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 From left to right: Culpeper Mayor Michael T. Olinger, CMM Treasurer Don Jennings, CMM Past President Larry Alexander, CMM Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey, CMM President Bill Schwetke. Six CMM members and two wives attended the dedication of Col John Jameson Boulevard in Culpeper this afternoon. The near freezing drizzle abated and, though it was still quite cold, there was a good turnout of about fifty people for the dedication of the new .61 mile long boulevard with three roundabouts that will greatly improve the traffic flow on the northeast side of Culpeper. The CMM Color Guard provided the colors for the ceremony and CMM President Bill Schwetke presented a short biography of Col Jameson for the program. The new boulevard is named for John Jameson, a captain and company commander in the 1775 Culpeper Minutemen, and later Colonel in the Continental Army. Those attending were Past President Larry Alexander and his wife Beverly, Past VASSAR President Jim Bayne, Chaplain Len Cowherd, Treasurer Don Jennings, CMM Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey, President Bill Schwetke and his wife Cat.
President Schwetke's Remarks The man who we honor in naming this boulevard, John Jameson, was born in Essex County in 1751 and was an educated man, a graduate of The College of William and Mary. He settled in Culpeper County and in 1775 he was serving the king as the Clerk of Culpeper County, but he also was elected by the citizens of Culpeper County to be a member of the Committee of Safety, dedicated to organizing resistance to the abuses of King George III. When the Virginia Convention called for the formation of militia battalions able to respond “in a minute”, one such battalion was formed from the citizens of Orange, Culpeper & Fauquier Counties and named the “Culpeper Minute Men”. John Jameson answered that call and was elected one of the captains commanding a company of the Culpeper Minute Men. In December of that year Captain Jameson led his company in the battle at Great Bridge where Continental forces, including the Culpeper Minute Men, defeated the British and denied them control of Virginia. Because of this victory General Washington was able to freely shift forces between the northern and southern colonies, reap the harvest of Virginia agriculture to feed his army, and recruit many worthy soldiers from the men of Virginia. Captain Jameson remained in military service rising in 1777 to the rank of major in the Continental Light Dragoons. He fought at Brandywine and was at Valley Forge with General Washington. He was wounded in a skirmish at Valley Forge, but recovered and continued to serve, eventually rising to the rank of colonel. In 1780 forces in Col Jameson's command captured the British spy Major Andre who was in disguise. They discerned the true nature of Major Andre and thwarted the traitor Benedict Arnold’s plan to betray the strategic fortress at West Point to the British. After the war Col Jameson returned to Culpeper County and was elected Clerk of Culpeper County, remaining in that position for the rest of his life. He married Elizabeth Davenport, raised a family, and prospered as a free man. Today we have our liberty, won for us by the valor of many such as Col Jameson. It is our privilege to gather to dedicate this boulevard in his honor.   Henry C. Pusey, on right, being installed as president of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter on January 17, 1998, by past-VASSAR President Richard G. Sauner. Henry C. Pusey, who was president of the CMM for five years in the 1990's, passed away on December 11th, 2014. Compatriot Pusey's Funeral was held 11:00am on Wednesday, December 17th, at Omps Funeral Home, South Chapel, in Winchester; the CMM were represented by Chaplain Len Cowherd.
Culpeper National Cemetery
The CMM were not part of the program this year, but two CMM members, two wives and one dog attended. The keynote speaker was Marine Corps Sergeant Major Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the senior non-commissioned officer in the United States Armed Forces.  CMM attendees at Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery, left to right: Past-President Lance Lyngar with his dog, Anna, Cat Schwetke, President Bill Schwetke, and Cyndi Messick, wife of Compatriot Ron Messick.  The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, VA, Saturday December 16, 1775, p 3, col 3. (www.newspapers.com/image/40483065) On this day in 1775 riflemen from the Culpeper Minute Battalion participated in the defeat of British forces at Great Bridge. Col Woodford, in command of the 2nd VA, led the patriot forces which consisted of his regiment, the Culpeper riflemen, local militia, and militia from North Carolina. This victory was significant because it deprived the British of use of Norfolk as a naval base and gave Washington free transit of Virginia in shifting his forces between the north and south.
 Culpeper Minutemen Chapter members and wives at the Great Bridge Ceremony. Left to right: Past President Mike Lyman, President Bill Schwetke, Cat Schwetke, the Culpeper Minutemen Memorial Marker, SAR President General Lindsey Brock, Past President Lance Lyngar, Jim Lillard, Jim's wife Linda, and attending, but not pictured, Billie Brock. Wreaths are from the Fauquier Court House Chapter, DAR, and the CMM. The Culpeper Minutemen were co-hosts at the 2014 Ceremony celebrating the victory by patriot forces, including the Culpeper Minutemen, over the British at Great Bridge on Dec 9th, 1775. Five chapter members and three wives attended. President General Lindsey Brock was the keynote speaker; Mike Lyman, Lance Lyngar, and Bill Schwetke participated in the color guard. Since 2011 this has been a national level event for the SAR. On December 9th, 1775, members of the British 14th Regiment of Foot, augmented by members of the Queen's Own Loyal Virginia Regiment, the Ethiopian Regiment, and sailors from the British Fleet, attacked across the Great Bridge to dislodge the patriot forces on the south end. After about thirty minutes of bloody fighting the British fled back to the north end of the bridge having suffered an estimated 102 killed, wounded, or captured. The patriots suffered one minor wound. Soon thereafter the British left the mainland of Virginia for the safety of their ships. Because of this victory General Washington was able to freely shift forces between the northern and southern colonies, reap the harvest of Virginia agriculture to feed his army, and recruit worthy soldiers from the men of Virginia.
 SAR/DAR Christmas Party 2014 Door Prizes The CMM Chapter, DAR, hosted the 2014 Christmas Party at Prince Michel Winery. Eight CMM compatriots and six of their wives attended. Past President Gar Schulin presented greetings to the assembly and Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey presented a replica of the CMM Battle Flag to the CMM Chapter NSDAR from the CMM Chapter SAR.  The CMM present a replica of the flag carried by the Culpeper Minutemen in 1775 to the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter of the NSDAR. Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey, holding the flag mast, and Compatriot Don Jennings holding the flag fly. The highlight of the Christmas Party was a presentation by J. Michael Miller on the Battle of Princeton.
CMM attendees included Past President Jim Bayne and his daughter Melanie Lee Bayne of the CMM DAR; Chaplin Len Cowherd and his wife, CMM DAR Regent Mary Ann Cowherd; Past President Jerry Hubbard; Treasurer Don Jennings and his wife Katherine; Compatriot Ron Messick and his wife Cyndi of the FCHC DAR; Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey and his wife Mary Margaret; Secretary Jake Lay and his wife Betsey of FCHC DAR; and Past President Gar Schulin and his wife Kathryn of the FCHC DAR.  Several CMM members and wives at the SAR/DAR Christmas Party. Starting on the left and moving clockwise around the table: Don Jennings, Katherine Jennings, Betsey Lay, Jake Lay, Jerry Hubbard, Melanie Lee Bayne, Mary Margaret Lacey. Compatriots and Friends, Best wishes for the coming Holiday Season, I hope each of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In December of 1775 our ancestors in the Culpeper Minute Battalion did not face prospects for a Christmas with family or a peaceful New Year. They had marched to Williamsburg where half of their number, mostly married men and the youngest, were sent back to their homes due to lack of arms. The remainder had already been skirmishing with the British who were launching raids from their ships, mostly in hopes of capturing stores of arms badly needed by the patriots. The patriot's skill with their rifles had already contributed to some success. In the early days of December they marched with Col Woodford and the 2nd Virginia to establish breastworks on the road from Norfolk to North Carolina just south of the Great Bridge. Lord Dunmore's British forces established a fort on the north side of the Great Bridge, augmented by newly arrived troops from the 14th Regiment of Foot. On December 9th the British will try to overcome our patriot's breastworks in a battle that we will celebrate on Saturday, December 6th. During this same time period other patriots, led by General Richard Montgomery, had marched into Canada and were beginning to lay siege to Quebec. On December 31st, taking advantage of the cover of a snow storm, General Montgomery personally led the patriots in an attack on the city. Crying out "Come on, my good soldiers, your General calls upon you to come on", he led the charge on a blockhouse and was killed by grapeshot from a British cannon. Without his leadership the attack failed. In December we both honor his birth and mourn his death. This Holiday Season let us give thanks for the success of our patriot ancestors in Virginia, and the heroic sacrifices of our patriot ancestors in the invasion of Canada, two hundred and thirty-nine years ago. Your Servant, Bill Schwetke, President  The Death of General Montgomery by John Trumbell
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