Memorial Day at Culpeper National Cemetery

30 May 2016                                        Culpeper, VA

       Culpeper National Cemetery was established in 1867, and today covers nearly 30 acres of land at the edge of downtown Culpeper and is the resting place of over 11,000 veterans.  Each year a Memorial Day Service is held by The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, to render military honors to those interred in the previous twelve months without such honors.  The Culpeper County High School Band also forms as volunteers, since the school term is over, and provides patriotic music and buglers for the ceremony.  The attendance at this years ceremony easily exceeded 150 patriots including veterans of all services and all wars back to World War II.
     This year the CMM provided a six man color guard and presented a wreath.  Altogether eight CMM members, one prospective member, one member of another chapter, and four wives attended.  Attendees included Larry and Beverly Alexander, Paul Chase of the Colonel William Grayson Chapter, Len and Mary Ann Cowherd, prospective member Charles Jameson and Michelle, Don Jennings, Lon Lacey, Jake and Betsy Lay, Lance Lyngar and his friend Louis, Bill and Cat Schwetke, and Ben Works.

CMM Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey brings the colors to prepare for the ceremony.

The crowd begins to gather in front of the the Administration Building.

Director Duane Clore leads the Culpeper High School Band in patriotic music.

Cat Schwetke, working on her "Molly Picture" medal, photographs the Color Guard.

CMM Color Guard renders honors.

Bugler in the foreground plays Taps, and is echoed by the bugler by the flag pole in the distance. This was in turn echoed by buglers in the most distant section of the cemetery.

The VFW RIfle Team honors the departed with three volleys.

Memorial Marker, with the wreaths presented by various patriotic organizations.

VFW Color Guard

CMM Historian Ben Works renders honors after presenting our wreath.

CMM Color Guard

CMM & SAR participants, left to right: Ben Works, Bill Schwetke, Paul Chase of the Col William Grayson Chapter, Don Jennings, Lon Lacey, Lance Lyngar, and Larry Alexander.