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Spring 2011 Update
Virginia Society Update - Spring 2011
The Sons of the Revolution in the Commonwealth of
Virginia celebrated another successful year on May 2,
2011 - reporting a strong, robust and prosperous
membership. Conducting their annual meeting under blue
skies at The Virginia House, a 16th century manor house
overlooking the James River, the Virginia Society
proposed and voted on new officers and welcomed three
new members to their Board of Managers. Officers and
Board Members are as follows: Mr. Matson L. Roberts,
President; Mr. William W. Tunner, Esq, 1st Vice
President; Mr. N. Douglas Payne, Jr., 2nd Vice
President; Mr. Carter V. Reid, Secretary; and Mr. Robert
T. Ross, Membership Chairman. Additionally, Mr. R.
Garnett Hall, Jr., Mr. Wymond Cabell and Mr. Frank W.
Roach were nominated for three year terms on the Board
of Managers.
Recent highlights as reported by The Virginia Society
include, but are not limited to, an annual oyster roast
at Fort Pocahontas. Hosted by Harrison R. Tyler,
Grandson of President John Tyler and longstanding member
of the Virginia Society, Fort Pocahontas sits on the
beautiful James River and was the site of the Battle of
Wilson's Wharf on May 24, 1864. The Virginia Society
also enjoyed record attendance at their George
Washington Birthday Dinner, held annually at Richmond's
Commonwealth Club. Over 200 members and their guests, in
black tie, enjoyed the patriotic camaraderie of one
another, including representation by our major military
branches and a special appearance by the Virginia
Military Institute's (VMI) Pipe and Drum Band. Most
impressive was the keynote speaker, Sgt. Matt Eversmann
(ret.), most notably known for his heroics during 18
hours of fighting in Mogadishu. Sgt. Matt Eversman's
heroics were also memorialized Ridley Scott’s award
winning movie Black Hawk Down. Finally, the Virginia
Society, for the third consecutive year, was proud to
initiate and welcome 20 new members to the Society.
In May 2011,
the Virginia Society participated in a Memorial Day
wreath-laying ceremony at St. John’s Episcopal Church in
Richmond, site of the 1775 Second Virginia Convention where
Patrick Henry, often called the “Orator of the Revolution”
gave his famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech.
Society President Matson Roberts and 2nd
Vice President Douglas Payne participated in the solemn
remembrance, laying a wreath at the grave of George Wythe,
signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Last but
not least, in the spirit of
preserving and promoting the
importance of our patriotic duties,
the Virginia Society is proud to
have awarded five academic
scholarships to deserving students
for the 2011 / 2012 year. They are
as follows: Matson L Roberts, Jr.
(The University of Virginia); Emily
K. Hardy (Washington and Lee
University); Maury A. Denton (The
University of Virginia); Meriwether
W. Mauck (James Madison University);
Clyde W. Harrelson (Carr Art and
Design University) and Ellen M. Geho
(James Madison University).
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