The Annual DAR/SAR Genealogy Workshop, co-hosted by the Fauquier Court House Chapter, DAR, and the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, SAR, was held on Saturday, October 28th, in the Warrenton Presbyterian Church.  Sixty-one people attended and received 9 classes on various genealogical topics including DNA, Afro-American Research, Organizing Your Genealogy, Internet Resources and more.  The SAR and DAR also conducted classes on the genealogical resources they offer to the public, as well as their membership processes.  An "Ask the Genie" table offered free assistance to attendees with genealogical problems.  A continental breakfast and a hot lunch were served to all attendees.  This was all offered to the public at no charge.  Those who registered ahead participated in drawings for door prizes worth several hundred dollars from Ancestry.com, Family Tree DNA, My Heritage, Newspapers.com, Fold3, and Family Tree Maker.
     The keynote speaker was Yvonne Liser, Registrar of the District of Columbia DAR.  Her very entertaining talk covered many insights from her wealth of experience that would be helpful to any genealogist or family historian.
     Each class was offered four times, to allow for small groups and better interaction with the presenters.  This workshop is offered normally on the first Saturday of November each year, but this year was moved up a week to avoid a conflict with a SAR/DAR/C.A.R memorial service at Valley Forge the first weekend of November.

     Our keynote speaker also asked that her $100 honorarium, funded by both the SAR and DAR, be presented to her designated charity, Direct Relief.

Sponsors and Prize Winners

Don't miss the next DAR/SAR Genealogy Workshop
with an emphasis on
DNA for Genealogy
Saturday, November 3, 2018.

    This year the entire commemoration will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2017 only. (There will be no Friday evening reception as in the past.)
                             The three major activities:
     1) The formal NSSAR Commemoration of the Battle of Great Bridge will start at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 02, 2017, in Great Bridge Battlefield Park, Chesapeake, VA. Dr. Phil Hamilton of Christopher Newport University, will speak on the history of the Battle of Great Bridge and Its Pivotal Importance. The ceremony will include the 64th annual wreath laying led by Great Bridge Chapter N.S.D.A.R. The formal ceremonies will conclude by noon.
    Those chapters wishing to participate in the laying of wreaths and have their chapter and representative(s) recognized in the program brochure must provide that information to Ken Hawkins at [email protected] no later than Tuesday, November 14, 2017.
     2. Norfolk Chapter SAR will host a luncheon immediately after the ceremony at Vino’s Italian Restaurant (located just across the bridge on Battlefield Boulevard – same location as last year). Food and drink will be “Dutch treat.” We are planning on at least 50 attending. There will be no speaker but it will be a time of good fellowship.
     3. SAR color guard members and uniformed compatriots may march in the City of Chesapeake's Christmas Parade. This starts at 6:00 p.m. and is still under discussion at this point. Because it is at the end of a very full day, only 6 attended last year.
                        Additional Information:
     On Saturday afternoon, all compatriots are encouraged to visit the colorful re-enactment of the battle and the re-enactor encampment on Saturday afternoon. Docents will be available for tours of Great Bridge Battlefield Park and the reenactment site all day Saturday and Sunday. Participants may also visit the Norfolk Chapter information/recruitment booth at the reenactment site.
     As in the past, Great Bridge Presbyterian Church has offered its sanctuary for our formal ceremony in case of inclement weather. The weather in December is unpredictable, but our ceremony will proceed regardless of the weather.
    Please bring your wreaths. To improve the flow and dignity of formal ceremony, only two wreaths will be carried to the DAR marker in Great Bridge Battlefield Park, one each by the senior representative of the SAR and the senior representative of the DAR. However, every attending SAR and DAR chapter or state society will be encouraged to set its wreath around the DAR monument prior to the start of the ceremony. Each organization will be recognized for laying its wreath, during the ceremony and in the program.
     Medals. A SAR medal commemorating the Battle of Great Bridge will be available to all compatriots attending.
                  Hotel Reservations:
    The Founders Inn and Spa will host our group. The hotel address is 5641 Indian River Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23464. Please be sure to book by November 14th to receive the special group rate of $84.00 (std. colonial queen) or $94.00 (std. colonial double) per room per night + tax.
    Please call the hotel toll-free at 1-800-926-4466 and ask for the Sons of the American Revolution Group Rate.
     If You Would Like To Book Your Room Via The Internet Please Use This Link:
http://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=2027507&hotelID=73524
The Group code is: 568162
     Visit the hotel website www.foundersinn.com for hotel info (directions, amenities, dining, room details, etc.) or call the hotel’s main number at 757-366-5700 for a hotel brochure.
     Please book at the Founders Inn and Spa as soon as you can. This is most important so you don’t lose the great rate we received.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017

     We had an excellent Community Awards meeting at Little Fork Episcopal Church on Saturday, 21 October 2017.  We had forty plus people in attendance.  The meal was excellent.  Thanks to Bill Mutziger for arranging an excellent caterer.
Below is a list of the awardees from the various departments.

2017 Community Awards Ceremony
Teacher of the Year, Bronze Good Citizenship Medal
Ms. Amanda Jens, Liberty High School
Law Enforcement Commendation Medal
Master Police Officer Mike Grant, Culpeper Police Department
Law Enforcement Commendation Medal
Sergeant Arthur Leeper, Warrenton Police Dept.
Fire Safety Commendation Medal
Lieutenant Jessica Saunders, Fauquier Fire Dept.
Technician II Isaiah Kehle, Fauquier Fire Dept.
Heroism Medal
Sergeant Richard G. McKinley, Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Kerry L. Grigsby, Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office
Silver Good Citizenship Medal
Keith Price

Listed below of some of the upcoming events:

• Genealogy Workshop, Warrenton Presbyterian Church, Warrenton, VA, 28 October 2017, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
• Veterans Day, Culpeper National Cemetery, VA, 10 Nov 2017, 12:00 PM
• November Chapter Meeting, Luigi’s Restaurant, 18 November 2017, 11:00 AM – order from menu   This is the chapter awards meeting.
• Great Bridge Commemoration, Chesapeake, VA, 2 Dec 2017, 11:00 AM..  A new SAR Commendation of Great Bridge medal will be available for purchase.
• SAR/DAR Christmas Party, noon, 9 December 2017, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Culpeper,   Invitation to come later.
• Wreaths Across America, Culpeper National Cemetery,  16 Dec 2017, 10:30 AM
• Board of Managers Meeting, Pepper’s Grill, Culpeper, VA, 6 Jan 2018, 9:30 AM
• Monthly Chapter Meeting, TBD, 20 Jan 2018, 11:00 AM

As I receive more information on an event I will forward.
Mike Dennis, Charles Jameson and Bill Schwetke attended the Yorktown Day Events on Thursday, October 19, 2017.   Charles placed a wreath on behalf of the chapter.  If you have never attended the Yorktown Day events, you really need to.  It is a wonderful and interesting day.
I look forward to seeing you at the November meeting and the SAR/DAR Christmas luncheon.
Cheers, Jerry

     On Saturday, October 21st, in historic Little Fork Church, the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter held their Annual Community Awards Meeting and honored modern patriots of our local community.

     Today we celebrated the 236th anniversary of our ancestors' victory at Yorktown.  A strong contingent of Virginia SAR compatriots participated in the celebration, led by President Mike Elston and seven other state officers. with 13 Virginia chapters participating.  President Larry Guzy represented the NSSAR.
     Festivities began the evening before with a dinner at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.  The featured speaker was General Lafayette, portrayed by an actor.
     This morning began with the presentation of wreaths at the tomb of Thomas Nelson, Jr.  Virginia SAR Secretary Wayne Rouse was the master of ceremonies, greetings were brought by President General Larry Guzy, and Virginia SAR President Mike Elston was the keynote speaker.
     Following the ceremony at Nelson's tomb, the parade formed and marched down Main Street that was lined with spectators.
     Historian Charles Jameson presented the CMM wreath, and led the CMM contingent which included Michael Dennis, Andrew Lyngar, Lance Lyngar, and Bill Schwetke.  All except Lance Lyngar participated in the Color Guard.

    Members of the CMM worked with members of the Fauquier Court House Chapter DAR to clean up the grave of Captain John Ball and the cemetery where his body lies.  Captain Ball is a second cousin of George Washington and also served on Washington's staff during the Revolution.  Ball was also a captain of the Fauquier County Militia.  The cemetery where his grave lies is just south of Warrnton, immediately to the west of US29.  President Jerry Hubbard led the CMM work party.  After the work was done a picnic lunch was served.
     Access to the cemetery was over a neighbor's land.  That neighbor, Ric Jenkins, takes very good care of the access route, and does some maintance to the cemetery himself.  Ric has nearly completed his application to join the SAR and the CMM.

    On Saturday, October 14th, a new highway historical marker was dedicated in Lynch Station for the home of the Leftwich Family of Bedford County, who were prominent in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812.  Several family members are buried in the cemetery near the plantation house.  Two Revolutionary War veterans' graves have modern tombstones, Joel and Thomas Leftwich.
     The master of ceremonies was Chan Light, a descendant of Joel Leftwich, and also a member of the SAR.   Several members of the Fincastle Resolves Chapter attended and the CMM was represented by Bill Schwetke.
     After the unveiling, the group of about 50 Leftwich descendants toured the family cemetery, near the old plantation house.  The cemetery is currently the subject of an archeological study to determine the number and position of the graves.  At least four Revolutionary War veterans are thought to be buried there.  This cemetery is covered by the Revolutionary War Veterans' Graves Preservation Program administered by the Virginia SAR.

     On October 10th, 1774, at the the confluence of the Kanawha and Ohio RIves, Shawnee and Mingo Indians under Chief Cornstalk, attacked an advancing column of Virginia Milita under Colonel Andrew Lewis.  A fierce battle ensued, ending when Cornstalk withdrew his force, which was soon pursued by the Virginians, now reinforced with troops under the command of the Virginia Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore.  Cornstalk was then compelled to agree to terms favorable to the Crown to end hostilities.  This agreement ceded to Lord Dunmore the land south of the Ohio River.
     1st Vice President Pat Kelly led the Virginia SAR contingent, composed of members of four chapters: Colonel James Wood, II, Cupeper Minutemen, George Mason, and Thomas Jefferson.   Bill Schwetke represented the CMM and was accompanied by his wife, Cat. The first activity on Saturday was a parade in Point Pleasant.  That evening their was a Governor's reception, followed by a Colonial Dance program.

     Saturday, CMM Registrar Bill Schwetke attended the October meeting of the Fauquier Court House Chapter, DAR and brought greetings from the CMM.  Bill also discussed our future plans for joint projects, such as this Wednesday's cleanup at the grave site of Major John Ball, and the DAR/SAR Genealogy Workshop on October 28th.
     Bill also, as the CMM President for 2016, presented the Lydia Darragh Medal to Kathryn Schumacher, wife of CMM Compatriot Greg Schumacher for her support of our chapter in 2016.