With Jeff Joyce.

The first part of Jeff’s presentation is an overview of how the Civil War impacted Culpeper County, including major battles like Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station and the Army of the Potomac winter encampment (1863-64).  The second part discusses the establishment of Culpeper National Cemetery after the war and the stories of several Civil War soldiers buried there.

Jeff Joyce is an Air Force veteran and retired Defense contractor who lives in Manassas.  He is a a volunteer historian at Culpeper National Cemetery, supporting the Wreaths Across America program.  In addition, Jeff is a Docent at the National Air and Space Museum, a volunteer with the Honor Flight Program, a battlefield guide at Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park in Prince William County and a member of the living history team at Manassas National Battlefield.

Author, Barbara Vorndick, will present the project to return the remains of Eliza Monroe Hay from the American section of Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France, to the Monroe family plot in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.  Elizabeth “Eliza” Kortright Monroe Hay was an American socialite who acted as unofficial First Lady during her father James Monroe’s presidency, as her mother’s health kept her away from many White House duties.

What started as a project to find out more information about Eliza turned into five years of digging through primary sources on both sides of the Atlanta to discover the truth about Eliza’s life and the tragic circumstances of her death.  Barbara’s groundbreaking research turned up newly discovered documents that changed the standard historical narrative of this American daughter and led to a campaign to repatriate Eliza’s remains from Paris to Virginia.

As the coordinator of the Bringing Eliza Home Project, Barbara is honored to represent the living descendants of Eliza Monroe, and has been actively planning and facilitating the repatriation process since August 2023.  Her biography of Eliza Monroe was published with Barnes and Noble Press in July 2024.

Barbara was born and raised in Virginia. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, and worked for three decades in private and public schools in Virginia, as well as Germanna Community College as an adjunct professor.  After she retired to the Charlottesville area, she started working part-time as an Interpreter of History at James Monroe’s Highland, the Monroe family plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. After initial training for the position, Barbara was encouraged to continue her own independent research, and she became interested in the Monroe women, particularly Eliza.

Please note that the program will not be 5 hours long.  The extended time period is because the event will include a book signing after her program.  Barbara will have copies of her book, “Eliza’s True Story: The First Biography of President Monroe’s Eldest Daughter” available for purchase and signing.

Free to the public

Come join us to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.  The Old Guard from Arlington National Cemetery will be performing at 1:00 pm.

See Revolutionary period reenactors, displays, and presentations. Tours of the reconstructed house and archaeology site and lab.

Memorial Day remembrance at Aquia Episcopal Church.  Wreaths will be laid at the graves of the eight veterans buried there.

Save the date.  Time and place to be announced.

Presentation on Stafford County Cemeteries by Anita Dodd

Presentation on Revolutionary War individuals buried in Stafford Cemeteries by Jerrilynn Ebby MacGregor.

Presentation on iconography and stone carvers in the graveyard by Anita Dodd.

Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor will present on some of the individuals buried in the graveyard.

Annual membership meeting to elect Board officers.

Presentation topic and speaker to be announced.

The Christmas party will be held at the Rowser Building, Room A. The SCHS provides napkins, plates, cutlery, and beverages. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share.