I wanted to share with you an update on the state of our chapter. In February, six members of our chapter attended the Virginia Annual Meeting in Richmond. I am happy to report that our chapter received twelve awards from the Virginia Society for the service we performed in 2016. Those awards included the Best Law Enforcement Officer, the Best Fire Safety Award, the Best Eagle Scout and the Best Chapter Website. Larry, Vern and Darrin should be recognized for their efforts as chairs of those committees. Our public service programs remain exceptional. Since 2005 our chapter has sponsored the Best Law Enforcement Officer four times and the Best Fire Safety & EMS Award five times.

Our youth programs are also outstanding. In particular, this year we received the Sustained Achievement Award for Rumbaugh Orations, marking the 25th year in a row that we have received this award, for delivering sustained achievement during the period 1991-2016. That is just remarkable! Since 2005, our chapter has sponsored the VASSAR Orations Winner eight times and the National Orations Winner twice in 2010 and 2014. This is due in no small part to the tireless efforts of Compatriots Larry McKinley and Darrin Schmidt and to teachers like Cody Phillips at Trinity Christian School and Mary Lou Wentzel at Bishop O’ Connell High School, who have sustained our program for many years. In addition, our chapter continues to support the Rumbaugh Orations Endowment Fund to increase the size of our scholarship awards. Our chapter alone contributed almost $5,000 to this fund in 2016. For those who wish to support this effort, a contribution of $250 will earn the Joseph Warren Medal. In my opinion, there is no leadership skill more valuable for our youth to develop than the ability and confidence to stand and speak in front of their peers.

In addition to our youth and public service programs, our overall chapter program is very strong. In every year since 2000, including this year, our chapter has received the VASSAR Chapter of Excellence Award recognizing the diversity and strength of our chapter programs. In the last 25 years, our chapter has been recognized as the Best Chapter in Virginia in its respective membership category 15 times. In March, we submitted our National Americanism Report and our chapter participated in 14 out of the 16 program areas in the report, again demonstrating our chapter’s broad participation in the SAR’s mission.

I have to tip a Tricorn hat to our Color Guard members Larry McKinley, Darrin Schmidt and Vern Eubanks, who attended 14 State and National Events last year. Participation in events by Color Guard members is a significant part of our annual reports and if not for them, our chapter program would probably not have received the recognition that it has over the years. That being said, we need new blood in our Color Guard ranks to expand our participation, so I would encourage you to consider joining. Talk to any of them and they can share with you their experiences and how to become involved.

As we reflect on the past year, we have much to be proud of in the Fairfax Resolves chapter and we should celebrate our successes. We have plans to celebrate our chapter history and legacy this fall as we recognize the 38th anniversary of our chapter. There is also much we can do in the coming year to improve our programs and continue to be the outstanding chapter we have been over the years. As we look forward, I invite all Compatriots to share in our success and to participate in the many opportunities we have to further enhance our educational, historical and patriotic outreach in the community.

In Patriotism,

Jeff Thomas, President

Fairfax Resolves, SAR