Volume 16, Issue 6 September 2015 GW Chapter Brings Home Honors from the 125th National Congress! Upcoming Chapter Meetings September 12: Chapter Meeting at 11:30 a.m. at the Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, Virginia. October 10: Chapter Meeting at 11:30 a.m. at the Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, Virginia. November 14: Chapter Meeting at 11:30 a.m. at the Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, Virginia. Newly Elected Vice President General – International District Mike Elston and Chapter President Dwight Whitney proudly display the Events Information President General’s Activities Award to the George Washington September 17: Constitution Chapter at the 125th NSSAR Congress in Louisville. Day at Montpelier, Orange, Virginia. th September 18-19: VASSAR 54 Annual George Washington Semi-Annual Meeting, Roanoke, Virginia. Celebration at Mount Vernon! September 24-26: NSSAR Fall Leadership Conference, Louisville, Kentucky. October 7: 235th Anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Blacksburg, South Carolina. October 2-4: 241st Anniversary Memorial Service, the Battle of Point Pleasant Point, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. 1 President’s Corner Millan, hosted by Fairfax Resolves Chapter SAR and the Fairfax County Chapter of the DAR. My fellow compatriots, Once again, we played host to SAR participation th Greetings and welcome back in the Memorial Day Parade on May 25 . We had from the summer break! Ann a modest turnout of chapter members and other and I had a busy summer compatriots from across the region who earned attending SAR events. The the Dooley-Carr-Elston Medal for their summer peaked for us in July with the marriage participation. of our daughter Callie to Mr. Sam Hutchins in June: Secretary Ernie Coggins attended the SAR North Carolina. It was a joyous occasion and Annual Conference on the American Revolution such a happy time for our family. held this year at Mount Vernon June 12-15. On th Back in May, our monthly chapter meeting June 12 , Registrar Dave Thomas, along with his featured Dr. Dennis M. Conrad, historian at the wife Carole, attended Gunston Hall’s George Naval History and Heritage Command, who Mason Day ceremony in honor of George Mason provided authoritative perspective on American and the writing and passing of the Virginia naval operations in 1778 based on the recently Declaration of Rights. Dave presented the published documents compiled in Vol. 12 of chapter wreath. On the same day, Ann and I Naval Documents of the American Revolution. We enjoyed the DAR Centennial Celebration of were pleased to award the SAR Heroism Medal Marking Daniel Boone’s Trail at the Cumberland to Officer Michael Szalach of the Prince William Gap National Historical Park. The marker was County Police. Compatriot Dr. Thomas C. erected in 1915 by the DAR from the states of Roberts was presented the Robert E. Burt Boy Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Scout Volunteer Award Medal, a national award. Carolina. The Centennial Celebration featured We also presented Certificates of Commendation greetings from the DAR State Regents of all four to four compatriots recognizing their states and remarks from DAR President General documentation of “lost patriots:” David Lynn Forney Young. I served in the four-state Stringfellow (2), Michael Nugent, John Blair, and SAR color guard, under Commander John Clines Paul Walden. of the Tennessee Society, which presented the colors and performed a flintlock salute. Ann was Chapter highlights of our activities during late one of the several DAR ladies there from Virginia spring and summer are presented below. Let me and enjoyed her time visiting with many of her say how grateful I am for the members who sisters from across the four states. came out to support our own chapter events and th to those who represented the chapter at many On June 20 , Historian Tom Roth represented events around the state and beyond. the chapter at the memorial dedication for Major Gabriel Long in Yowell Meadow Park in May: On May 16th, the chapter supported the Culpeper, sponsored by the Culpeper Minutemen Joint Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Joint Chapter. Plaque Dedication at the Masonic Cemetery in th st th Fredericksburg. This was a VASSAR Presidential June 27 to July 1 , the 125 SAR National Initiative, hosted by the Colonel Fielding Lewis Congress took place in Louisville, Kentucky. For Chapter. It was attended by compatriots Dave the second year in a row, the chapter brought Thomas, Tom Roth, Mike Elston, Will Elston, and home the President General's Activities Award me. Registrar Dave Thomas presented the (200+ members) for most complete practice of chapter’s wreath while I served duty in the implementing SAR programs and resolutions! In VASSAR Color Guard. Earlier that day, I was at addition, GW Chapter members, including myself the Fairfax County Cemetery where I and Ernie Coggins, enjoyed watching Mike participated in the color guard and presented the Elston’s election to Vice President General of the chapter wreath for the grave markings of the International District and winning the election to Honorable Gustavus Scott and Ensign Thomas a 3-year term as At-Large Member of the Board 2 of Directors of the SAR Foundation. The much anticipated 240th Anniversary of the Congratulations Mike! Bermuda Gunpowder Plot Commemorations in The chapter received two streamers: the Bermuda took place August 12-17. Compatriots President General’s Activities Award and the Mike Elston, organizer and co-chair for the joint SAR President General’s Initiative – Patriot Ancestor -DAR-C.A.R. organized event, and Ernie Biographies. Several of our members also Coggins report that it was a grand affair. There received personal recognitions which I will were dedications of two historic markers and announce at the chapter meeting. one interpretative sign, and meetings with the Acting United States Consul General, the July: We had a great time on July 4th, when we Governor General of Bermuda, and the Premier conducted our 54th annual wreath laying at the of Bermuda. tomb of General George Washington at Mount Upcoming Events. Vernon. At 10 a.m., the VASSAR Color Guard led Please join us for September th us down the bowling green to the tomb grove. 12 meeting at Belle Haven. I expect another We were honored to have both our VASSAR professional and informative presentation from President, Reverdy Wright and the Regent of the our guest speaker. We will also be presenting Kate Waller Barrett Chapter of the DAR, Penny some very special awards to members of the Kales, as well as former PG Joe Dooley in community and need your show of support. attendance. Special guest Alexandra Rodriguez, Make those reservations today! our candidate and runner-up to the 2015 Also coming up in September is the VASSAR VASSAR Rumbaugh Orations Contest gave her Semi-Annual Meeting in Roanoke and the NSSAR excellent oration to the large crowd that had Fall Leadership Conference in Louisville, KY. assembled in the grove. Past President Scott Your attendance is important to the chapter, and Wagoner, Brigadier General Paul Wagoner, USAF always a great time of fellowship with like- (ret.), and VASSAR President presented the minded men who love our country. wreath. Following the tomb grove ceremony and See the events calendar for the line-up of the wreath laying, each SAR member presented a activities within the chapter and state society. carnation at General Washington’s tomb. The Keep in mind that in October we will continue chapter awarded Baldwin-Jones Tabb medals to our tradition of organizing the President S AR members attending for the first time. General’s wreath laying at the Tomb of the Following the ceremony, Vice President Bodge Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. It participated in the naturalization ceremony held will take place after our regular chapter meeting on the grounds of Mount Vernon. New member on October 10th. In November we will celebrate Kevin Rogers reported that he attended the Veteran’s Day with our annual wreath laying at naturalization ceremony at Monticello that day. Washington’s tomb November 14th, and Vice On July 25th, Historian Tom Roth represented the President Bodge is lining up a program to Chapter and presented a wreath at a plaque recognize our members during our chapter dedication ceremony held at the Augusta Stone meeting November 14th. Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Ft. Defiance, I look forward to seeing you all again soon! Virginia. Through this event, VASSAR and the Virginia Society of the War of 1812 honored Revolutionary War patriots and War of 1812 veterans. The event was hosted by the Gen. Dwight Whitney Daniel Morgan Chapter and was a 2015 VASSAR Chapter President Presidential Initiative. August: Ernie Coggins attended the 2015 Atlantic Middle States Conference at Bridgewater, New Jersey, hosted by the New Jersey Society on August 7th and 8th. 3 September 2015 Speaker From the Secretary Dr. Charles Neimeyer is currently the Director of As of the end of May, the George Marine Corps History and the Gray Research Washington Chapter had 291 Center at Marine Corps University, Quantico, members. Of this number there Virginia. Prior to coming to Quantico, Dr. were about 245 valid email addresses. The 2015 Directories Neimeyer was the former Dean of Academics at were mailed in May. If you did not the Naval War College and Forrest Sherman receive yours; please contact me. Chair of Public Diplomacy in Newport, Rhode Email addresses appear to change more often than Island and a former Vice President of Academic mailing addresses. It is very important that you Affairs at Valley Forge Military Academy and provide us with your current contact information College. Prior to his stint as Academic Dean at (including telephone numbers).