I am a lifelong resident of Shenandoah (Page County), VA where I grew up working in my father’s hardware store. In elementary school, I won an essay contest from the local DAR chapter that first piqued my interest in ancestry history. I also knew my aunt was in the DAR growing up but never knew much more about it than that.

After graduating from Virginia Tech and starting my career in banking, one of my co-workers always talked about his ancestors which set me on the path of doing more ancestry research and learning more about my lineage. After looking through all the materials my grandmother had, as well as other more distant family members, I was able to begin building my family tree on Ancestry.com.

After my grandmother’s passing in 2016, I started the process of joining the SAR. Through this process I found that not only had my aunt joined the DAR through our lineage from Pvt. Michael Comer, but over 20 other cousins and distant family members had as well (even though I am the first SAR member from this ancestor).

Since joining the SAR, I have served the Fort Harrison Chapter as 2nd Vice-President, 1st Vice-President, Chapter President, and now Treasurer. In addition to these offices, I have received the Lafayette Medal for work with the Patriot Research System, and I am a Major in the 1st Virginia Regiment of the Virginia SAR. I have received the Eagle Scout Pin, Chapter Service Medal, and the Chapter Distinguished Service Medal. Lastly, I have proven 47 more supplemental SAR ancestors, including 20 forgotten patriots (of which 2 were women).

In addition to the SAR, I am also a member of the following lineage/ancestry organizations (descent from ancestor): Society of the Cincinnati (Lt. Elliot Rucker), Sons of the Revolution (Capt. Angus Rucker), Society of Colonial Wars (Pvt. Stephen Harnsberger), War of 1812 Society (Pvt. Samuel Comer), Sons of Confederate Veterans (Pvt. James J. Comer), and Ancient Heraldic & Chivalric Order of Albion (Lt. Elliott Rucker).

Jimmy was born into a military family and lived in Europe for several years before the family retired to Winchester, Virginia. After graduation from Handley High School Jimmy attended the Virginia Military Institute graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry in the Army National Guard and began his service career as a traditional drilling Guardsman.

Early Lieutenant assignments include Rifle Platoon, Anti-armor, Mortar, and Support Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry. As a Captain Jimmy had command of a Rifle Company, then served full-time with the First Brigade (The Stonewall Brigade) 29th Division (Light) as Assistant Brigade S-3, Assistant Brigade S-4 and after promotion to Major as the Brigade S-1 and Brigade S-4. Jimmy’s next assignments were Support Operations Officer and Battalion Executive Officer for the 429th Support Battalion (Forward) and then as the Defense Movement Coordinator for Virginia at the Virginia Army National Guard headquarters. Jimmy later transferred to VMI Army ROTC Battalion and served as Battalion Executive Officer, the Recruiting Officer, Reserve Component Liaison Officer and as a Military Science Instructor.

After promotion to Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy was assigned as Operations Officer for the 183d Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Fort Pickett, Va. Jimmy’s last military assignment prior to retirement in 2014 was Deputy Commander, 183d Regiment (RTI). Jimmy is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, the Army Light Leader Course, Summer and Winter Mountain Warfare School, Infantry Mortar Leaders Course, Quartermaster and Transportation Officer Qualification Courses, the Army Logistics Management College and various other professional development and technical courses. Jimmy’s awards include the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the National Defense Service Medal with one service star.

Jimmy has always been involved in civic service in the community and enjoys antique automobiles. He is a past president of Staunton’s America’s Birthday Celebration, Director Emeritus of the Gypsy Express Miniature Train in Gypsy Hill Park, past president of Shenandoah Region Antique Automobile Club of America, and founder and past President of the local chapter of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. He stays involved with Veterans groups and issues and is a member of AMVETS and The American Legion and currently serves as the National Commander of the 29th Division Association. Jimmy is a former board member of the Virginia National Guard Historic Society and the Citizen Solders Education Foundation and served as the latter foundation’s Executive Director from 2016 to 2023. He now works as the director of the 29th Division Museum in Verona, Va. He was elected in 2024 to serve as one of the City of Staunton’s representatives on the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District board of directors.

Jimmy lives in Staunton, Virginia and is married to the former Sheila Horne also of Virginia. They have two children, a son Jay (29 yrs) and a daughter Ginna (26 yrs).

During 30 years as a surface warfare officer “Commodore” Ros Poplar commanded two ships and an amphibious squadron. He is as both Vietnam era veteran and veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Ashore he has served on the Joint Staff, the Secretary of the Navy Staff, and the Chief of Naval Operations Staff. Ros is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, Vanderbilt University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the U.S. Army War College and has taught at both Vanderbilt University and the National Defense University. Captain Poplar was awarded numerous personal awards to include the Defense Superior Service Medal and four awards of the Legion of Merit, numerous campaign service medals, and he is a qualified Navy parachutist earning his gold Navy jump wings at the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is also a 9/11 survivor.

Upon “retiring” from the United States Navy, the private sector, and the Civil Service he has served as the President of the New Market Rotary (3 years), President of the Fort Harrison Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (2 years) and the Shenandoah County Community Resources for Education and Wellness (CREW) Board of Director. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Virgina Veteran Services Foundation which provides vital support Commonwealth Veterans and their families.

He is a noted author and has had numerous professional articles and opinion pieces published in such diverse periodicals as the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Naval History Magazine, the Naval Historical Foundation, The Sons of the American Revolution Magazine, the Richmond Times Dispatch, and other regional newspapers.

He and his wife Joanne reside in an historic log farm home (circa 1749) once owned by CPT Jacob Holman of COL Peter Muhlenberg’s 8th Virginia Regiment and are blessed with eleven grandchildren.

Scott Lyons Fielding was born on February 2, 1959, in Staunton Virginia. He was educated in the Public Schools of Staunton, and graduated in 1977. He served 23 years in the United States Army, both Active and Reserve in the Infantry. He retired at the rank of First Sergeant, E-8. He was also employed by the Virginia Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer, and Sergeant, retiring in 2010 with 30 years of service. On October 12, 1985, he married Sylvia Gay Connor. They have one child, Meghan Elizabeth Fielding, and two grandchildren, Reagan, and Riley Fielding.

Scott Joined the Mason’s in 1980 at Staunton Lodge #13. He belonged to the Richmond Scottish Rite, and ACCA Temple Shrine in Richmond. He is a member of Waynesboro Union Royal Arch Chapter #2 in Waynesboro, and a member of Stevenson Commandery #8, also in Waynesboro. He is presently serving as the Grand Commander of Knights Templer of Virginia.

Scott was always interested in History, especially Virginia History. In school he would go on field trips to Historic Sights, and Battlefields. In 1994 he joined the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and gave talks and living history programs, at Roundtables. He petitioned Fort Harrison Chapter SAR in January 2019, and on May 3, 2019 became a member. He represents our chapter at the Point Pleasants Battle Days in West Virginia, every year, and is looking forward to doing living history events and talks. He is a Life Member of the SAR National.   

Randolph (Randy) G. Heneberger was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia on August 19, 1945.  He graduated from Harrisonburg High School in 1963, and from The Virginia Military Institute with a B. S. Degree in Civil Engineering.  Upon graduation, he received a 1-year deferment from going on active duty with the U. S. Army.  He worked that year (1967-1968) for the Norfolk District Corps of Engineers in Norfolk and Radford, Virginia.  He then served on active duty as a Captain in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers 1968-1971.

His jobs between 1971 and his retirement on January 1, 2012 included working as Construction Engineer for Smith’s Transfer Corporation, as the Construction Project Manager for Sunnyside Retirement Community and as Systems Operator for Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative.

Randy is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia where he has served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons and as an Elder.

He has been a member of Fort Harrison Chapter since 1994.  He served as Corresponding Secretary and as Recording Secretary for many years.

In addition to being a member of Fort Harrison Chapter, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Shenandoah Valley Coin Club.  Some of his other interests include history and genealogy. 

I am a Virginian, born in Richmond and having attended schools in Henrico County, South Boston, Williamsburg, Charlottesville and Richmond.  My father was employed by what was then Virginia Electric and Power Company and was transferred on a number of occasions.  The only time I have lived elsewhere was occasioned by my two year service in the U.S. Army when my family and I lived in Hesse in what was then West Germany.

I am an avid lover of history and majored in that when I attended the University of Virginia with a major emphasis on Russian and Greco-Roman History.  I then attended the Medical College of Virginia and was in the same class as Patch Adams.  If you ever saw the movie with Robin Williams, it didn’t happen that way.  Medical School and Internship, also at MCV, were followed by a Residency in Dermatology at the University of Virginia and then my two year Army Service in West Germany.

I met my wife, Norma, as a “blind date” for a Johnny Mathis Concert at UVA and we were married at Fort Belvoir while I was in Medical School.  We have 5 children, several of whom are in the DAR or SAR as are several of our grandchildren.  This also includes the Virginia State Society C.A.R. and to which Norma and I contribute yearly.

When Norma and I moved to Harrisonburg in 1977, a local physician, the late Dr. Jean Wine, noted my middle name of Newkirk which also was the maiden surname of his mother.  As it turned out, we proved to be 8th cousins sharing common ancestry with the Newkirk family (a Dutch family) of Ulster County, New York.  Jean was a Compatriot of our Chapter and he provided the stimulus for my research which discovered my Patriot Ancestor, Captain Cornelius Newkirk of the Ulster County, New York Militia.  I became a Compatriot in the SAR and our Chapter in early February, 1994.

Over the years, I have been active on a local, state and national level.  I have served our Chapter as President, Treasurer, Chaplain, Chairman of the Flag Recognition Program and Chairman of the ROTC-JROTC Cadet Recognition Program.  On the state level, I have served as Chairman of the Flag Program and am currently VASSAR Surgeon.  I have also been honored to serve as a judge for the state Orations Contest.  On the national level, I have been recognized for “making the circuit of the Atlantic Middle State Conferences”, having attended them all.  I also serve on the NSSAR Medical Committee and a Vice Chairman of the NSSAR Flag Committee.   I have been recognized by NSSAR for attending both the Spring and Fall NSSAR Leadership Conferences for over 5 consecutive years with the Gold Roger Sherman Medal.  I have served on the Committee of the Knight-Patty Fund of VASSAR since 2013 and as Chairman since September, 2016.   I have been a General in the 1st Virginia Regiment, VASSAR since 2014 and first contributed to one of its Funds actually before the 1st Virginia was created.  I was awarded the VA Society Medal in 2006, VASSAR Presidential Award in 2007, Silver Good Citizenship Medal  (VASSAR and Chapter) in 2008, Madison Medal (VASSAR Service Medal) in 2009, Distinguished Service Award (VASSAR) 2011, Lamp Lighter AWAR from NSSAR in September, 2012 for support of the Center for Advancing American Heritage at the NSSAR Headquarters in Louisville, in 2013 the Thomas Jefferson Medal from NSSAR for support of the Knight Essay Contest in, 2014 the Joseph Warren Medal from NSSAR for support of the Rumbaugh Oration Contest and in that year, the Chapter Service Medal.

Regarding the Knight Essay Contest, I am very proud of the fact that when I was Chapter President, we received an entry from a homeschooled student.  It was submitted to VASSAR and won there, being the first such entry to do so.  At NSSAR, it placed second, losing by less than 1 point, if I remember correctly.  This “opened the door” for the participation of home schooled students in our State Contest.

​Jim was born Aug 8, 1953 in the Stonewall Jackson Home which had been converted to a hospital in Lexington Virginia.

EDUCATION
University:  Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science, July 1981
Major:          Agronomy with emphasis in Environmental Science
Post Graduate Studies: Virginia Certified Planning Commission, 1999
Lord Fairfax Community College, 2012-2013- Network+, Web Design, Auto Cad, Graphics, Electronic Fundamentals and Digital Circuit Fundamentals

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- Air Force:  1973-1977- Active duty 4.5 years

- Virginia Air National Guard: 1980-1999- Richmond, Virginia-  Enlisted 6 years as Environmental Health Technician. Became Military Public Health Officer, Lt.Col, Medical Readiness Officer, Military Intelligence Officer, and Infection Control Officer.  Conducted investigation of base facilities determining workplace hazards and making recommendations, conducted foodborne outbreak studies, trained in Respiratory Protection, sat on Aeromedical Council, advised Executive Committee and sat on Occupational Health Working Group Committee.

- USAF Reserve: 1999-2003- Served at Langley, AFB, Reactivated for 6 Months after 9/11.

- Shenandoah National Park: 1983-1991- Luray, Virginia- Environmental Protection Specialist. Developed and supervised east coast Air Quality Monitoring, trained site monitoring operators, developed guidelines and protocols for collection, processing, validation and reporting of data, liaison with Environmental Protection Agency, State Department of Air Pollution Control, local university researchers, and Air Quality Division and Washington Office. Was first to locate Gypsy Moth in 1984 at Mathews Arm Campground. Helped with Gypsy Moth location, trapping and spraying.

- Watkins Enterprises, Ltd.: 1991-1999- Luray, Virginia- Chief Executive Officer/Owner.  Developed policy and program design for Watkins Enterprises, Ltd., managed the completion of needs assessments to determine long-term care and rehabilitative program services, developed annual long-term care and rehabilitative program goals and objectives for Watkins Enterprises, Ltd., monitored all corporation expenditures, administered the development and maintenance of management information system as required for corporation operations, authorized designee to conduct corporation staff meetings as appropriate, authorized designee to conduct consumer/customer satisfaction surveys, developed, implemented, and maintained applicable corporation personnel management policies and procedures as well as assured management/supervisory practices were in accord with stated company policy, conducted evaluation and monitoring activities to ensure that all corporation programs are in compliance with established legislation, standards, policies, etc., supervised the corporation’s department heads and administrative support staff, 95+ employees, reviewed staff disciplinary action, conducted periodic meetings with corporation staff to discuss planning, status, perspectives, and obtain input, represented Watkins Enterprises, Ltd. to local government officials, worked with Delegate Andy Guest to change the laws governing DNR in Assisted Living Facilities in Virginia, attended and represented corporation at meetings impacting on the provision of comprehensive care to adults, especially residential, rehabilitative care for the population 55+, and coordinated the provision of education programs/services to the community.

- Planning Commission: 1998-2005- Page County- District 1- Developed the 2000 Comprehensive Plan along with GIS Mapping. Developed a 5, 6 and 7 redistricting plan for the Board of Supervisors approval. Wrote the first Tower Ordinance for Page County.

- Page Valley News: 2020- Present- Half owner of Page Valley News.  Developed website,  maintain and work sales.

- WatkinsLLC: 2003-Present- Own rental and business properties.

ORGANIZATIONS
- Workforce Investment Board 2002-2004
- Rotary Club President 2000-2001
- Mason and Shriner 1998-Present
- Election Committee for Delegate Allen Louderback 1999-2003
- U.S. 340 Advisory Committee for Widening to 4 Lanes 1998-1999
- SAR 2022-Present
ACHIEVEMENTS
EMT, Three Special Achievement Awards from the Park Service,
Created and Currently Maintain the Caverns Shrine Club Blue Grass in the Blue Ridge Web Site.

Except for the periods spent during his formal education and military service Larry has lived all of his life in the central Shenandoah Valley. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1966 and entered the United States Air Force as a brand-new Second Lieutenant. After completing flight school in Texas, he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command as a B-52 Co-pilot. Over the next four years he was assigned two temporary tours in Southeast Asia flying more than 100 bombing missions in South Vietnam, Cambodia, and along the North Vietnamese border in Laos.

After leaving the air force in 1971, his wife, Linda, and the GI Bill put him through graduate school at JMU and law school at the University of Richmond. He then practiced law for the next twenty-seven years in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Among his professional activities during those years, he served as the Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for Rockingham Co. and the City of Harrisonburg, and opened his private law practice representing individuals as well as two of the incorporated towns within the county. He later formed a partnership with T.J. Wilson known as Wilson & Bowers. Upon his retirement from private practice in 2001 he was appointed to serve as a Substitute Judge for the General District Courts and so served until his retirement in 2016.

Larry has been active in numerous community organizations such as the Bar Association, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, Rotary, and the hospital board. He enjoys gardening, his book club, and most anything regarding aviation and Virginia Tech. Larry and Linda have two daughters, Courtney Bowers and Laura Reynolds.

​Tom was born in Puerto Rico where his father was serving as a Lutheran Missionary. When the US entered WWII the family moved back to the Continental US.   After graduating from high school and spending a year at college, Tom enlisted in the Navy in 1958.  

He would spend two years aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway making two deployments to South East Asia. Followed by two years in Hawaii where, in 1962, he was caught up in the Cuban Missile Crisis and was involuntarily extended.  He was transferred the USS Samuel N. Moore, a destroyer.  It was his time in the military that taught him the necessity of working together and to take responsibility for his actions. 

Tom was discharged from the Navy in 1964 and attended Marietta College, in Marietta, Ohio, where he met Daille.  Tom ended up transferring to Parsons College, in Fairfield, Iowa, graduating in 1967 with a BA.  Daille had graduated earlier and the two were married shortly thereafter. 

Tom had responded to an advertisement from the Department of State during the summer of 1966. He passed a series of exams and a formal background investigation. Tom joined the State Department in September 1967.  Tom’s first assignment was the US Consulate General in Jerusalem, arriving in early December of ‘67.  

For the next 30 years years, Tom would go on to serve in 7 more countries (Belgium, Brazil, Indonesia, Suriname, Germany, Japan, and the Dominican Republic), struggle with 9 languages on 4 continents, and deal with the birth of two children.  In addition, Tom spent a year in Africa filling in for vacant Embassy administrative management positions in 7 countries (Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Cape Verde, Benin).  Tom also created regional procurement support offices in Bonn and Tokyo. At the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tom was sent to Belarus to establish an Embassy in Minsk.

Tom transferred his SAR membership to the Fort Harrison Chapter in February 2005.  He was the recording secretary for several years and then served as 1st Vice-President for two years and President for two years. 

Tom’s paternal 4th great-grandfather, Lewis Ferris, served in the fledging US Navy during the Revolutionary War. After the war he migrated from his birthplace in Connecticut to Manchester, Indiana, where he died in 1819.  Family records make reference to the cemetery in Ferrisville or Ferrisville Cemetery, but the records are not specific. 

​Greg Owen is an Investment Advisor with Long Service Agency in Harrisonburg, and is a retired banker of forty years.
 
He is an Honors graduate of James Madison University, with a BA Degree in History, Summa Cum Laude with Distinction in History.

He was named a George C. Marshall Scholar, conferred by the George C. Marshall Foundation at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA for research and writing an expansive work in military history.

Greg is the author of a World War II biography, The Longest Patrol, A U-Boat Gunner’s War, which was published in 2006, revised in 2009, and has enjoyed worldwide sales.

He has written an extensive research guide, Wehrmacht Autumns; German Prisoners of War in the Plains District of Rockingham County, Virginia During World War II, which is available through the Library of Virginia as well as through local libraries in Rockingham and Augusta Counties.

He has presented public lectures on various history topics in more than 100 venues across Virginia.

Greg served a number of years on the Board of Trustees for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, with two terms as Chairman of the Board.

He is a member of the Fort Harrison Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, representing five direct ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War.

Greg is a passionate travel photographer and Europhile, with 25 independent excursions to Western and Eastern Europe, Great Britain and Ireland.