Patriots' Day

11 Sep 2015                                           Culpeper, VA

The Combined Color Guard filled all four sides of the intersection of Main and Davis in the heart of Culpeper at !0:03am.

Click here for a video of the ceremonies

     A combined Color Guard from the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, VFW, American Legion, Culpeper County Sheriff's Department, and Culpeper Police Department participated in a Bugles Across America Program to honor the heroes of 9/11.  Gerry Schuck of Bugles Across America organized and executed this moving ceremony.  CMM Treasurer Don Jennings, CMM Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey, and CMM President Bill Schwetke participated in the Combined Color Guard; and Jim and Linda Lillard attended and helped with the pictures.  The Color Guard formed in front of the Culpeper Fire Station at 08:46 and saluted as taps was played in honor of those who died in the first World Trade Center Tower to be hit, and especially to honor the heroes of the NYFD.

Part of the Combined Color Guard formed in front of the Culpeper Fire Department.

     At 09:03 the same ceremony was repeated in front of the Culpeper Police Department and Sheriff's Office to honor those killed in the second tower to be hit, and especially the heroes of the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies in Manhattan on 9/11.

Part of the Combined Color Guard in front of the Culpeper Police Office and Sheriff's Office.

     At 09:37 the same ceremony was preformed at the Wine Street Military Memorial in honor of those killed at the Pentagon.

The Combined Color Guard forming at the Wine Street Military Memorial in Culpeper

     At 10:03 the same ceremony was conducted at the intersection of Main and Davis in the heart of Culpeper to honor the heroes of United Airlines Flight 93 which was brought down near Shanksville, PA by the actions of heroic passengers who prevented the hijackers from reaching their intended target.
     This was followed by a second playing of taps to honor those slain at Bengahazi, Libya, on 11 Sep 2012.
     The ceremony concluded with Gerry Schuck playing "America the Beautiful".

The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Color Guard, on right, lines up on one of the four sides of the intersection to prepare for the 10:03 ceremony.

CMM Color Guard participants, left to right: Bill Schwetke, Don Jennings, and CMM Color Guard Commander Lon Lacey.

Jim Lillard and his wife Linda, in the background to the left of bugler Gerry Schuck, render honors during the last ceremony.