John Hardin "Jack" Chance

     Our newest dual member is John Hardin "Jack" Chance of Columbia, MO.  Jack is a US Navy veteran and was Vice president A.B. Chance Company, Centralia, Missouri, 1962—1977. He is president Boone International Corporation, since 1977 and a Director, American Bank.  He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and has an honorary doctorate in business.
   Jack Chance was installed as Chapter President of the M. Graham Clark Chapter, Missouri SAR, at their JAN 2015 meeting.  He is also President of the Friends of the Centralia Battlefield, LT Commander of the Searcy Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, The Sons of Union Veterans, a member of the Society of the War of 1812, the Military Order of the Stars and Bars and the Missouri Civil War Heritage Foundation.
     His wife, Linda, is a member of the DAR. His patriot ancestor is Rev. John Gano, who was a chaplain in the Continental Army, the personal chaplain to General George Washington.  Jack is also a descendant Garrs, Wilhoit-Wilhites, Blankenbakers and Fishers from this area and is working with us to see if any these patriots served with the Culpeper Minutemen.

     Today the gusty winds drove us indoors at Walmart, but we hopefully made progress by handing out over 50 license plate applications for the 1775 Culpeper Minutemen License Plate.  Ben Works and Bill Schwetke worked the entrance to Walmart in Culpeper. With the vote yesterday in our chapter meeting to extend the effort and forego revenue sharing we are still working hard to put this license plate on the highways.

     Thirty-one compatriots and family members gathered at the Manor House at Poplar Springs in Casanova, VA for our chapter's 2015 Chapter Awards Meeting today.  Sixteen members, one prospective, and fourteen family members watched as we inducted five new members and presented awards to members for chapter service.  The first order of business was inducting five new members: MG (Ret) Greg Schumacher and his grandson, Lincoln Field; David Messick, Jr. and his son and grandson, Mickey Messick and William Messick.  Additionally Greg Schumacher was given certificates, rosettes, and CMM Battle Flag pins for his son and two grandsons who live in California.  Past Virginia SAR and CMM President Jim Bayne conducted the ceremony.

Our newest members:

     MG (Ret) Schumacher served in Afghanistan and was presented the SAR War Service Medal with Afghanistan Bronze Bar for that service.

     Two compatriots, Jim Lillard and Lance Lyngar, received pins for their 10 years of service to the CMM and the SAR.

     Awards Chairman Lance Lyngar presented Certificates of Appreciation to Gar Schulin and Ben Works for their significant contributions to the chapter over the past year.

     Four members who have served the chapter well over many years were recognized with the Roger Sherman Medal: LLarry Alexander, Jim Bayne, Len Cowherd, and Lance Lyngar,

     CMM President Bill Schwetke selected Jim Lillard for this year's Chapter Distinguished Service Medal, awarded for providing exceptional support to the president during the year.  Second awards of this medal are not allowed.

     Secretary Jake Lay received the CMM Gold Medal to recognize his years of service to the CMM in many capacities.

     After lunch the CMM conducted a business meeting, with the most important business being the election of chapter officers for 2016.  The following were elected by acclamation.

CMM OFFICERS FOR 2016
PRESIDENT - BILL SCHWETKE
1ST VICE PRESIDENT - JERRY HUBBARD
2ND VICE PRESIDENT - JIM LILLARD
SECRETARY - TOM HAMILL
TREASURER - BILL MUTZIGER
REGISTRAR - BILL SCHWETKE
CHAPLAIN - LEN COWHERD
HISTORIAN - BEN WORKS

     Today three members of the CMM talked to the 6th grade history students at Culpeper County Middle School about the three levels of military service from Virginia in the Revolutionary War: Militia, Minuteman, and Continental Army.  The uniforms/clothing worn by each, some of the equipment, and the relevant flags were explained.  Bill Schwetke covered the Colonial Militia, Independent Companies, and Patriot Militia; Lon Lacey talked about the minute service; and Don Jennings spoke about the soldiers of the Continental Army.  Well over one hundred students and teachers attended the presentation and we have been asked back for next semester.

     At the Monthly Meeting of the Little Fork Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company CMM Treasurer Don Jennings, assisted by prospective member Lindsay Schaff (a former member of the Little Fork Company), presented a 1775 Culpeper Minutemen Battle Flag to the Little Fork Volunteers.  These modern-day patriots are carrying on the tradition of the men of the Little Fork Community who volunteered in 1775 and served with the Culpeper Minutemen under a flag like the one we presented to them today.  Presentation of these replica battle flags to deserving organizations has been a chapter initiative for the past two years.

     Today Don Jennings, Ben Works, and Bill Schwetke spent the afternoon in front of the Culpeper Walmart soliciting applications for the Culpeper Minutemen License Plate.  Over 75 applications were passed out with a lot of favorable responses.  A Culpeper Star-Exponent reporter took our picture so we anticipate press coverage.  The weather was pleasant, the reception was warm, and it appears we made some headway in getting this historic license plate approved.

    The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter SAR and the Fauquier Court House Chapter NSDAR co-hosted a Genealogy Workshop today.  27 volunteers from both chapters and 31 attendees listened to Genealogist General John Sinks talk during lunch on "Who Was a Culpeper Minuteman?" and attended eight sessions on various genealogy topics, including one on "SAR Requirements and Resources" by Virginia Society Registrar Mike Taimi.
     Five door prizes were provided by Family Tree DNA and Ancestry.com.  Family Tree DNA also provided all who attended a $30 discount on their most popular tests.  All attendees were provided a free continental breakfast and a hot lunch.  The workshop has been held on the first Saturday in November for several years by the Fauquier Court House Chapter, and this is the first year that the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter has co-hosted.
     CMM participants included Larry Alexander, Don Hollar, Jerry Hubbard, Lon Lacey, Bill Mutziger, and Bill Schwetke.  Prospective members Doug Graves and Charles Jameson also attended.  Several attendees also picked up license plate applications.

 Compatriots and Friends:
    This month I will repeat a story I used over two years ago, which is appropriate for today:
     In the spring of 1775 a Connecticut farmer called together his three adult sons for a father-son talk and said: “We shall have war; this country will not long endure the tyranny of England, and one of you must enlist in the service of your country. You Daniel, cannot go, for you have a sick wife and seven children dependent upon you. Nor you James, for you are subject to falling sickness fits. The lot falls upon you Asa, and your brothers must support your family while you are gone.”
     Asa Lay would act upon his father’s instructions as soon as the news of the battle at Lexington and Concord was received, and remain on active service until the last day of that war. The tales of his service are extraordinary.  Notably, years after the war, General George Washington met Asa’s son, who had worked on a carved set of teeth for the general. Upon hearing that he was the son of Asa Lay, General Washington asked him to “Give my love to your father; I knew him well; he was a brave man.” That was very high praise from one remarkable man to another. Of course you have discerned that Captain Asa Lay is the ancestor of our own Jake Lay.
     Jake and his brothers Dominic and Francis have served the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter in a manner that would have made even Asa proud.  Jake has served many years as our secretary; Dominic and Francis served in many offices, including chapter president.  I hold them up as an example for what the chapter now needs.  In the next few days Lance Lyngar, chairman of our nominations committee, and I, will be calling some of you to ask that you volunteer some of your time to our chapter.  I hope you will be inspired by the Lay family and step forward, we need you.
     There are also several tasks in the next couple months that need volunteers: the License Plate Project, and the Genealogy Workshop.  If you are able, please step forward to help.  You will, I hope, be pleased to find new members backing you - we inducted four in October and have nine ready for induction in November.

Your Servant,
Bill Schwetke, President