THE NORFOLK CHAPTER
PAROUILLE DE FRANCE, YORKTOWN DAY
& ADMIRAL DeGRASSE CEREMONY
& ADMIRAL DeGRASSE CEREMONY
The Norfolk Chapter proudly participates in the annual Yorktown Day Celebration and the Ceremony honoring the French Admiral, Compte de Grasse, who defeated the British in the final Battle of the Capes at Fort Story, Virginia.
Our Chapter President, Robert Hitchings, recommends the Monday activities, very probably because of the wonderful food... "After the ceremony is over at the Yorktown Monument, folks go to the Garden Party of the Yorktown Women's Club at Grace Episcopal Church to get lunch - Brunswick Stew, Smithfield Hams, home made pies,..."
A couple of the events require prepaid mail-in reservations (the Luncheon and for the Banquet.) We also encourage as many Chapter members as are able to participate and walk with our Chapter in the Yorktown Day Parade.
For a map of Historic Yorktown, please click here.
Schedule of Events
"Yorktown Day" Events 2009
Commemorating the 228th Anniversary
of the Victory at Yorktown
(October 8th - November 6th 2009)
Thursday, October 8th
3:00-3:30 pm
PATROUILLE DE FRANCE
French Commemorative Airshow-Flyover
Best View from Main Street Yorktown and the Shores of the York River
9 Dessault-Breguet Alpha Jets in diamond and "Big 9" formations.
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Saturday, October 17th
12:00 pm
O.F.P.A. Luncheon
The Landing at Riverwalk-on-the-York
($27.50/person, rsvp only*)
(Reservations Required by October 9th)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
2:30 pm
Grave-Marking Ceremony at Warner Hall
(In memory of Augustine Warner I & II and Lt. Warner Lewis)
Quiz Question: Which one of the above is the ancestor of
George Washington, Robert E. Lee and Queen Elizabeth II?
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
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Sunday, October 18th
10:30 am
2-Hour York River Cruise on the Schooner Alliance
($30/person, paid at boarding, rsvp required**)
Schooner Dock
(Sponsored by the Virginia Society, O.F.P.A.)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R) Workshop
(Conducted by National Park Service Superintendent Joe Di Bello)
Historic Warner Hall
(Sponsored by W3R-US and W3R-VA)
VASSAR/VADAR Participation Invited
6:30 pm
Yorktown Day Association Dinner
($37/person, prepaid rsvp only***)
Fort Eustis Club (Cash Bar)
(Sponsored by the Yorktown Day Association)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
Monday, October 19th
"Yorktown Day" Events 2009
Commemorating the 228th Anniversary
of the Victory at Yorktown
(October 8th - November 6th 2009)
Thursday, October 8th
3:00-3:30 pm
PATROUILLE DE FRANCE
French Commemorative Airshow-Flyover
Best View from Main Street Yorktown and the Shores of the York River
9 Dessault-Breguet Alpha Jets in diamond and "Big 9" formations.
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Saturday, October 17th
12:00 pm
O.F.P.A. Luncheon
The Landing at Riverwalk-on-the-York
($27.50/person, rsvp only*)
(Reservations Required by October 9th)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
2:30 pm
Grave-Marking Ceremony at Warner Hall
(In memory of Augustine Warner I & II and Lt. Warner Lewis)
Quiz Question: Which one of the above is the ancestor of
George Washington, Robert E. Lee and Queen Elizabeth II?
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
-----o-----
Sunday, October 18th
10:30 am
2-Hour York River Cruise on the Schooner Alliance
($30/person, paid at boarding, rsvp required**)
Schooner Dock
(Sponsored by the Virginia Society, O.F.P.A.)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R) Workshop
(Conducted by National Park Service Superintendent Joe Di Bello)
Historic Warner Hall
(Sponsored by W3R-US and W3R-VA)
VASSAR/VADAR Participation Invited
6:30 pm
Yorktown Day Association Dinner
($37/person, prepaid rsvp only***)
Fort Eustis Club (Cash Bar)
(Sponsored by the Yorktown Day Association)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
Monday, October 19th
8:45 am
Commemorative Ceremony at the French Cemetery
Yorktown Battlefield
(Sponsored by the Peninsula French Club)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
Commemorative Ceremony at the French Cemetery
Yorktown Battlefield
(Sponsored by the Peninsula French Club)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
9:15 am
Wreath Laying Ceremony at the French Memorial
(In memory of French war veterans)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation (Optional)
9:30 am
Wreath Laying Ceremony at the grave of Governor Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown
(Sponsored by the Virginia Society, SAR)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
10:30 am
Yorktown Day Parade on Main Street
(Sponsored by the Yorktown Day Association)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
11:15 am
Patriotic Exercises and Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony
Monument to Alliance and Victory
(Sponsored by the Yorktown Day Association)
11:30 am
Brunswick Stew Lunch
($7.00-8.00/person at door)
Grace Episcopal Church
(Sponsored by Yorktown Women's Club)
12:30 pm
Performance of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard
and the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
Yorktown Battlefield near the National Park Service Visitor Center
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Luncheon at Custom House Garden
($32/person, prepaid rsvp only***)
Main & Read Streets
(Sponsored by Yorktown Day Association)
NSSAR/VASSAR Chapter Participation
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Friday, November 6th
4:00 pm
Battle of the Capes, Compte de Grasse Ceremony
Cape Henry Memorial Park at Fort Story
(Sponsored by Chapitre de Grasse, Alliance Française)
- Rescheduled from October 19th 2009 -
The 2010 Ceremony will most likely be held on the first Saturday
following Labor Day, to celebrate the actual anniversary dates,
both of the beginning (September 5th) and the end (September 9th)
of the 2nd Battle of the Capes.
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* Please contact Taylor Cowardin to book your reservation by October 9th.
** Please contact Mike Lyman to book your reservation by October 2nd.
** Please contact Mike Lyman to book your reservation by October 2nd.
*** Please mail your "SAR"-denoted reservation by September 25th.