SAR National Society and SAR State Society Medals

(Photo above: Example of SAR medals including from left to right:  SAR War Service Medal with Vietnam and Korea war clasps and bronze oak leaf cluster; Chapter Medal of Distinguished Service (CMDS); SAR State Meritorious Service Medal; National Roger Sherman Achievement Medal; Virginia Society Medal; and Virginia Society SAR Chapter Service Medal.) 

SAR National Society Medals | SAR State Society Medals | Chapter Medals

SAR National Society Medals awarded by the Virginia Society

  • Patriot Medal

    The medal has a silver finish and bears the portrait of Compatriot General of the Army Douglas MacArthur on the obverse within the inscription, “The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.” The reverse is inscribed “Awarded to for Patriotic Service by the Society SAR, 20__. The medal is suspended from a chest ribbon of royal blue color.—The Patriot Medal is the highest award presented to a Compatriot by a State Society and recognizes long, faithful, outstanding, and distinguished service at the state and/or chapter level.  The Patriot Medal is awarded only by a State Society and may be presented only to an individual. Service at the national level is not considered in making the award. It is desirable that it be presented at the annual meeting of the State Society.

 Past Recipients include:

  • Ernest Coggins, Jr.
  • Dale Corey
  • Peter Davenport
  • Timothy Dioquino
  • Joseph Dooley
  • Frederick Elofson
  • Michael J. Elston
  • Kenneth Hawkins
  • George Jones
  • Patrick Kelly
  • Lorance Lisle
  • Lawrence McKinley
  • Raymond Meyer
  • Thomas Nelson Jr.
  • Brett Osborn
  • Donald Reynolds
  • Thomas Roth III
  • William Schwetke
  • Christopher Sheap, MD
  • Phillip Tarpley
  • Jeffrey Thomas
  • William Vartorell
  • Bruce Wilcox
  • Henry Williams III, PhD
  • Reverdy Wright, PhD
 

 

  • State Medal of Distinguished Service 

The State Medal of Distinguished Service (— The State Medal of Distinguished Service (Distinguished Service Medal or SMDS) was authorized by the National Society in 1998.  It is the highest medal that may be awarded by a state society president during each year of his term of office and is presented to a compatriot for distinguished service rendered to the state society during a state society president’s term of office.  It should be presented at the state society annual meeting at the conclusion of the incumbent president’s term of office.  The DSM is presented by the state society president and does not require any other approval. 

The following is a list of Virginia Society compatriots who have been awarded the SDSM. 
(* = Compatriot is deceased)

Recipient Term Virginia SAR President
 (no medal awarded)  1998–1999  Paul M. Frantz *
 (no medal awarded)   1999–2000  David H. Harpole, Sr., MD *
 Richard S. Austin  2000–2001  Donald F. Reynolds, DDS *
 John N. Dickie *  2001–2002  Richard S. Austin
 Lawrence E. McKinley  2002–2003  E. Trice Taylor, DDS
 John D. Sinks, PhD  2003–2004  James Robert Justice *
  (no medal awarded)  2004–2005  John N. Dickie *
 O. Donald Philen, PhD  2005–2006  Lawrence E. McKinley
 Carter B. S. Furr  2006–2007  James M. Bayne, AIA
 Robert L. Bowen *  2007–2008  Joseph W. Dooley
 R. Wayne Rouse *  2008–2009  Arthur D. Batten *
 Joseph W. Dooley  2009–2010  William L. Simpson, Jr.
 Christopher N. Sheap, MD  2010–2011  Robert L. "Bob" Bowen *
 Myron E. "Mike" Lyman, Sr.  2011–2012  Mark S. Brennan, Sr.
 The Rev. Canon Henry N. F. Minich  2012–2013  Henry P. "Phil" Williams, II, PhD
 W. A. "Bill" Broadus, Jr.  2013–2014  Kent S. Webber *
 Edward W. Truslow *  2014–2015  W. A. "Bill" Broadus, Jr.
 William L. Schwetke  2015–2016  Reverdy E. Wright, PhD
 Michael J. Elston  2016–2017  Edward W. Truslow *
 Mark S. Brennan, Sr.  2017–2018  Michael J. Elston
 Jeffrey D. Thomas  2018–2019  Patrick M. Kelley
 Timothy D. Dioquino  2019–2020  Peter M. Davenport
 Ernest B. Coggins, Jr.  2020–2021  William L. Schwetke
 Dale E. Corey  2021–2022  Jeff Thomas
 Wm. David Carpenter  2022–2023  R. Bruce Meyer
 R. Bruce Meyer  2023–2024  Ernie B. Coggins, Jr.
 (TBD; Feb 2025)  2024–2025  William D. Greaf, DPA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • State Meritorious Service Medal—The State Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to SAR members who have rendered long, faithful and meritorious service to their state society. 
  • State Roger Sherman Commendation Medal—The State Roger Sherman Commendation Medal may be awarded to a compatriot in recognition of, and in appreciation of, outstanding services rendered to a State Society. 
  • State Henry Knox Achievement Medal—The State Henry Knox Achievement Medal may be awarded by a State Society to a Compatriot or non-SAR member to recognize a specific outstanding contribution, achievement, accomplishment, deed, performance, or effort that advances the mission, governance, programs, or activities of that State Society. 

SAR State Society Medals Issued by the Virginia Society

  • Virginia Society Medal
  • Virginia Society State Service Medal (Madison Medal)
  • Virginia SAR Chapter Service Medal
  • Virginia SAR Patriot Graves Preservation Medal
  • Virginia SAR Patrick Henry Youth Education Medal
  • Virginia SAR Color Guard Medal (Billy Flora Medal)
  • Virginia SAR Eagle Scout Recognition Medal
  • Virginia Society Chapter Service Medal (Pineapple Medal)

Medals Issued by the Local Chapters of the Virginia Society

The following medals are medals issued by local chapters and authorized by the Virginia SAR and recognized by the National SAR.  All compatriots, regardless of origin, are eligible to be awarded such medals at the discretion of the chapter. Order of precedence for local chapter medals is as follows: (1) honor and achievement awards issued by a chapter; (2) participation medals (based on calendar year timing regardless of what year issued); (3) fundraising medals.

  • Culpeper Minute Men Chapter  — Minute Men Gold Medal 
  • George Washington Chapter — John C. Evans Medal ... participating in the George Washington Birthday Parade (February)
  • George Washington Chapter — Dooley—Carr—Elston Medal ... participating in the National Memorial Day Parade (May)
  • George Washington Chapter — Baldwin—Jones—Tabb Medal .. participating in the March to the Tomb ceremonies at George Washington’s Mount Vernon on July 4th
  • Great Bridge Chapter  — Battle of Great Bridge Medal ... participating in the Battle of Great Bridge Commemoration (December)

  • George Washington Chapter — Dr. James Craik Medal ... fundraising for Patriot or Compatriot grave marking ceremonies

 To learn more about the awards and medals including requests forms, visit our committee's webpage.

DJH