4 July 2018 Culpeper, VA
Participants at the Ceremony on the Courthouse Lawn left to right: Lon Lacey, Jr, Brett Osborn (CJWII), Becky Ebert (DAR), Alan Lacey, Lon Lacey, III, Charles Jameson, Craig Truskey, Eric Robinson (CJWII), Marc Holma, as Thomas Jefferson, CMM President Tom Hamill, Marc Robinson (CJWII), Michael Dennis, Cat Schwetke (DAR), Bill Schwetke (not in this picture, but present in uniform was Jim Bayne). Of note, the two DAR ladies both hold the Molly Pitcher Medal for support to the SAR Color Guard.
Today the CMM gathered, with support from the Colonel James Wood, II Chapter, the DAR, and the Blue Ridge Chorale, to celebrate our Declaration of Independence with a crowd of about 75 patriots. The program began at noon with nine members of the Color Guard marching up Davis Street to the tune of their fife and drum from the Train Depot to the Courthouse lawn. CMM President Tom Hamill was the master of ceremonies. Greetings were presented from Chairman Bill Chase of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors and Culpeper Mayor Michael Olinger. Thomas Jefferson, portrayed by Marc Holma, gave the gathering the inside scoop on the Declaration, followed by the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Jim Bayne. The Blue Ridge Chorale rendered a rousing medley of patriot songs and the Color Guard fired three volleys in salute to the Declaration of Independence. At the conclusion of the ceremony the patriots in attendance were invited to sign the copy of the Declaration.
 The Color Guard marches up Davis Street to start the ceremony. |
 President Tom Hamill mc's the ceremony |  Past President Jim Bayne reads the Declaration of Independence. |
 Fife & Drum, Alan Lacey on fife, and Lon Lacey, III on the drum. |
 Charles Jameson |  Craig Truskey |
 Blue Ridge Chorale |
 Patriots pledging their allegiance |  Musket Salute, three volleys, commanded by Brett Osborn of CJWII Chapter, nearest. |
After the ceremony on the Courthouse Lawn many of our participants gathered at Shawn's BBQ for refreshment.
left to right: Michale Dennis, Marc Robinson (CJWII), Bill Schwetke, Cat Schwetke, Vangy Robinson, Becky Ebert, Brett Osborn (CJWII), Eric Robinson (CJWII), and Charles Jameson.
In the afternoon the Culpeper Minutemen led the parade down Main Street. Our own Jim Bayne was the Grand Marshall! Crowds lined the street, especially on the west side, in the shade, a WWII Navy SNJ Trainer flew low overhead, and the DAR walked on the sides of the street passing out over 900 American flags. The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter entry in the parade won the trophy for "Best Over All", and Jim Bayne, as the Grand Marshall, won "Best Culpeper Spirit".
 |  The Parade's Grand Marshall Jim Bayne  |
 Melanie Bayne prepares to mount her truck to lead the parade pulling the trailer with the Culpeper Minutemen. |  Cat Schwetke hands an American Flag to a young patriot. |
 Jim Bayne with the trophy for "Best Culpeper Spirit" that he won. |
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