November 2016 Chapter Meeting

19 Nov 2016                                       Rixeyville, VA

Little Fork Episcopal Church - Constructed 1773-1776.

     The Annual CMM Chapter Awards Meeting was held this past Saturday at Historic Little Fork Church.  Little Fork Church was under construction in 1775 when many of its members joined the Culpeper Minute Battalion and marched off to fight in our Revolution.

29 compatriots, spouses, and friends gathered to honor those who contributed to the chapter's success for 2016.

     Attendees included 15 compatriots, 9 spouses, 2 prospective members, and 3 guests.  The Fellowship Hall of Little Fork Church was provided for our use without charge.  A fantastic meal was catered by Maegan Partlow.  Meals by Maegan are clearly the favorite with the CMM membership.
     We began the meeting by inducting two new members, Craig Truskey and Sean Megeath.

L to R: Cat Schwetke, Sean Megeath, Craig Truskey, and Kathy Truskey.

r     Craig Truskey is from Pennsylvania and he joined the U.S. Army in July 1977.  After Basic Training, Infantry Training and Airborne School he served in the 75th Ranger Regiment from 1977 to 1984.  In 1984 he attended the US Army Special Forces Qualification Course and served in 10th Special Forces Group until his retirement in 1997 as a Master Sergeant.   He attended Primary, Basic and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Schools, Special Forces Operations and Intelligence Course and a number of other U.S. and foreign schools/courses.  He served two tours overseas in Germany and in Southwest Asia.   
     Craig currently is employed at the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service.  
     Craig's wife, Kathy, is a member of the DAR and is responsible for bringing Craig to the SAR.

     Sean Megeath was born in the Philippines and traveled the world as a military dependent.  He graduated from high school in Fairfax County, VA, and received a Computer Science degree from Carlton College, Northfield, MN.  He currently works as a computer programmer and primarily is engaged on simulations of Nextgen Air Traffic Control for the FAA.
     Sean's mother, Cat Schwetke, Regent of the Fauquier Court House Chapter, NSDAR, brought Sean to the SAR.

     The next event was the awarding of War Service Medals to Craig Truskey and Don Hollar.  Compatriot Truskey received the War Service Medal with SW ASIA bar and compatriot Hollar received the War Service Medal with KOREA bar.

War Service Medal presentation. Lto R: CMM President Bill Schwetke, Craig Truskey, Kathy Truskey, Louis Hollar, and Don Hollar.

     Next, those who had purchased commissions in the 1st Virginia Regiment of the Virginia Society were awarded certificates and pins recognizing their rank in that organization.  Len Cowherd was recognized as a Sergeant and Bill Mutziger was commissioned as a Colonel.

L to R: Len Cowherd, Bill Schwetke, and Bill Mutziger.

     Certificates of Patriotism were presented to those who were recognized as new members of the various Veterans Corps.

Larry Alexander, on left and Lon Lacey, on right receive their Military Service Corps certificates from President Shcwetke.

Bill Schwetke, left, and Don Hollar, right, recieved Korean Service certificates.

Ben Works, left, and Bill Schwetke, right, recieved Vietnam Veteran certificates.

Craig Truskey, on left, recieves his SW Asia Veteran certificate from President Schwetke.

Bill Schwetke received the Special Operations Veteran certificate.

     Service Pins were given to Larry Alexander and Don Jennings for 15 years of service and to Don Hollar for 5 years of service.

President Schwetke presents 5 Year Service Pin to Don Hollar, on right.

Receiving 15 Year Service Pins, Don Jennings, on left, and Larry Alexander, center.

     Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Secretary Tom Hamill, Treasurer Bill Mutziger, and Historian Ben Works.

Receiving Certificates of Appreciation, L to R: Ben Works, Tom Hamill, President Schwetke, and Bill Mutziger.

     For many years of distinguished service as CMM officer, Chaplain Len Cowherd and Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey were presented Distinguished Service Certificates.

Presentation of Distinguished Service Certificates, left to right: Len Cowherd, President Schwetke, Lon Lacey.

     The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter is likely the only SAR chapter that has its own medal awarded for merit, the Culpeper Minutemen Gold Medal.  This medal originated with past Chapter President Jim Bayne over 10 years ago.  We presented the CMM Gold Medal to compatriot Paul Chase of the Col William Grayson Chapter.  Compatriot Chase has, over the past several years, been a frequent contributor to CMM activities, especially in augmenting our color guard.  Our First Friday in Warrenton events over the past three years would not take place without the significant support that he provides for those events.  We are very proud to recognize Paul Chase for his service to our chapter.

Paul Chase, on left, receives the CMM Gold Medal from President Schwetke.

     After the medal presentations we feasted on a buffet prepared by Maegan Partlow.

Lucky diners at the buffet, left to right: Kathy Truskey, Craig Truskey, and Barry Stearman (whose application has been submitted).

     After lunch we conducted our business meeting, the most important part of which was to vote on those nominated to be our officers for 2017.  Those nominated were elected by acclamation, including:

2017 Officers
President - Jerry Hubbard
1st Vice President - Vacant
2nd Vice President - Jim Lillard
Secretary - Tom Hamill
Treasurer - Bill Mutziger
Chaplain - Len Cowherd
Historian - Vacant
Registrar - Bill Schwetke

     Newly inducted compatriot Sean Megeath led us in Recessional as we concluded the meeting.