This month I will repeat a story I used over two years ago, which is appropriate for today:
In the spring of 1775 a Connecticut farmer called together his three adult sons for a father-son talk and said: “We shall have war; this country will not long endure the tyranny of England, and one of you must enlist in the service of your country. You Daniel, cannot go, for you have a sick wife and seven children dependent upon you. Nor you James, for you are subject to falling sickness fits. The lot falls upon you Asa, and your brothers must support your family while you are gone.”
Asa Lay would act upon his father’s instructions as soon as the news of the battle at Lexington and Concord was received, and remain on active service until the last day of that war. The tales of his service are extraordinary. Notably, years after the war, General George Washington met Asa’s son, who had worked on a carved set of teeth for the general. Upon hearing that he was the son of Asa Lay, General Washington asked him to “Give my love to your father; I knew him well; he was a brave man.” That was very high praise from one remarkable man to another. Of course you have discerned that Captain Asa Lay is the ancestor of our own Jake Lay.
Jake and his brothers Dominic and Francis have served the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter in a manner that would have made even Asa proud. Jake has served many years as our secretary; Dominic and Francis served in many offices, including chapter president. I hold them up as an example for what the chapter now needs. In the next few days Lance Lyngar, chairman of our nominations committee, and I, will be calling some of you to ask that you volunteer some of your time to our chapter. I hope you will be inspired by the Lay family and step forward, we need you.
There are also several tasks in the next couple months that need volunteers: the License Plate Project, and the Genealogy Workshop. If you are able, please step forward to help. You will, I hope, be pleased to find new members backing you - we inducted four in October and have nine ready for induction in November.
Your Servant,
Bill Schwetke, President