National (VA) – Battle of the Capes – 11:00 AM

September 7th, 2024, Saturday (11:00 am) – Commemoration of the Battle of the Capes, Virginia Beach, VA Event Level: National

Host/POC:  Norfolk Chapter VASSAR / John Hall.

Location:  Vice Admiral Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse Statue, Fort Story, Virginia Beach, VA.

Firing Event: No

Details: The Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as the Battle of the Virginia Capes or simply the Battle of the Capes, was a crucial naval battle in the American Revolutionary War that took place near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on September 5, 1781. The combatants were a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves and a French fleet led by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse. The battle strategically prevented the Royal Navy from reinforcing or evacuating the besieged forces of Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. The French achieved control of the sea lanes against the British and provided the Franco-American army with siege artillery and French reinforcements. These proved decisive in the Siege of Yorktown, effectively securing independence for the Thirteen Colonies. (Note: this event was approved to become a National Level Event by NSSAR leadership on March 3rd, 2024.) Virginia SAR Color Guard Attendees: Dunaway, Lynch, Melhuish, Osborn, Thompson.

French Navy Color Guard Attendee: TBA.