Updates or corrections to the published schedule should be submitted to the VASSAR Color Guard Commander.

Guardsmen should evaluate their ability to participate in physically stressful conditions. Event Color Guard Commanders will conduct a safety walk-through of the venue before the event commences and raise safety-related issues (e.g., heat index, trip hazards, etc.) with the event coordinator for resolution and mitigation. ALL firelocks brought to the event will be safety-checked before the event commences -- without exception. Firelocks that do not pass or have not been safety-checked will not be permitted at the event site.

In case of a VASSAR-related accident/incident, the VASSAR Accident/Incident Report form (clickable link updated February 2023) is also provided in the Resource Section (see pull down tab). Event coordinators are strongly encouraged to have a blank paper copy available.

Insurance: VASSAR insurance coverage does not extend to non-VASSAR members, such as DAR, C.A.R., or re-enactors. Event coordinators should decline any non-VASSAR individual participation in our color guards (especially in a black powder firing event) if the participating individual's organization is not covered by an insurance company. VASSAR is in the process of exchanging proof of insurance (COI) with adjacent State SAR Societies and this list will be posted here when complete. It should be noted that not every SAR State Society currently has liability insurance.

Color Guard Archives may be accessed at Archives by year

2023 SCHEDULE

December 9^th, 2023, Saturday (7:17 am) - Culpeper Commemoration of Battle of Great Bridge, Culpeper, VA

Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Culpeper Minutemen Chapter VASSAR / Jameson.
Location: Culpeper Minuteman Monument, Yowell Meadow Park, Culpeper, VA.
Firing Event: Yes
Event Color Guard Commander: Schwetke.
Details: TBA.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Cook, Corey, Daniel, Dunaway, Jameson, Phillips, Schwetke, Weyler.

December 9^th, 2023, Saturday (11:00 am) - 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, Berryville, VA

Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Col. James Wood II Chapter VASSAR / Dale Corey.
Location: North Hill Farm, 67 North Hill Lane, Berryville, VA.
Firing Event: Yes
Event Color Guard Commander: Corey
Details: Ketoctin DAR and Fort Loudoun DAR will participate. Tea will be dumped into the Shenandoah River to commemorate the event. After this commemorative event, attendees will process to a nearby cemetery for a wreath laying ceremony at the grave of George Washington’s niece. In the event of inclement weather, an indoor venue is available. Musket volleys will be fired at both ceremonies. Color Guard muster at 10:15 am.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Carrigan, Christensen, Collins, Cordes, Corey, Daniel, Dunaway, Phillips, M.Robinson, Simmons, Tyler.

December 9^th, 2023, Saturday (1: 00 pm) - Christmas 1780 After the Victory, Abingdon, VA
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Gen. William Campbell Chapter VASSAR / Gullion.
Location: Abingdon Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place, Abingdon, VA.
Firing Event: No
Event Color Guard Commander: Gullion.Details: Annual Christmas event.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Britton, Combs,Gullion, Johnson, Richmond, Vaughan.

December 9^th, 2023, Saturday (6:00 pm) - Leesburg Christmas Parade, Leesburg, VA.
Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter / Barry Schwoerer.
Location: King St., Leesburg, VA.
Firing Event: No
Event Color Guard Commander: Schwoerer.
Details: The parade will begin at Ida Lee Park at 6:00pm and travel south down King Street, ending at Fairfax Street. Lighted holiday floats, music and local organizations will be participating to bring holiday cheer to Leesburg.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Bonner, Christensen,Daniel, Phillips, Schwetke, Schwoerer, Sink, Workman.

December 10^th, 2023, Sunday (9:00 am) - Wreath Laying at Trenton Battle Monument, Trenton, NJ
Event Level: National ("Ten Crucial Days")
Host/POC: Princeton Chapter NJSSAR / Roger Williams.
Location: Trenton Battle Monument, 350 N. Warren St., Trenton, NJ.
Firing Event: TBA
Event Color Guard Commander: TBA.
Details: Color Guard muster at 9:30 am. Parking is along North Warren Street or at the Greater Zion-Mount AME Church 42 Pennington Rd., Trenton, NJ. Registration details: https://www.njssar.org/wreaths
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees:

December 10^th, 2023, Sunday (1:30 pm) - Wreath Laying at Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing, PA
Event Level: National ("Ten Crucial Days")
Host/POC: Princeton Chapter NJSSAR / Roger Williams.
Location: Washington Crossing Historic Park, 1112 River St., Washington Crossing, PA.
Firing Event: TBA
Details: Color Guard Muster 1:00 pm at the Washington Monument in front of the Visitors Center. Parking signs will direct you to just north of the Visitor Center at the "Valley of Concentration" Parking Lot. Registration details: https://www.njssar.org/wreaths
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees:

December 16^th, 2023, Saturday (times: see flyer) - 250^th Anniversary of the The Boston Tea Party, Boston, MA

Event Level: National (250^th)
Host/POC: Co-hosted by MASSAR.
Location: City of Boston, MA.
Firing Event: TBA
Event Color Guard Commander: Collins (NSSAR CG Cdr)
Details: On December 16, 2023, Boston will commemorate the 250^th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, a moment that forever changed the course of American history. On this day the collaborative efforts of multiple organizations will culminate in a grand-scale reenactment of the Boston Tea Party. A full evening of reenactments will play out in 4-parts across the City of Boston at several historic locations. Click here for Overview.

Click on the following link for event and hotel information: Flyer.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Osborn, B.Schwetke.

December 16^th, 2023, Saturday 3:30 pm) - Boston Tea Party 250^th Commemoration, Leesburg, VA

Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter VASSAR / Barry Schwoerer at [email protected]
Location: Loudoun County Courthouse near the Spirit of Loudoun Revolutionary War Statue, 18 E Market St., Leesburg, VA.
Firing Event: No
Event Color Guard Commander: Schwoerer.
Details: Come listen to background and quotes from Founding fathers regarding an event that kick started the Revolution. Replica tea chests will be displayed. Attendees will be poured a cup of tea that they will empty into buckets. They will then receive a cup of hot coffee.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Christensen, Corey, Daniel, Schwoerer, Sink, Workman.

INFORMATION: December 16^th-17^th Wreaths Across America

Event Level: National

In 2022, Wreaths Across America (WAA) and its national network of volunteers placed more than 2.7 million sponsored veterans' wreaths on headstones of our nation's service members at 3,702 participating locations. This was accomplished with the support of more than 5,000 sponsorship groups, corporation contributions, and in-kind donations from the transportation industry across the country.

The wreath-laying that began more than 30 years ago is still held annually on the second or third Saturday of December. WAA's annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as “the world’s largest veterans’ parade." Every year the convoy of trucks, local law enforcement, staff and supporters stop at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities along the way to talk about the Wreaths Across America mission and remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach.

Website: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/

NSSAR President General Dodd's 2023 Wreaths Across America Proclamation: Wreaths

December 16^th, 2023, Saturday (11:30 am) - Wreaths Across America, Purcellville, VA
Event Level: National
Host/POC: Col. James Wood II, Sgt Maj John Champe Chapters VASSAR, and Ketoctin Chapter VADAR.
Location: (1) Ketoctin Baptist Church, 16595 Ketoctin Church Road, Purcellville, VA. (2) North Fork Baptist Church, 38130 North Fork, Purcellville, VA. (3) North Hill Cemetery, Clarke County, VA.
Firing Events (3): Yes (at all three cemeteries)
Event Color Guard Commander: Corey.
Details: Note: North Hill event may be held on December 15^th.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Christensen, Corey, Daniel, Hall, Schwoerer, Sink.

December 16^th, 2023, Saturday (6:00 pm) - Boston Tea Party 250^th Commemoration, Fredericksburg, VA

Event Level: Chapter
Host/POC: Col. Fielding Lewis Chapter VASSAR / John Hamilton at [email protected]
Location: City Dock Park, 207 Sophia St., Fredericksburg, VA.
Firing Event: No
Event Color Guard Commander: TBA
Details: If you can't make Boston, instead come to Fredericksburg to celebrate one of the most famous tea-ditching events in our nation's history. This event will involve a short march to the Park Dock and observe tea leaves being dumped in the river. Color Guard muster at 5:30 pm in the commuter parking lot at the Fredericksburg train station ( located on riverside of Caroline Street and on south side of the train station). At 6 pm we will march down side of Sofia Street to City Park / Dock for a short program and ceremonial dumping of tea leaves.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Hamilton.

December 17^th, 2023, Sunday (11:00 am) - Wreaths Across America, Front Royal, VA
Event Level: National
Host/POC: Col. James Wood II Chapter VASSAR and Boy Scout Troop #4
Location: Prospect Hill Cemetery, Prospect St, Front Royal, VA.
Firing Event: Yes
Event Color Guard Commander: Corey.
Details: TBA.
Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Corey, Daniel, Tyler.