20 Aug 2008 Left to Right: Todd A. Shillington, Michael L. Tunison

Blain Elkie, Michael Tunison, Bill Sebring

January 2006

April 2006 Patriots day luncheon

L to R: Brent Downing, Rochester Chapter, SAR, Patriot Militia; Gary Newman, re-enactor, Continental Army; Michael Grenier, re-enactor, Major with His Britannic Majesty’s Army in North America; Eagle Scout candidates Jake Fisher and Casey Kelly of Boy Scout Troop 220, Irondequoit, NY; Michael Tunison, President, Rochester Chapter SAR, Continental Army; David Austin, re-enactor, Patriot Militia. Photo by Stephan Clarke, Rochester Chapter, SAR.

L to R: Brent Downing, Gary Newman and David Austin fire the first volley of a musket salute at the graves of the Patriots who died at the Groveland Ambuscade, 12-13 September 1779. This special gravesite is the highlight of the Friends’ tour, a program assisted by the Rochester Chapter, SAR and the Irondequoit Chapter, DAR. Photo by Stephan Clarke, Rochester Chapter, SAR

Left to right: Daryl Verstreate, Jr, Stephan Arter, Roy Goold, Mike Tunison, Dick Bean, Red Fairley, Lee Harris

20 Oct 2008 the Rochester and Fingerlakes Chapters replace a headstone for Captain Miller, from left to right are Rochester Chapter Preside Michael Tunison, Bill Sebring, ESSSAR Graves Chair Daryl Verstreate, Jr, Fingerlakes President Blaine Elkie

30 Aug 2008 a grave dedication was completed for two Revolutionary War Veterans in the City of Batvia Cemetery. John Holden and Benjamin Porter. Left to right are Daryl Verstreate, Jr the SAR State Graves Chair and Michael Tunison the Rochester SAR President.

Todd A. Shillington a member of the SAR and the PDC of the SUVCW was presented the Silver Good Citizenship Award for his part in creating new legislation to prevent the desecration of cemeteries.

August 16, 2008

The event was "Salute to the Troops," and it took place at the Sampson Naval and Air Museum. The event organizers tried to get participants representing every U. S. war from the Revolution forward.

On the hot and humid weekend of July 19-20, the Rochester Chapter arranged to have a recruitment booth at the Genesee Country Village and Museum's 26th Annual Civil War Re-enactment Weekend. The Museum is the third largest living history establishment in the United States and their Civil War Weekend attracts visitors from all over the northeast. Our booth, located very near the main entrance, saw a steady stream of visitors and a growing list of prospective members. The effort was successful enough that we have asked for permission to have the booth again next year and we hope to work with the Museum officials to establish a Revolutionary War Re-enactment weekend as well.

May 6^{th, 2008 Avon Cemetery, Avon, NY members of the Sons of the American Revolution install new headstones for William Markham, William Markham, Jr., Gad Wadsworth, Samuel Blakeslee and Graves Hosmer.}

^{Left to Right: Robert Fuller, Sheridan Verstraete, Daryl Verstreate, Jr., Michael Tunison and Franklynn Stephenson.}

President Mike Tunison (left) presents the Bronze Good Citizenship Award to Greece, NY, resident Richard Gretzinger (center) on 18 April 2008. Compatriot Bob Coomber (right) looks on. Gretzinger was recognized for his many years of service to the citizens of Greece.

On April 2 2008 Dean Fisher of the Marion American Legion was presented the Bronze Good Citizenship Award for his years of tireless efforts in marking Veteran Graves in Marion. Dean is a Vietnam War Veteran and maintains the veterans locations in Marion Wayne Co., NY

Left to Right, Past State President Stephen A. Arter, Post Commander Dennis Weeks, Deane Fisher, State Graves Chair Daryl Verstreate, Jr, Michael Tunison Chapter President.

11 Nov 2007 ESSSAR State Treasurer Logan Cheek, Graves Chair Daryl Verstreate, Jr. and son Jesse Verstraete with Rodney Wilson 1VP State of Michigan SAR install a new headstone for James Reeves in East Palmyra Cem Wayne Co., NY. James Reeves is Rodney Wilsons ancestor for the Sons of the American Revolution.

The descendants assembled at Victor Village Cemetery in the photograph were at a May 6th, 2007 S.A.R. marker dedication ceremony for Patriot Sgt. Winant C. VanDenbergh. Compatriot Robert R. Hanley Sr. and sister Mrs. Donna Andrews, along with other members of their families, honored Winant with a Legion Color Guard, three Historians, several D.A.R. members, and even the Village Mayor, John Holden. Compatriot Steve Clarke Em-Cee, and Compatriot Preston Pierce who gave a stirring speech entitled, "Mystic Chords of Memory Resound Here Still", both participated in the ceremony.

L to R: Helen C. Fox, Bristol Town Historian, Bronze Good Citizenship Medal; Alexander Paul Spillane, Eagle Scout Award; Bennett Wilcox, Chapter winner of the Knight Essay Contest, Dr. James Somerville, Emeritus Professor of History, SUNY Geneseo, speaker; John A. Ratcliffe, Bronze Good Citizenship Medal; Dr. Larry L. Blackman, Rochester Chapter President.

On Wednesday, 13 December 2006, the Rochester Chapter presented Bronze Good Citizenship Medals and Certificates to Sandra Hopkins, Town Historian for the Town of Sodus, Wayne County, and Town of Sodus Supervisor Steven LeRoy in recognition for their help to restore the Mill Street Cemetery in Sodus. Presenting the medals were Chapter President Larry Blackman and Compatriots Steve Clarke, Dave Grosvenor and Daryl Verstreate.

Officers, Board Members and Honorees at the 2006 Picnic and Annual Meeting

Standing, L to R: Daryl V. Verstreate, Jr., Robert R. Fuller, Leon L. Harris, David E. Grosvenor, Stephan P. Clarke, Michael L. Tunison, Millard A. Fairley, Jr., Eleanor D. B. Fairley, Roy D. Goold, Charles R. White. Seated, L to R: Richard D. Bean, Larry L. Blackman, Robert E. Coomber, Mary E. H. Clarke

Rochester Chapter President Steve Clarke dedicating the new grave stone for Patriot John Salmon at the Lakeview Cemetery in the Town of Groveland, Livingston Co., NY, on 10 September 2006.

Number nine Cemetery in the town of Seneca was given the Certificate of Appreciation for their work in preserving veteran memmorials

Compatriot Daryl Verstreate and American Legion member Robert Mead busy restoring an old cemetery in Savannah, NY

April 22, 2006 Member of the Sons of the American Revolution and American Legion installed Patriot Isaac Secor headstone in Savannah, Wayne Co., NY. Jackson Farm Cemetery

Bob Fuller presents Steve DeBottis with Assemblywoman Susan John's certificate of recognition for his work with the deaf community in Rochester.

On 29 April 2006, the Rochester Chapter hosted its annual awards luncheon. The 2006 honorees included the Chapter's Eagle Scout scholarship winner, the Chapter winner and ESSSAR 3rd place winner for the Knight Essay Contest, the EMS Medal and Certificate, The Fire Safety Medal and Certificate and the Silver Good Citizenship Medal. From L to R in the photo are Mr. and Mrs.Madhvi Bansal and their son, Utsav. Utsav was honored for his Knight Essay Contest entry entitled "Thomas Paine: A Sublime Visionary;" Next are Mr. and Mrs. Steven DeBottis, Silver Good Citizenship Award; Chief Harold, "Bud," Phillips of the Ridge Road Fire District, Fire Safety Award; Chief Daniel Azzolina, EMS Award; Mrs. Scott (Marianne) Myers and her son, James, winner of the Eagle Scout scholarship; Bob Fuller, Rochester Chapter Board member and Chapter President, Steve Clarke. Bob Fuller and Steve DeBottis are both members of Rochester's deaf and hard of hearing community.

Rochester Chapter honorees for 2006: Utsav Bansal, Steve DeBottis, Bud Phillips, Dan Azzolina and James Myers.

Chapter President Steve Clarke welcoming the guests to the Patriot's Day Luncheon on 29 April 2006. To his left are Patty Clark, American Sign Language Interpreter, Steve DeBottis; Dr. Alan Hurwitz, Vice- President of RIT and Dean of the NTID; Chief Bud Phillips, Chief Dan Azzolina,Rochester Chapter Treasurer Bob Coomber, Utsav Bansal and James Myers.

August 2005, John Hurlbut in Palmyra Village Cemetery Wayne Co.,NY with Compatriot Verstreate.

Ebenezer Andrews new headstone was installed in Vincent Hill Cemetery Bristol, Ontario Co.,NY Friday the 5th of May, 2006 by Compatriot Verstreate.

Job Gooding new headstone was installed in Vincent Hill Cemetery Bristol, Ontario Co.,NY Friday the 5th of May, 2006 by Compatriot Verstreate.

The descendants of Patriot Stephen Bancraft gather at the Baker Cemetery in Wayne County, NY, to dedicate a new gravestone. Participants in the ceremony were, left to right in the front row, Phyllis Stehm, DAR, descendant; Steve Clarke, President of the Rochester Chapter, SAR; Shirley Conheady, DAR, descendant; Daryl Verstreate, Graves Committee Chairman, Rochester Chatper SAR. In the back row are members of the Western Region Color Guard of the Empire State Society, SAR, and members of the VFW Post 8548 Color Guard from Walworth, NY.

The Western Region, ESSSAR Color Guard with, left to right, Western Region VP Rex Fuller, Tom Rankin and Tom Eckberg at the dedication of a new gravestone for Patriot Stephen Bancraft.

Ephraim Wilder was installed a new headstone by the Rochester Graves Committee Daryl Verstreate, Jr, Mike Tunison and State Graves database manager Robert Fuller on June 23, 2006 at Bristol Center Cemetery Bristol, NY

On 20 August 2008 Todd A. Shillonton a member of the SAR and PDC of the SUVCW was presented the Silver Good Citizenship Award for his leading part in getting new laws passed in New York for Cemetery desecration.