barry Stevens), who reported on the deliberations of Congress and read the Declaration of Independence.  All patriots who were there were invited to add their signatures to the Declaration.

     Later in the day the Culpeper Independence Day Parade featured the CMM on a patriotically decorated trailer leading the parade, while a diamond formation of WWII era T-6 trainers roared overhead.  The trailer worked out exceptionally well this year; it was provided by Jim Bayne and decorated by his daughter Melanie.  The trailer allowed us to interact much more with the crowd, and the great signs left no doubt who we were.  Many thanks to Jim and Melanie for really enhancing our parade participation.

Compatriots and Friends,
     I have just returned from the 125th Annual Congress in Louisville and am very encouraged in what I see as the direction of the SAR.  I sat in on a meeting of the 250th Anniversary Committee that is planning to mark the 250th Anniversary of every significant event starting with those leading to revolution to the ratification of the Constitution.  Similar to our own efforts at a local level.  The Virginia presence on the committee is strong, with Past President General Joe Dooley and Virginia SAR 2nd Vice President Mike Elston playing prominent roles.  CMM Past President Lance Lyngar and I have both requested to join the national committee and if approved will give Virginia an even stronger voice on what I believe will be one of the most important efforts by the SAR over the next twenty-five years.  This is an opportunity to educate the public about the common heritage that we cherish, honor our patriot ancestors, and attract new members.  I look forward to your ideas and support to make all of this go well.
     While in Louisville I was able to meet several dual members of the CMM who I had not met.  You can read about them and see pictures in the Muster Call coverage of the Annual Congress.  We have many illustrious dual members, including three presidents general, the immediate past president of the Kentucky SAR and the current president of the New Mexico SAR.  The last one is an addition, Lance has recruited his father, Andrew Lyngar, president of the New Mexico SAR as a dual member of the CMM.
     The pace of action is slowing down after Independence Day, so enjoy the summer, and rest up for more activity this fall.
Your Servant,
Bill Schwetke, President