Blog Posts - CULPEPER MINUTE MEN - MUSTER CALL

245th Anniversary of the Crossing of the Dan

2/14/2026

14 Feb 2026 South Boston, VA

The attendance was well over 200.

Today the Dan River Chapter and the City of South Boston hosted a celebration of the successful escape across the swollen Dan River on 14 Feb 1781. This was a key part of a string of events that led to Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown just eight months latter. State and CMM Chaplain John Kuvakas represented the Virginia SAR while Secretary Tom Hamill presented the CMM wreath. Bill Schwetke carried the US Flag in the presentation of the colors and fired in the musket salute. All three participated in the Color Guard.

Virginia SAR Chaplain John Kuvakas brings greetings from the Virginia SAR as Phil Williams (on right) past Virginia SAR President and the Master of Ceremonies looks on.

The SAR Color Guard leads the parade down to the river.

Virginia SAR Chaplain John Kuvakas presents the State Wreath, escorted by Bill Schwetke.

Secretary Tom Hamill presents the CMM Wreath.

Halifax County High School JROTC Cadet Lt Col casts a wreath into the Dan River in honor of the heroes that managed to get General Greene's Army across the river to safety.

CMM compatriots at Crossing of the Dan, left to right: Registrar Bill Schwetke, Chaplain John Kuvakas, and Secretary Tom Hamill.

We were joined by tow of our wives who presented the Fauquier Court House Chapter NSDAR Wreath, left to right: Chaplain Kelly Kuvaks, and Honorary Regent Cat Schwetke.

George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town Alexandria

2/14/2026

14 Feb 2026 Alexandria, VA

The SAR Color Guard leads compatriots and friends in the Washington's Birthday Parade in Old Town Alexandria.

The SAR Color Guard led a contingent of compatriots and friends in the little over a mile-long parade. CMM President Mark Crain marched with them.

The Grand Marshals of the parade were SAR President General Mike Elston of Virginia and DAR President General Virginia Sebastian Storage of Virginia.

CMM President Mark Crain, second from left, marched with the SAR Color Guard not too far behind the Grand Marshals.

Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier

2/14/2026

14 Feb 2026 Alexandria, VA

CMM President Mark Crain with the Chapter Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Old Town Alexandria.

In Old Town Alexandria there is a tomb of a a soldier found in 1826 and given an honorable burial in the cemetery of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House. Each year, while celebrating George Washington's Birthday, the SAR, DAR and C.A.R. gather to honor this unknown patriot. The CMM was represented at this ceremony by President Mark Crain.

245th Anniversary of General Greene's Encampment on the Bannister River

2/13/2026

13 Feb 2026 Halifax, VA

This evening the local community in Halifax, VA gathered to mark the encampment of General Greene's Army on the Bannister River after their dramatic escape across the Dan River which was a key link in the chain of events leading Cornwallis to defeat at Yorktown. The CMM was represented by Chaplain John Kuvakas and Registrar Bill Schwetke. Both participated in the posting of the colors, with Bill in command, and Bill participated in the night time firing of the musket salutes. Their wives, Kelly Kuvakas and Cat Schwetke, also attended the program.
The evening began in Beth Car Baptist Church were about 50 members of the community gathered. Members of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, Col James Wood II Chapter, and the Host Dan River Chapter presented and posted the colors. Then there was a talk on "The Recrossing of the Dan" by William Guerrant. Then the Color Guard led the gathering to Halifax Veterans Memorial where three musket volleys were fired.

Musket Salute

John Kuvakas narrates the musket safety checks after firing.

Left to right: John Kuvakas, Kelly Kuvakas, Cat Schwetke, Bill Schwetke.

Pictures by Kelly Kuvakas & Cat Schwetke

New Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Community Guide and Business Directory Features the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter on It's Cover

2/9/2026

09 Feb 2026 Culpeper, VA

Left to right: Marc Robinson (CJWII) Sean Carrigan (CJWII), Michael Weyler (CWG), Tom Hamill, Barry Schwoerer (SMJC), Bill Schwetke.

2026 Annual Meeting of the Virginia SAR

2/7/2026

6-7 Feb 2026 Glen Allen, VA

151 attendees gathered at the Virginia Crossings Conference Center and Hotel in Glen Allen, VA, for the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Virginia SAR. The CMM were represented by President Mark Crain, Secretary Tom Hamill, Chaplain (also Virginia SAR Chaplain) John Kuvakas, and Registrar Bill Schwetke. Bill's wife, Cat, also attended.
During the meeting the following compatriots were elected as state officers and installed by President General Mike Elston:

Virginia SAR Officers for 2026-2027
President - Darrin Schmidt
1st Vice President - Ken Bonner
2nd Vice President - Randy Atkins
3rd Vice President - Forrest Crain
Secretary - Tim Dioquino
Treasurer - Jon Rymer
Chancellor - Eric Monday
Chaplain - John Kuvakas
Historian - Tom Roth
Surgeon - Dr Charles Driscoll

Left to right: Chaplain John Kuvakas, Surgeon Dr. Charles Driscoll, Historian Tom Roth, 1st VP Ken Bonner, President General Mike Elston, President Darrin Schmidt, Secretary Tim Dioquino, 2nd VP Randy Atkins, 3rh VP Forrest Crain, Treasurer, Jon Rymer.

During the meeting the winners of the Virginia Cup and Best Chapter, by size, were announced. The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter was named as:

Winner of the Virginia Cup for Medium Size Chapters
2nd Best Chapter for Medium Size Chapters

President Mark Crain accepts the streamer for winning the Virginia Cup. Left to right: Awards Committee Chairman Ken Hawkins, CMM President Mark Crain, Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler.

As part of the entertainment the wives had their Friday Lunch at the Thomas Jefferson Hotel in Richmond and also a game night that evening. In the foreground of the picture of the ladies board in the bus to the Thomas Jefferson Hotel are Un Hui Davenport, Cat Schwetke, and Anita Bonner.

The ladies lunch is at the left side of this picture of the Jefferson Hotel.

As the Virginia SAR Chaplain, John Kuvakas conducted the Memorial Serv ice for those compatriot who had died the previous year.

During the Saturday Evening Banquet a CMM member and spouse also received medals from the Virginia SAR. Bill Schwetke received an oak leaf cluster to his State Meritorious Medal and Cat Schwetke received the second oak leaf cluster to her Daughters of Liberty Medal. Bill also received the Silver Hannah Arnett Medal from Virginia SAR Regent Kathleen Mayer Rugh .

Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler presents the Daughters of Liberty Medal 3 olc to Cat Schwetke.

Left to right: Virginia DAR Regent Kathleen Mayer Rugh, Bill Schwetke, Cat Schwetke.

Also at the end of the Saturday Night Banquet there was a change of command of the Virginia SAR Color Guard in which Brett Osborn relinquished command and John Lynch assumed command. Bill Schwetke marched in the Color Guard and participated in the ceremony (Bill was the Virginia SAR Color Guard Commander 2017-2019).

250th Anniversary of the Burning of Norfolk

1/31/2026

31 Jan 2026 Norfolk via Zoom

Today the Virginia conducted a ceremony to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Burning of Norfolk. The CMM was represented by six chapter members, all of whom participated in the Color Guard: President Mark Crain, Secretary Tom Hamill, Treasurer Charles Jameson, Chaplain John Kuvakas, Registrar Bill Schwetke, and member Doug Schwetke. Tom Hamill presented the CMM wreath. The ceremony was moved to Zoom because of snow, bitter cold, and winds at Norfolk.

Chaplain John Kuvakas

Secretary Tom Hamill

Rev Tom Platek, in the role of George Washington's Preacher the Rev Thomas Davis, gave the keynote remarks.

250th Anniversary of Peter Muhlenberg's Last Sermon

1/24/2026

24 Jan 2026 Winchester, VA

Today the Virginia SAR celebrated the 250th Anniversary of Peter Muhlenberg's famous sermon on Ecclesiastes 3 at his church in Woodstock when as he cited Ecclesiastes 3:8 -

a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

He pulled off his clerical robes and revealed the uniform of a Continental Officer and declared that was a time for war and invited the young men to join him in forming a regiment to join General Washington's army.
Later, as General Muhlenberg, he would be one of the most respected and recognized generals of the Continental Army.
The CMM were represented by Virginia SAR Chaplain John Kuvakas who rendered the invocation, Charles Jameson who presented the chapter wreath, and Bill Schwetke who marched in the Color Guard.

Charles Jameson renders honors as the wreath is presented.

John Kuvakas, who is both our Chapter and the Virginia SAR Chaplain, gave us our invocation.

2026 Annual Meeting of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter

1/20/2026

20 Jan 2026 Warrenton, VA

Our new Chapter President, Mark Crain, with the gavel, and our new First Lady, Angela Crain.

First of many highlights of our Annual Meeting was the installation by Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler of our new president, Mark Crain, for the term of 2026-2028. We also installed the other officers (no changes from last term) and inducted two new members, Eddie Daniel and Mark Hope. Also several others were recognized with various awards. Noteworthy was also the attendance of several prospective members, including one, Shawn Greer, who signed his application at the meeting and it is on it's way to Louisville for approval.

Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler inducts Eddie Daniel (left) and Mark Hope (right) into the SAR.

New member Eddie Daniel with his wife Norma.

Tom Hamill pins the SAR Rosette on new member Mark Hope.

Virginia SAR President Mike Weyler swears in the new officers for 2026-2028, left to right, Registrar Bill Schwetke, Chaplain John Kuvakas, Treasurer Charles Jameson, Secretary Tom Hamill, and President Mark Crain.

Cat Schwetke receives the SAR Bronze 250th Anniversary Medal.

Cowpens/Daniel Morgan Ceremony

1/17/2026

17 Jan 2026 Berryville, VA

CMM Secretary Tom Hamill attended a ceremony honoring those patriots who fought in the Battle of Cowpens. The ceremony was put on by the Col. James Wood II chapter and was held at VFW Post 9760 in Berryville, VA. Secretary Hamill presented the CMM chapter wreath at the ceremony.