Blog Archives - CULPEPER MINUTE MEN - MUSTER CALL

President General Elston Presents SAR Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

9/20/2025

20 Sep 2025 Arlington, VA

President General Mike Elston and his wife, Julie, presented the SAR wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery today. The CMM was represented by Chaplain John Kuvakas and Registrar Bill Schwetke who both participated in the Color Guard.

President General Mike Elston and First Lady Julie Elston present the SAR wreath.

Left to right: unknown, Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Brett Osborn, Becky Ebert, Lou Raborg, SAR Color Guard Commander Rob Meyer, Scor Bryant, First Lady Julie Elston, President General Mike Elston, Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler, International VPG and Virginia SAR 2nd VP Ken Bonner, CMM Chaplain John Kuvakas, CMM Registrar Bill Schwetke, John Carberry, Virginia SAR Historian Tom Roth, unknown.

Virginia SAR Semi-Annual Meeting

9/19/2025

19 Sep 2025 Herndon, VA

Seated, left to right: International VPG and Virginia SAR 2nd VP Ken Bonner (dualo CMM), Chancelor General Pete Davenport, Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler (dual CMM), Treasurer General Brooks Lyles, Historian General Jeff Thomas (dual CMM). First row standing, left to right: PG (2013-4) Joe Dooley, Mike Taimi, Chip Daniel, unknown, Virginia SAR Genealogist Dave Cook, Rick Abbott, Larry McKinley, Virginia SAR Secretary Tim Dioquino, CMM Secretary Tom Hamill, Michael Wilson, Richard Rankin, Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Brett Osborn, CMM Registrar Bill Schwetke, Bill Tugman, unknown. Top rank, left to right: Paul Christensen, Mark Day, Allen Phillips, Bruce Meyer, unkinown, Bill Greaf, Virginia SAR 1st VP Darin Schmidt, Ross Schwalm, unknown, Phillip Barnard, Ken Hawkins, unknown, Michael Rhodes, covered-unknown, John Lynch, unknown, unknown, Gary Dunaway, Ron Fergusson, Virginia 3rd VP Randy Atkins, Ron Adolphi, CMM Chaplain John Kuvakas.

This Friday and Saturday the Virginia SAR held its Semi-Annual Meeting at the Westin Dulles Airport in Herdon. The CMM was represented by Secretary Tom Hamill, Chaplain John Kuvakas, and Registrar Bill Schwetke. John and Bill participated in the Color Guard. Tom, as the senior officer present, delivered the chapter report.

Ketoctin Baptist Church Grave Markings

9/19/2025

19 Sep 2025 Purcellville, VA

The Virginia SAR marked the graves of five patriots buried at Ketoctin Baptist Church in Purcellville today. The CMM were represented by Chaplain John Kuvakas who was the chaplain for the ceremony and Registrar Bill Schwetke who carried the US Flag in the Color Guard and fired in the musket volleys.

The patriots honor today were:
John Marks, Sr.
John Chew, Sr.
James Copeland
John C. Copeland
Thomas Humphrey

Chaplain John Kuvakas leads the gathering in prayer.

Chaplain John Kuvakas and Registrar Bill Schwetke with the CMM wreath at the grave marker.

Museum of Culpeper History Installs Plaque to Honor Capt John Green with Help from CMM Members

9/18/2025

18 Sep 2025 Rixeyville, VA

The Museum of Culpeper History is erecting a Plaque to honor Capt John Green who led the Culpeper District Regular Company in the early days of our Revolution. Charles Jameson and Michael Dennis participated in this effort today.

Program on Constitution Presented to the 5th Grade at Bull Run Elementary School

9/18/2025

18 Sep 2025 Centreville, VA

Left to right: Historian General Jeff Thomas (dual member of CMM), Bull RUn Elementary School Teacher, Juris Kelly (FFR), Bill Schwetke (CMM).

Today the Fairfax Resolves Chapter made a presentation to the Fifth Grade Classes at Bull Run Elementary School in Centreville. They called on Bill Schwetke, a dual member of their chapter, to fill in for a sick member. The presentation was on the Constitution and Bill talked about the Virginians involved in the new Constitution.

Vigil at General Washington's Tomb

9/13/2025

13 Sep 2025 Mount Vernon

Standing Guard over Washington's Tomb, Left to right: Bill Schwetke, Chapter/State Chaplain John Kuvakas

Today SAR Color Guardsmen from all over the nation gathered to stand guard, in shifts, over General Washington's Tomb. John Kuvakas and Bill Schwetke represented the CMM.

Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Members who participated in the Vigil at Washington's Tomb, left to right: Scott Collins (Dual-GA), Chaplain John Kuvakas, Bill Schwetke, Historian General Jeff Thomas (Dual-FFR), Van Cunningham (Dual-TX), NSSAR Color Guard Commander Rob Meyer (NJ).

9/11 Commemoration and Massing of Colors

9/11/2025

11 Sep 2025 Culpeper Co., VA

In 2008 the Culpeper Minutemen joined with Bugles Across America to help keep alive the memory of 9/11 and the unity of our nation in the aftermath of that travesty. Over the years the commemoration has grown with many color guards joining us. In 2017 the NSSAR Color Guard Commander designated the Culpeper event as qualifying as a NSSAR Massing of the Colors event. Different venues have been used and this year we moved to Eastern View High School. Color Guards participating included the American Heritage Girls, American Legion, Culpeper County Sheriff's Department, Colonel James Wood II Chapter SAR, Culpeper Minutemen Chapter SAR, Culpeper VOlunteer Fire Department, Eastern View High School Marine JROTC, Fairfax Resolves Chapter SAR, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. This year the preferred uniform for the SAR Color Guard was the Hunting Shirt in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the Culpeper Minute-men.
Pictures in this report are from Kim Atkins

Culpeper Minutemen Chapter participants, left to right: Registrar Bill Schwetke, Vice President Mark Crain, Chaplain John Kuvakas, Treasurer Charles Jameson, Color Guard Commander Michael Dennis, President Jim Bish, Dual Member State Genealogist Dave Cook.

244th Anniversary of the Battle of the Virginia Capes

9/6/2025

06 Sep 2025 Fort Story, VA

the Joint US/French Color Guard presented the Colors. Bill Schwetke is carrying the US Flag.

244 years ago on Sep 5, 1781, a British Fleet approached the Virginia Capes, the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, to relieve Cornwallis at Yorktown. They found a French fleet, commanded by Admiral de Grasse waiting for them. The French soundly defeated the British and set the stage for victory at Yorktown by the combined French/American Army.
Today, an estimated 350 people gathered to celebrate this critical victory, including a large uniformed contingent of the French military led by Admiral Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation. After the ceremony the French provided champagne.
The CMM were represented by Chaplain John Kuvakas and Bill Schwetke. Both participated in the Color Guard and Bill presented the CMM wreath.