Culpeper National Cemetery

10/07/2026

Yesterday we welcomed a group of homeschoolers to Culpeper National Cemetery for an educational visit focused on our veterans.

Jeffery Joyce lead the tour and shared information of American history with the students.

It was a meaningful opportunity for the youth to learn more about veterans honored at the cemetery.

Thank you to Sharon Croushorn for arranging the tour.

10/02/2026

Remember-Honor-Teach
Remembering Those That Served
Honoring 250 Years of American Heroes
Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery

Today we remember Saddler William Dager. William was born in 1830 in Pennsylvania. By 1860 he was married to Catherine Dager and worked as a saddler in Whitemarsh (Montgomery County), Pennsylvania. A saddler made and repaired saddles and other horse tack, such as bridles, harnesses and reins. William enlisted in September 1861 in Company H of the 6th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. Commanded by West Point graduate Colonel Richard Rush, the 6th was the only cavalry regiment in the Union Army armed with lances and became known as “Rush’s Lancers”. Union Major General George McClellan had observed European lancer regiments during the Crimean War. However, the lances, topped by a bright scarlet pennant, were impracticable and eventually abandoned by the 6th. William was assigned as Company Saddler, responsible for maintaining Company H’s horse equipment. During the Peninsula Campaign in the spring of 1862 he was wounded and sent to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Philadelphia. After recovering William returned to the 6th and likely saw action at Fredericksburg, Brandy Station and Gettysburg. Following the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg the Union Army of the Potomac, including the 6th, pursued the retreating Confederates across the Rappahannock River into Culpeper County. On August 1, 1863, the 6th fought Confederate cavalry near Brandy Station. William was killed and buried in a temporary grave. Following the end of the war his remains were moved to Culpeper National Cemetery. He is also remembered on a memorial for the local Civil War dead in Saint Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery in Montgomery County. Catherine applied for a widow’s pension in 1864 but nothing further is known of her life after William’s death.

Saddler William Dager rests in Section A1, Site 79, of Culpeper National Cemetery.

Submitted by: Jeff Joyce
WAA Volunteer

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🇺🇸 Support Wreaths Across America Culpeper: WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/VA0638

09/30/2026

🇺🇲On Saturday, December 19, 2026 at 12:00pm
join us at Culpeper National Cemetery 501 E. Chandler St. as we Remember and Honor our Veterans by laying Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes.

🇺🇸Sponsor a $17 wreath to be placed on December 19th here:
www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/VA0638

🇺🇸REMEMBER the Fallen.
HONOR those who Serve.
TEACH our children the value of Freedom.

🇺🇸Please help us honor and remember as many fallen heroes as possible by sponsoring remembrance wreaths, volunteering on National Wreaths Across America Day, and inviting your family and friends to attend with you.

Wreaths Across America ("WAA") coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies every December to "Remember, Honor, and Teach" about the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. Please check out this page to learn how you can help by sponsoring Veterans Remembrance Wreaths or by joining us on Decembe...

09/29/2026

Important information for Veterans and Family members.

An active, predatory scam is targeting grieving veteran families across the Southeast. Individuals are posing as members of the Armed Forces, an honor guard, or government employees. These callers are contacting families of deceased veterans—particularly families arranging military funeral honors—and falsely claiming that payment is required for a refundable “insurance policy.” They allege this policy is necessary to cover any liability the honor guard might incur while participating in the service. The callers are reportedly demanding credit-card payment and threatening that the military honors detail will be canceled if payment is not made.



As you all know, military funeral honors are an earned benefit provided at zero cost; no payment is ever required.

09/27/2026

Remember-Honor-Teach
Remembering Those That Served
Honoring 250 Years of American Heroes
Wreaths Across America at Culpeper National Cemetery

Today we remember Private First Class (PFC) Calvin McAdoo Minor. Calvin was born on October 30, 1946, in Culpeper to Joseph Clifford Minor and Georgia Ella Sanford, one of 10 children. His father Joseph, who served in the Army during World War I, passed away when Calvin was 16 and is buried at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Orange County. After graduating from George Washington Carver High School in Rapidan in 1967, Calvin worked at Culpeper Memorial Hospital and the Ritz High Hat Restaurant. He also attended Antioch Baptist Church. Calvin was inducted into the Army in March 1968 and initially assigned to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland as a Unit Supply Specialist. In March 1969 he deployed to South Vietnam, joining the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry (3/21), 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division. On June 15, 1969, Calvin was killed in action “while at a night defensive position when the area came under attack by hostile forces” in Quang Tin Province. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. Calvin was buried at Culpeper National Cemetery, where his sister Jacqueline Minor Crow and brother James Albert Minor are also buried. Calvin’s mother Georgia and step-father Candido Garcia are buried at Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper.

PFC Calvin McAdoo Minor rests in Section F, Site 348, at Culpeper National Cemetery. He is also honored at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., where his name is inscribed on Panel 22W of the Wall.

Submitted by: Jeff Joyce
WAA Volunteer

09/16/2026

Free opportunity for Veterans and Family members. Reserve your seat by scanning QR code.

09/11/2026

Remembering 9/11
25 Years

We will never forget!

09/10/2026

NEVER FORGET! Come support and remember 9/11 families and first responders. CNC will be there honoring our heroes.

09/09/2026

Today we had a visit from The Osher Lifelong Institute from George Mason University.

This is a group of those 50 and older who engage in social, educational and cultural opportunities. We were happy to welcome them today at CNC.

They were here for a tour with Jeff Joyce WAA Volunteer who helps the community honor and learn about our veterans and history. He informed them on the establishment of Culpeper National Cemetery and about the civil war in Culpeper visiting the historic side of the cemetery.

09/04/2026

Remember-Honor-Teach
Remembering Those That Served
Honoring 250 Years of American Heroes
Wreaths Across American at Culpeper National Cemetery

Today we remember Jesse Samuel Wilinski, the son of Marine Corps Sergeant Jesse Marcel Wilinski and Morane Wilinski. Sergeant Wilinski served in the Marines from 1997 to 2006 as an Am******on Technician. At the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks he was stationed at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Jesse was born on February 14, 2007, in Asheville, North Carolina, at Mission Hospital. He was an active member of the Federation for the Blind and a Junior at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg. Jesse was also a long-time participant in the Special Olympics and an honorary member of the Massaponax High School Soccer Team. He loved school and his daily bus ride. Outside of school Jesse enjoyed going for rides in the Shenandoah National Park and having dinner with his family. Making and sustaining friends was a special gift of his. Jesse passed away in his father’s arms on June 7, 2024, from complications related to his disability. He was survived by his parents, four siblings and three nephews and a niece.
Jesse rests in Section 11, Site 868, at Culpeper National Cemetery.

Note: Biographical information and photographs of Jesse courtesy of his father Sergeant Jesse M. Wilinski.

Submitted by: Jeff Joyce
WAA Volunteer