Today four members of the CMM helped place wreaths  on tombstones at Culpeper National Cemetery.  The crowd was estimated at over 700 people who came for the program and then made quick work of placing nearly 7,000 wreaths on the graves.

     On Sunday, Boy Scout Troop 4 at Front Royal, hosted a Wreaths Across America at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Front Royal.  Three CMM members, President Charles Jameson, Color Guard Commander Michael Dennis, and Bill Schwetke, participated in the Color Guard.  Michael and Bill also participated in the musket volleys fired to salute the veterans buried here.

     President Charles Jameson presented a Certificate of Appreciation to David Foster, owner of Mountain Run Winery, for the exceptional support Mountain Run Winery has given to our chapter meetings this year.  Mountain Run Winery hosted several chapter meetings, at no cost to us.  An extra bonus was the availability of their excellent wines to go with our meals.  David and his father, John, are prospective members of the SAR.

       At day break, 246 years ago, the sentries at the south end of the Great Bridge sounded an alarm that the British, led by the fearsome grenadiers, were attacking.  One sentry stood his ground and delayed the surprise attack by firing eight rounds, allowing the Second Virginia Regiment and the Culpeper Minute Battalion to race from their camp and man the barricades before the grenadiers could reach them.  Then the 2nd Virginia and the Culpeper Minute Battalion unleashed their fire killing or wounding over 100 of the British with only one minor wound to a minuteman.

      This morning, at day break, at the Culpeper Minute Battalion Monument in Yowell Meadow Park, the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter hosted a commemorative ceremony at which five chapters of the Virginia SAR were represented: Culpeper Minutemen, Colonel James Wood II, Colonel William Grayson, Fairfax Resolves and George Mason.  In cold 20˚ weather the Color Guard marched, the history was read, wreaths were presented, and a volley was fired, all to honor the patriots who fought at the Battle of Great Bridge and preserved Virginia for the struggle for independence.

     Culpeper Minutemen President Charles Jameson (a descendant of Lt David Jameson who fought at Great Bridge) and Secretary Tom Hamill shared the master of ceremonies duties. Culpeper Minutemen Color Guard Commander Michael Dennis (also a descendant of Lt David Jameson) organized the Color Guard for presentation of the colors and a musket salute.

      After the ceremony the participants repaired to the Frost Cafe for warmth, coffee, and breakfast.  They were joined there by Culpeper Mayor Mike Olinger, who was presented with the SAR Bronze Good Citizenship Medal for his years of service as Culpeper's mayor.

     The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter is a co-host of the annual commemoration of the Battle of Great Bridge, in conjunction with the Norfolk Chapter and the Great Bridge Chapter, DAR.  This year the ceremony was marked by wonderful weather and great attendance.

     CMM President Charles Jameson, a descendant of Lt. David Jameson who fought at Great Bridge with the Culpeper Minute Battalion, led the CMM delegation and presented the chapter wreath.  Other CMM members in attendance included: Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander Ken Bonner (dual), Sean Carrigan (dual), Dave Cook (dual), Dale Corey (dual), CMM Chaplain Len Cowherd, CMM Secretary Tom Hamill, Pat Kelly (dual), Marc Robinson (dual), CMM Historian Bill Schwetke, Virginia SAR President Jeff Thomas (dual), and Mike Weyler (dual).  All except Len Cowherd participated in the Color Guard.

From now until Dec 2026, the 250th Anniversary of the disbanding of the Culpeper Minute Battalion, the honored birthday will be of one of the Culpeper Minutemen of 1775/6.