Community Events
SAR commemoration ceremony honoring Fairfax County First Independent Militia Company
On September 24, 2022, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution participated in a commemoration ceremony to honor the Fairfax County First Independent Militia Company. The ceremony was conducted by the Fairfax Resolves Chapter at the Fairfax County Courthouse. Forrest Crain emceed the event with chaplain duties performed by Larry McKinley. A Virginia State Color Guard composed of guardsmen from four chapters presented the colors to open the ceremony with a presentation on the Fairfax Militia Company by Chapter President David Huxsoll and a Proclamation from Mayor David Meyer of Fairfax City was read by compatriot David Cook.
In 1774, Lord Dunmore had disbanded the House of Burgesses in Virginia as a result of Virginia’s support of Massachusetts resistance against King George III during the build up to the Revolutionary War. In July 1775, the Assembly of Virginia met and the first law they passed was “An Ordinance for Raising and Embodying a Sufficient Force for the Defense and Protection of the Colony.” This provided for the formation of Continental regiments, minute battalions and the county militia. All free male persons, hired servants and apprentices between the ages of 16 and 50 were required to serve duty in the militia. Government officials, clergymen and professors were exempt from militia duty. A militiaman was given six months to supply himself with a good rifle or musket, tomahawk, bayonet, pouch or cartridge box, three charges of powder and ball. He was further tasked to have one pound of powder and four pounds of musket balls at his home.
In Fairfax County, action had already been taken to form a county militia. On September 21, 1774, the first Independent Militia Company in Virginia was formed in Fairfax County, led by Colonel George Mason, consisting of no more than 100 men. The company was to be called the Independent Company of Volunteers who elected their own officers. They were to meet as directed by their officers for the purpose of learning and practicing military exercise and discipline. The Fairfax Company was commanded by George Washington who inspected the troops in Alexandria in January, February, April and May of 1775. In June of 1775 he was commissioned the Commanding General of the Continental Army by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The blue and buff uniform that Washington is pictured in, was worn by him to the Second Continental Congress in May 1775 and throughout the Revolution. This was adopted as the uniform for general officers in the Continental Army and was the uniform of the Fairfax County Independent Company. In addition, they were required to have a good fire-lock and bayonet, sling cartridge box and tomahawk. They were asked to maintain six pounds of gunpowder, twenty pounds of lead and fifty gun flints. There stated goal was to be masters of the military exercise and always hold themselves in readiness.
This unit was called out several times during the war to guard Alexandria, Mount Vernon and Colchester. They further erected fortifications in Alexandria. August 25, 1777, British General Howe landed troops at Head of Elk, Maryland and marched to Philadelphia. On August 22, the Continental Congress anticipating his move, requested one third of the Virginia militia be called to duty. The units came from Prince William, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. They were ordered to march to Frederick, Maryland and await orders from George Washington. Washington, in a letter to Colonel William Rumney, dated September 14, 1777, stated: “I have been favored with your letter of the 10th and am happy to find the militia of Fairfax County have turned out with such readiness at this interesting period. Their conduct is truly laudable and has a claim to my thanks … “. Rumney was ordered to take the militia to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where they served for a period of three months. They were again called to duty in February 1781 at the request of Baron von Steuben who called for an additional force of militia. The Governor ordered a fourth of the militia from Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William and Fauquier Counties to march without delay to Williamsburg. They were kept in the field until September 1781.
Wreaths were presented to commemorate the founding of the Fairfax Independent Company. Ernie Coggins of George Washington Chapter and 1st Vice President of the Virginia Society presented for the State Society. Dave Huxsoll, Fairfax Resolves; Thomas “Chip” Daniel, Col James Wood II; Tom Hamill, Culpeper Minutemen; Ken Bonner, Sgt Maj John Champe and Ken Morris, George Mason presented chapter wreaths. Daughters of the American Revolution wreaths were presented by Nancy Hill, Director District V, Virginia DAR; Kimberly Scott, Director District VIII, Virginia DAR, Janice Dixon, Fairfax County and Anita Bonner Lane’s Mill Chapter. Jeff Thomas presented for the Order of Founders and Patriots of America. The Virginia State Color Guard was commanded by Darrin Schmidt from Fairfax Resolves. Members of the guard included Dave Cook, Jim Cordes, Forrest Crain and Larry McKinley from Fairfax Resolves, Sean Carrigan, Paul Christensen, Dale Corey and Thomas “Chip” Daniel from Colonel James Wood II, Ken Bonner and Barry Schwoerer from Sgt Maj John Champe, with Tom Hamill and Bill Schwetke from Culpeper Minutemen.
Community Events
Valley Chorale Announces Upcoming Spring Concerts in Middletown and Front Royal
The Valley Chorale presents “Wishing On a Song – Music in the Key of Hope”, a spring concert exploring aspirations of love, home, spirituality and compassion that unite and uplift us all. With styles ranging from light classical and sacred to vocal jazz, spirituals and pop, The Valley Chorale strives to capture the hopes that unite us.
The Valley Chorale is known throughout the Shenandoah Valley for innovation and excellence, with piano, cello and percussion accompaniment, and their concerts are often a heart-warming experience for all. They welcome babies and tots, so no need to hire a babysitter.
Tickets can be purchased on their website TheValleyChorale.org — $15 for age 21+ (free under age 21) or at the door for $17.
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 3:00 – 4:15 PM
Belle Grove Plantation (Bank Barn), 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 3:00 – 4:15 PM
First Baptist Church, 14 W. 1st Street, Front Royal, VA (Community Reception to follow)
For further information, visit the website: TheValleyChorale.org: follow them on Facebook; email them at TheValleyChorale@gmail.com or call at 540-635-4842.
(From a Release by The Valley Chorale)
Community Events
Humane Society’s Popular ‘Barks & Bags’ Breaks All Records With its Spring Fling, Grossing $59,665
It was a bitter-sweet evening for me at the Humane Society of Warren County (HSWC) annual “Barks and Bags” fundraiser that drew some 265 of Warren County’s womenfolk and a few gentlemen, including me, to what started as a luncheon group of several Rockland women a decade or more ago and grew to what it has become a sold-out dinner/live auction event featuring name brand (think Gucci) handbags and purses that sold for between $800 and $1,800 in lively bidding.
I was there, representing my late wife, Carol, along with her good friend Susan O’Kelly, thinking back to the days of the hats and relatively small luncheon gatherings with a feeling of pride over what Carol and Susan and many of their women’s group of friends helped launch. They wore fancy hats (I still have a closet full of them, any takers?!) at my suggestion to attract press photographers’ attention and the resulting publicity. With the principal help of Jean Plauger and former longtime HSWC president Ellen Aders, it worked!
The County Humane Society’s new, as of this year, Executive Director Kayla Wines supervised the introductions, the raffles, auctioneer Clint Pierpoint, and so on at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Rockland, giving a shout-out to event sponsors Aders, Plauger, Blake Pierpoint, HSWC Board President Amanda Kindall, and retiring Treasurer Katrina Meade.
Some 40 of those present were named as live and silent auction donors, and 30 “table captains” were recognized by Wines, who described the event in six words: “It was our best year yet!” she proclaimed.
(The writer, former journalist Malcolm Barr Sr. of Rockland, is a past president of HSWC and a current supporter of the Julia Wagner Animal Shelter in Front Royal)
Community Events
Updated: ‘Phony Ponies’ Give a Competitive Edge to FR Rotary Downtown Pub Crawl Fundraiser
On Friday, April 26, the Front Royal Rotary sponsored a downtown Front Royal “Pub Crawl” featuring a Phony Ponies “horse race” ticket holders could bet on to add to the Rotary fundraiser, and a little reward for their knowledge of the relative prowess and breeding of the involved Phony Ponies. Or as one pre-race announcer informed the crowd, “We’ve got three stallions and two old mares in this race,” which was met by some boos from the filly-supporting contingent.
And it was one of those two filly mares that led the five-horse field across the finish line after three laps around the Gazebo in the in the Main Street Downs Raceway shortly after 7:30 p.m. — that was “Blazin’ Botox” (Warren County Sheriff Crystal Cline), followed in order by “Money for Nothing” (Front Royal Rotary President Ken Evans), “Closing Real Fast” (Front Royal Police Chief Kahle Magalis), “Bullseye” (Warren County Rotary President Michael Williams), and “The Old Gray Mare” or was that “Mayor” (Front Royal Mayor Lori Cockrell).
It was a highly competitive race with some post finish line challenges offered by runner up Money for Nothing, whose jockey Evans noted an unapproved by the Racing Commission pre-race change into borrowed running shoes by the winner, as well as some out-of-my-lane territorial elbow-bumping by Blazin’ Botox to keep him in his 2nd place position. WAIT, do horses have elbows? I guess phony ones do.
Jockey Cockrell explained her disappointing 5th place finish, noting she had locked in behind Bullseye/Williams early in the running. However, it ended up being a bad spot to draft, as Bullseye appeared to be having an equipment break-down in front of her, as in a drooping “saddle” threatening that stallions stability and which she had to pull back from for caution’s sake.
On the more serious side, the second annual Talk Derby To Me Pub Crawl fundraiser was in support of Rotary International’s eradicate polio worldwide effort. More information about Rotary’s efforts to end polio can be found at this website: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/ending-polio
Involved and supporting downtown businesses included Vibrissa, the On Cue Sports Bar & Grill, Buckle & Belle Boutique, sponsor of the “Phony Ponies” race, C&C Frozen Treats, Pavemint Smoking Taphouse, Honey & Hops, Catamount Lounge, and Garcia & Gavino. Hope we didn’t miss anyone, and we’ll update as necessary if we did.
And in a late update, individual sponsoring of the Phony Ponies was provided by: Ken Evans, ReMax Reality sponsoring Evans on “Money For Nothing”; CSM Aesthetics sponsored “Blazin’ Botox” and jockey Cline; Clint Pierpoint, Next Home Reality Select sponsored “Closing Real Fast” with Chief Magalis on the saddle; Lori Cockrell for Mayor sponsored “The Old Grey Mare” with the mayor riding; and Shenandoah Valley Axe Throwing Co. sponsored the saddle-failing “Bullseye” with Williams keeping his stallion upright.
And if you missed the fun and excitement, here are a few more shots.
Community Events
Parade Broadcast Schedule and Important Festival Information
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is pleased to announce that festival fans can watch the Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade and the Glofiber Grand Feature Parade on several local television channels and stream it on the festival’s website at www.thebloom.com.
The Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade will air starting at 5:30 pm on Friday, May 3, 2024, on the following:
Live streaming at www.thebloom.com
VA- Comcast – Channel 6
VA- Glofiber – Channel 7
WV- Comcast – Channel TV 10, Talk Radio WRNR
The Glofiber Grand Feature Parade will air starting at 2:00 pm on the following:
Live streaming at www.thebloom.com
DC NEWS NOW – WDVM
VA- Comcast – Channel 6
VA-Glofiber – Channel 7
WV- Comcast – Channel TV 10, Talk Radio WRNR
Parade goers can reserve seats from the Festival by visiting www.thebloom.com/events. Reserved seat locations and prices are listed below:
Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade steps off at 5:30 pm on Friday, May 3, 2024
$10.00 Cork St
$10.00 Handley Library
$10.00 Handley Blvd
$15.00 Handley Blvd Queen’s Garden
Glofiber Grand Feature Parade steps off at 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2024
$15.00 Cork St.
$15.00 Handley Library
$15.00 Handley Blvd (North and South)
$25.00 Handley Blvd Queen’s Garden
In addition to the Festival seating options listed above, local youth non-profits will sell seating along the parade route at various prices. Seat sales by these organizations are great fundraisers for them, and we encourage you to consider supporting these groups.
Festival goers can learn about important information on the City of Winchester website at www.winchesterva.gov/news-happenings/events/apple-blossom. Information includes road closures and detours, safety tips, parking, medical aid station locations, bag checks, and prohibited items.
Designated accessible parking is available at the John Handley High School parking lot along Handley Blvd. Only those with a handicap license plate or placard will gain access to this area. The parking lot can be accessed by traveling on South Stewart Street to West Cecil Street and Handley Avenue. A map of the designated accessible parking lot can be downloaded by visiting www.winchesterva.gov/news-happenings/events/apple-blossom.
For more information about the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®, please visit www.thebloom.com, call (540) 662-3863, or contact us at info@thebloom.com.
Community Events
Explore the Life of Judah: Free Presentation at Belle Grove
Dive deep into the poignant story of Judah, an enslaved cook at Belle Grove, in a special 30-minute presentation in the historic winter kitchen of the Belle Grove Manor House. This insightful program draws on rare primary sources from the Hite family archives, offering a unique glimpse into Judah’s life and her significant role within the manor until she died in 1836.
Program Details:
- Location: Winter Kitchen, Belle Grove Manor House (entry under the front porch)
- Schedule for 2024:
- May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27, October 25
- Time: 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Admission to this program is free; however, donations are greatly appreciated. For those interested in exploring more of Belle Grove, regular admission rates apply for tours of the Manor House either before the presentation at 1:15 PM or afterward at 3:15 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the Welcome Center upon arrival.
This presentation, a recurring event since 2016, also inspired Dr. Brian C. Johnson to write “Send Judah First: The Erased Life of an Enslaved Soul,” a historical novel that breathes life into Judah’s story. Published in August 2019 by Hidden Shelf Publishing House, the book is available in the Museum Shop or on Amazon.
Don’t miss this chance to connect with history in the very space where Judah once lived and worked. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a local explorer, or a visitor looking to understand the deeper stories of the past, this presentation at Belle Grove offers a profound and educational experience.
Community Events
Washington’s Premier Steeplechase Races Make a Grand Return on May 4
The Virginia Gold Cup, a beloved fixture in the Washington, D.C. region since 1922, is set to return on May 4, promising a day of thrills, fashion, and festive tailgating. Held in the heart of Virginia horse country, the event boasts stunning landscapes, making it the perfect backdrop for one of the area’s largest and most scenic outdoor gatherings.
This year, attendees can look forward to eight heart-pounding races with parimutuel wagering, one of Virginia’s sanctioned parimutuel race events, where the excitement of horse racing meets the elegance of Southern hospitality. Large hats, elaborate tailgates, and vibrant tented parties are the norms at this prestigious event, often referred to as Virginia’s answer to the Kentucky Derby.
Adding to the day’s festivities, the ever-popular Jack Russell Terrier races will return, beginning at 11 a.m. These races feature spirited little dogs navigating obstacles to chase a lure, providing entertainment that is especially beloved by children and families.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, May 4
- Location: Great Meadow, 5089 Old Tavern Rd., The Plains, Va.
- Gates Open: 10 a.m.
- Jack Russell Terrier Races: 11 a.m.
- Tailgate Contest: Begins at noon (To enter, send your name, contact information, and tailgate spot number to Victoria@bendurepr.com by May 2.)
- First Horse Race: 1 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now, with general admission priced at $50 per person for a wristband and $100 per vehicle. These include access to all the races and the day’s activities. Attendees can also experience the exclusive 1922 VIP tent, which offers premium race viewing and all-day food and drink.
For those planning to attend, purchasing tickets and parking passes in advance through www.vagoldcup.com is highly recommended, as sales will continue until 1 p.m. on race day. From Washington, D.C., guests can reach the venue by taking I-66 west to Exit 31 (Rte. 245 south) and following signs to Great Meadow, approximately a 50-minute drive.
Prepare for a spectacular day at the races, where the community comes together to enjoy the beauty of steeplechase racing, stylish gatherings, and the unbridled joy of outdoor sports in a picturesque setting. Don’t miss this celebrated spring tradition in Virginia horse country!