Raid at Martin's Station - 2022

14 May 2022     Martinsville, VA

The wreaths in front of Historic Henry County Court House

     Once again, the national event "Raid at Martin's Station" was not held at the Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia.  The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation  would not allow our ceremony this year (we hope to resolve this by 2023).  It place of the State Park, the Martinsville Community welcomed us with open arms and participated in the ceremony.  The purpose behind this event is to remind us of the forgotten  theater of the Revolutionary War, the frontier conflict with Native Americans, often encouraged and support by the British Military.

     Today's ceremony included representatives of the Virginia SAR, the French Society SAR, the Virginia Order, Founders and Patriots, descendants of General Joseph Martin, a representative of Congressman Morgan Griffith, a representative of Virginia Delegate Les Adams, nine Virginia SAR Chapters (including the CMM), and three chapters of the Virginia DAR.

     Most of the ceremony was held inside the Courthouse due to intermittent periods of rain, but the rain relented and allowed us to do the wreath presentations in front of the Courthouse.

The main program took place inside the court room

     The CMM was represented by Bill Schwetke, who marched in the Color Guard and presented the chapter wreath.  Four other CMM dual members participated: Virginia SAR 1st VP Ernie Coggins, Pat Kelly, Jeff Thomas, and Virginia SAR 3rd VP Mike Weyler.

CMM Registrar Bill Schwetke renders honors to General Joseph Martin

CMM participants, left to right: Virginia SAR 1st VP Ernie Coggins (dual), Pat Kelly (dual), Bill Schwetke, Jeff Thomas (dual), Virginia SAR 3rd VP Mike Weyler.