On June 10, 2023, our George Mason Chapter of the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution (VASSAR) conducted this event at Gunston Hall in Lorton, Virginia, at the gravesite of patriot George Mason, in order to commemorate his main authorship of the Virginia Declaration of Rights in May 1776.  This document contains 16 articles that were adopted by the Virginia House of Delegates at the Virginia Constitutional Convention on 12 June 1776.  This document influenced the thinking of others and their writings with concepts that are found in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. 

The June 2023 event was held in collaboration with the Gunston Hall Foundation on its “Declaration Day” (the 2nd Saturday in June each year), and in partnership with other historical lineage societies – specifically, chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Virginia Society of the Children of the American Revolution (CAR), the War of 1812 Society, the Virginia Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, and the Sons and Daughters of the Virginia Founding Fathers. 

Four photos of the event show the participation of the VASSAR color guard (with a musket fire salute), the Old Line Music Corp (playing music of the colonial period), and the Rev. Dr. Thomas Costa, Rector of Pohick Church (serving as chaplain at the gravesite where lineage society representatives paid their respects).  This is the second year that the George Mason Chapter has conducted this event.  We plan to make this an annual activity.