The Fairfax Resolves Chapter hosted a celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the opening of George Washington's Grist Mill this Saturday.  The CMM were represented by President Charles Jameson, who also marched with the Color Guard.

     246 years-ago, near this site in Culpeper's Yowell Meadow Park, young men of Culpeper, Fauquier and Orange Counties (which today would have included Greene, Madison, and Rappahannock) answered Patrick Henry's call and gathered to enlist in the local minute battalion or the regular rifle company destined to join the 2nd Virginia State Regiment.  They would remain, train, and then depart for Williamsburg.  Not long after arriving, a company of Culpeper Minutemen, under Capt Buford of Culpeper, would make a midnight ride from Williamsburg to Hampton where they repulsed an assault on that town by the Royal Navy and captured a Royal Navy vessel.  Then a little over a month after that they would inflict a decisive defeat on British troops at Great Bridge and secure Virginia for the first several years of the Revolutionary War.

     Participants included Virginia SAR President Jeffery Thomas, representatives of six SAR Chapters, two DAR Chapters, and the citizens of Culpeper County.  As part of the ceremony the names of ten of the men who mustered here were read, with short biographies and honored with the ringing of a bell.

     During the ceremony Culpeper Minutemen Chapter President Charles Jameson presented the SAR Bronze Good Citizenship Medal to Culpeper County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary M. Deal.

     CMM participants included President Jameson, Secretary Tom Hamill, Historian Bill Schwetke, Color Guard Commander Michael Dennis, Keith Price, and dual members: Sean Carrigan, Dave Cook, Dale Corey, Marc Robinson, and Jeff Thomas.  All of these members, except Keith Price, participated in the Color Guard.

     246 years ago Cornwallis surrendered his army to General Washington at Yorktown, and though many of the normal events were cancelled, the SAR conducted a ceremony at the grave of Thomas Nelson, Jr., who was the Governor of Virginia and commanded the Virginia Militia during the siege of Yorktown.
     CMM President Charles Jameson presented the chapter wreath. President Jameson, Mike Lyman, and Bill Schwetke participated in the Color Guard for the ceremony.

     On the day before the 240th Anniversary of Victory at Yorktown, a statue of the French General who was allied with George Washington was dedicated.  A large crowd, representing many organizations attended the ceremony.  The SAR was represented by Virginia SAR President Jeff Thomas, and the SAR Color Guard presented the colors.  Bill Schwetke of the CMM marched with the Color Guard in the ceremony.

information for your Compatriot Grave marking medal.

     The North Carolina SAR marked the graves of two patriots in  the Conyers-Winston Cemetery, Youngville, NC.  The CMM were represented by Bill Schwetke, who presented the chapter wreath, marched with the Color Guard, and fired three shots with his musket to honor the patriots.

information for your grave marking medal

    The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter met at Peppers Grill in Culpeper for 2021 Community Public Service Awards.  The awards recipients this evening were:

Law Enforcement Commendation Medal
Detective Nolan Overby of the Culpeper Police Department

Heroism Medal
Donald Dillon of the Madison County Sheriff's Office
Galvin Helme of the Madison County EMS
Noah Foster of the Madison County Rescue Squad
Brian Gordon of the Madison County Volunteer Fire Dept.
Lt. Brittany Jenkins of the Culpeper Police Department
Officer Alfred Cooper of the Culpeper Police Department

Medals presented by Bill Schwetke (on left) and Tom Hamill (on right

     The Richard Henry Lee Chapter conducted a grave marking for two Revolutionary Patriots in Matthews, VA this Sunday.  The CMM were represented by President Charles Jameson, who presented the chapter wreath and marched in the color guard.  The patriots honored were:

     Today over 200 people gathered and 53 wreaths were presented to mark the dedication of the reconstruction of James Monroe's Birthplace in Colonial Beach, VA.  The program was hosted by the James Monroe Foundation.  NSSAR was represented by Chancellor General Mike Elston, the Virginia SAR by President Jeff Thomas, and the CMM Chapter by President Charles Jameson.  Other CMM participants were Michael Dennis, Tom Hamill, Mike Lyman, and Bill Schwetke.  All but Tom Hamill participated in the Color Guard.