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VaSSAR, VADAR & VSCAR lay wreath at revolutionary war tomb of the unknown soldier

11/22/2014

VASSAR Color Guard at Tomb of Unknown Revolutionary Soldier, Old Presbyterian Meeting House, Old Town Alexandria. Left to right: VASSAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, CMM Past President Lance Lyngar, Compatriot Peter Davenport, Compatriot Andrew Johnson, VASSAR 3rd VP Mike Elston, Past VASSAR President Larry McKinley, Compatriot Paul Chase, and hidden behind the young man at the podium is Past President General Joe Dooley.

Wreaths from the SAR, DAR, and CAR were Laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution, Old Town Alexandria, on Saturday, November 22nd, 2014. The Culpeper Minutemen were represented by Past President Lance Lyngar who presented a wreath and marched in the color guard.

VASSAR Color Guard prepares to advance the colors. Left to right VASSAR Color Guard Commander Darrin Schmidt, CMM Past President Lance Lyngar, Compatriot Peter Davenport, Compatriot Andrew Johnson, VASSAR 3rd VP Mike Elston, and Past VASSAR President Larry McKinley.

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Chapter Awards Meeting for 2014

11/15/2014

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The 2014 Chapter Awards Meeting was held today at Prince Michel Winery, Leon, Virginia. The first noteworthy event was the induction of David Wheeler of Amissville, VA. David's ancestor, John Day, enlisted in the Massachusetts Militia just after Lexington and Concord. John Day participated in the Siege of Boston and was present for the Battle of Bunker Hill. David was inducted by Past VASSAR President Jim Bayne. Past President Lance Lyngar then presented David Wheeler the Military Service Medal for his service in the US Army 1955-58.

David Wheeler, left, is inducted by Past VASSAR President Jim Bayne as President Bill Schwetke looks on.

David Wheeler, left, receives the Military Service Medal from Past President Lance Lyngar

Past President Lance Lyngar presented the streamer awarded for participation in the 2014 Yorktown Victory Commemoration to Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey.

Past President Lance Lyngar presents the streamer awarded at the 2014 Yorktown Victory Commemoration to Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey

Next the chapter presented Lance Lyngar the Bronze Good Citizenship Medal for his many years of exceptional service.

Past President Gar Schulin presents the Bronze Good Citizenship Medal to Past President Lance Lyngar.

The Chapter needed to catch up with several earned, but not yet awarded medals. The first such medal was the Lydia Darrah Medal, awarded each year by the chapter president to the spouse who provide him with the most support. This medal was authorized last year with the ability to look back over several years to recognize such women. Previous year awards went to Mary Ann Cowherd, Betsy Lay, Mary Margaret Lacey, and Beverly Alexander. This year's award went to Cat Schwetke.

Lydia Darrah Medal recipients Mary Margaret Lacey, Mary Ann Cowherd, Betsy Lay, Beverly Alexander, and Cat Schwetke, joined by Awards Committee Chairman Lance Lyngar.

Cat Schwetke also received the Martha Washington Medal for her support of the chapter over the last four years.

Cat Schwetke receiving the Martha Washington Medal from Awards Committee Chairman Lance Lyngar.

The next order of business was to catch up with another recently approved medal, with look-back approved, the Chapter Distinguished Service Medal, which was given to Jim Bayne, Lon Lacey, Jake Lay, Larry Alexander, and Don Jennings

Awards Committee Chairman Lance Lyngar with Chapter Distinguished Service Medals recipients Larry Alexander, Lon Lacey, Jim Bayne, Jake Lay, and Don Jennings.

The last and most prestigious award presented was the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Gold Medal, Given to Chaplin Len Cowherd.
For exceptionally meritorious service while in positions of great responsibility in service to the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution for a period spanning over 30 years, Len Cowherd is awarded the Culpeper Minutemen Gold Medal. Compatriot Cowherd served most honorably in various positions of leadership and responsibility to include Orations Chairman, CAR Liaison, Boy Scout Chairman, Web Site Master, Chaplin, and Vice-President. Compatriot Cowherd’s service is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter.

Awards Committee Chairman Lance Lyngar presents the CMM Gold Medal to Chaplin Len Cowherd.

The chapter then presented President Bill Schwetke with a hand written replica of the Declaration of Independence for his efforts over the past year.

Past President Lance Lyngar, President Bill Schwetke with the copy of the Declaration of Independence, and Past President Gar Schulin.

After the presentation we enjoyed a breakfast buffet, which was once again fantastic, thanks to our caterer, Maegan Partlow.

After Breakfast we enjoyed a wonderful talk by Past VASSAR President Jim Bayne on "Women in the Revolution".

Past VASSAR President Jim Bayne addresses the chapter

The final action of note was to elect officers for 2015. The compatriots we elected were:
President - Bill Schwetke
Vice President - Jim Bayne
Secretary - Jake Lay
Treasurer - Don Jennings
Chaplin - Len Cowherd
Registrar - Bill Schwetke
The 2015 officers will be installed at our January 24th 2015 Meeting.

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Veteran's Day at Culpeper National Cemetery

11/11/2014

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The CMM Color Guard parades the colors at the Veteran's Day Ceremony at Culpeper National Cemtery. Left to right, Lance Lyngar, Bill Schwetke, Don Jennings, and Lon Lacey.

The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter participated in the Veteran's Day Ceremony at Culpeper National Cemetery today. Eight members attended, four in uniform, with two wives. The Ceremony opened with the posting of the colors by a joint VFW and CMM Color Guard. Patriotic music was played by the Culpeper County High School Band. The featured speaker was Judge Dale Durrer, who recounted the adventures of his father, who was present, in the Navy during World War II. The unsung heroes interred in the cemetery were saluted by a rifle salute and echo taps. The combined color guard then retired the colors. Veterans in attendance were given hand made thank you cards from students of Emerald Hill Elementary School in Culpeper.
Attending from the CMM were President Bill Schwetke, Past President Jerry Hubbard, Past President Gar Schulin, Past President Lance Lyngar, Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey, Treasurer Don Jennings, Chaplin Len Cowherd and his wife Mary Ann, Jim Lillard and his wife Linda.

CMM Participants, left to right: Our Friends Dr. and Joan Depue, Bill Schwetke, Jim Lillard and his wife Linda, Gar Schulin, Jerry Hubbard, Don Jennings, Lance Lyngar, and Lon Lacey (not pictured, but attending were Len Cowherd and his wife Mary Ann).

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State Service for New Jersey and Virginia Washington Memorial Chapel,Valley Forge, PA

11/9/2014

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Three members of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, with their spouses, participated in the State Service for New Jersey and Virginia at the Washington Chapel, Valley Forge, PA. The ceremony was sponsored by the SAR, DAR, and CAR in each of the states. President Bill Broadus represented the Virginia Society of the SAR, and was assisted by the VASSAR Color Guard. CMM participants included President Bill Schwetke, and his wife Cat; Past President Larry Alexander, and his wife Beverly; and Chaplin Len Cowherd, and his wife Mary Ann.

CMM Chapter members and wives at Valley Forge, left to right: Len Cowherd, Beverly Alexander, Larry Alexander, Mary Ann Cowherd, Bill Schwetke, and Cat Schwetke.

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THe President General lays a wreath at the TOmb of The Unknown Soldier

11/8/2014

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President General Lindsey Brock laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a ceremony at Arlington Cemetery today. Including President General Brock, a dual-member of the Culpeper Minutemen, there were three members of our chapter present and many of our friends from other chapters and the Virginia and DC Societies.

Three Culpeper Minutemen at Arlington Cemetery: Past President Lance Lyngar, President General Lindsey Brock, and President Bill Schwetke.

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FCHC DAR Genealogy Workshop

11/1/2014

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On Saturday, November 1st, the Fauquier Court House Chapter of the DAR hosted a Genealogy Workshop at the Warrenton Presbyterian Church. There were 20 people in attendance, including the presenters. The sessions were conducted in a round robin format with attendees rotating through the tables set up for each topic. There were five tables, two DAR specific, one on "Titles and Wills" that was presented by an attorney, one on "North East Research" presented by a certified genealogist, and one on "Internet Research and Computer Aids" taught by CMM President Bill Schwetke's wife, Cat, with help from Bill. All attendees at the free workshop were provided a robust continental breakfast and a hot lunch. This event is held each year on the first Saturday in November..

CMM President Bill Schwetke and his wife Cat presenting "Internet Research and Computer Aids" at the Fauquier Court House Chapter, DAR, Genealogy Workshop.

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VaSSAR, VADAR & VSCAR lay wreath at revolutionary war tomb of the unknown soldier

Chapter Awards Meeting for 2014

Veteran's Day at Culpeper National Cemetery

State Service for New Jersey and Virginia Washington Memorial Chapel,Valley Forge, PA

THe President General lays a wreath at the TOmb of The Unknown Soldier

FCHC DAR Genealogy Workshop

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