| We
are located in San Antonio, Texas. Our business meetings are on the
first Wednesday of the month. |
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Texas Time
PICTURES
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The Tribute to Military video file can be found at: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/memorial-day-2006-video.htm |
OFFICERS
NATIONAL 1ST VICE PRESIDENT - James
R. "Bob" McConnell
FORT
SAM HOUSTON CHAPTER NO. 17
NATIONAL SOJOURNERS, INC.
| President |
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| 1st Vice President |
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| 2nd Vice President |
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| Secretary/Treasurer |
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| Marshal |
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| Chaplain |
Henry N. Dunn |
| Flag Bearer |
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| Surgeon | Michael Jaffee |
| Staff Judge Advocate | Benjamin Yudesis |
Alamo Camp, Heroes of '76
| Commander |
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| Chief of Staff |
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| Asst. Chief of Staff |
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| Officer of the Day |
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Adjutant |
James R. "Bob" McConnell |
Musician |
Albert L. "Al" Putnam |
Commander of the Guard |
Lee Leopard |
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Senior Lieutenant |
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Junior Lieutenant |
Ronald Clemons |
| Sentinel | Abner L. Kestler Jr |
Chaplain |
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| Judge Advocate | Benjamin Yudesis |
| Surgeon |
WHAT IS NATIONAL SOJOURNERS,
INC.
National Sojourners, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, domestic, fraternal order, operating in accordance with a Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. For a history of the National Sojourners, click here.
PURPOSES OF NATIONAL SOJOURNERS, INC.
The
Purposes of National Sojourners shall be to organize Commissioned Officers,
Warrant Officers and Senior Noncommissioned Officers of the uniformed forces
(past and present) of the United States, and Honorary Members who are Master
Masons, into Chapters, for the promotion of good fellowship among its members,
for assisting such as may be overtaken by adversity or affliction, for cultivating
Masonic ideals, for supporting all patriotic aims and activities in Masonry,
for developing true Patriotism and Americanism throughout the Nation, for
bringing together representatives of the uniformed forces of the United States
(past and present) in a united effort to further the military need of national
defense, and for opposing any influence whatsoever calculated to weaken the
national Security.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in National Sojourners shall be open to citizens of the United States who are Master Masons in good standing in any duly constituted Lodge of Master Masons recognized by and maintaining fraternal relations with a majority of the Regular Grand Lodges in the United States:
And, who are serving or have served honorably as Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, and Senior Noncommissioned Officers in the uniformed services of the United States
Or have served in time of war as a Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, Senior Noncommissioned Officers or the equivalent in an armed service of a nation allied with the United States
Or are regularly elected to Honorary Membership
RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS ROTC AWARDS
Every year the Order bestows upon a member of each unit of the ROTC and the Junior ROTC the Sojourners ROTC medal with ribbon and certificate. The award goes to the cadet who has, in the opinion of his or her superiors, done the most to encourage and demonstrate the ideals of Americanism by deed or conduct or both; and who has demonstrated potential for outstanding leadership. This award is available upon request to every ROTC and JROTC unit in America. Nearly 1500 of these medals are presented each year.
FLAG
PROGRAMS
Throughout the Order, several historical and patriotic flag programs have been developed. One, in particular, had a Scottish Rite genesis. A member of the National Sojourners Chapter in El Paso, Texas, Hubert L. Koker, 32°, K.C.C.H., was chairman of a Scottish Rite committee tasked to prepare an Americanism program for presentation to the El Paso Scottish Rite Valley. He developed a program in which the American Flag was built, stripe by stripe and star by star with a narration giving the state or states admitted to the Union with the addition of each stripe and star. Another Brother, who was also a member of both the El Paso Scottish Rite and National Sojourners, saw the program and understood immediately the full significance of what he had seen. After getting proper permission, he brought the program to National Sojourners, Inc. The rest, as they say, is history. The program was refined again and again. More portable and reliable props were developed, and "Building the Flag" teams were formed throughout National Sojourners with their affiliated Order, The Heroes of ‘76, presenting it in colonial uniforms, often assisted by their ladies, also in colonial costume. This excellent patriotic and educational program has been performed thousands of times at schools as well as Masonic and non-Masonic gatherings of all kinds. It continues today as one of the most effective and popular patriotic programs yet invented. A "Historical Flag Program’ was written by National Sojourner, Byron C. Jenkins, 32°, K.C.C.H., of the Omaha, Nebraska, Scottish Rite Valley, for presentation during the U. S. Bicentennial celebration. Past Grand Master Jenkins’s program displays up to sixteen flags used by Americans from pre-Revolutionary times to the present. The presentation utilizes three or more "Heroes of ‘76" to display each full-size flag while a narrator gives the history of how the Masonic heroes who were serving under it contributed to our country’s birth, development, and fame. The programs cited here barely scratch the surface of the service performed by National Sojourners, Inc. This small but capable group of American Masonic leaders quietly serves our country and Masonry every day through their efforts to raise the loyalty and pride of every American by eulogizing and emulating the Masonic builder-patriots who preceded them. Click here to read "A Toast to the Flag" and "To the Colors."
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History |
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NATIONAL SOJOURNERS LINKS |
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Links to Texas National Sojourner's Chapters(Found on the National Sojourner's Homepage) |
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National Sojourner's Homepage |
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Heroes of '76 National Commander's Website |
Webmasters:
T. E. "Gene" & Gay Carnes
(Visitors since October 29, 2001)