Page 32 - Sojourner Newsletter FALL 2022

32 THE SOJOURNER

HISTORIAN’S CORNER (NSI)

National Sojourners U.S. Flag
By Edward W. Nolte, National Historian

Did you know that National Sojourners has a special U.S. Flag? Here is its history that makes it special!

Our U.S. Flag represents the character and development of our Nation. The first U.S. flag, adopted on 14
Jun 1777, as designed by Bro. Francis Hopkinson, had 13 stars and 13 stripes, one for each colony that
formed the United States: DE, PA, NJ, GA, CT, MA, MD, SC, NH, VA, NY, NC, and RI. Two stars and
two stripes would be added for KY and VT (1795) to make it the only 15-star, 15-stripe Flag—the Star-
Spangled Banner. In 1818, TN, OH, LA, IN, and MS would receive their stars, and the flag permanently
reverted to 13 stripes. Stars were added for IL (1819); AL and ME (1820); MO (1822); AR (1836); MI
(1837); FL (1845); TX (1846); IA (1847); WI (1848); CA (1851); MN (1858); OR (1859); KS (1861); WV
(1863); NV (1865); NE (1867); CO (1877); ND, SD, MT, WA, and ID (1890); WY (1891); UT (1892); OK
(1907); NM and AZ (1912); AK (1959); and HI (1960).

In preparation for the National Sojourners Centennial Year, Bro. Lt Col William G.L. Turner, PNC, PNP,
LOH, VDA, procured a 4’ x 6’ cloth flag and flew it at historic sites on the exact date that made that site
famous: 22 Feb—Bro. Washington’s Birthday at the U.S. Capitol; 19 Apr—Shot Heard ‘Round the World at
Lexington/Concord, MA; 30 May—Memorial Day at the Tomb of the Revolutionary War Unknown Soldier
at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, Alexandria, VA; 14 Jun—Flag Day at the Betsy Ross House,
Philadelphia, PA; 2 July—Ratification of the Declaration of Independence at Independence National Historic
Place, Philadelphia, PA; 4 Aug—Bro. George Washington being raised a Master Mason at the Lodge at
Fredericksburg (now Fredericksburg #4), VA; 16 Aug—Battle of Bennington at the Bennington Battle
Monument, VT; 2 Sep—Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, Pearl Harbor, HI; 14 Sep—Battle of
Fort McHenry at Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MD; 7 Oct—Battle of Kings Mountain, SC; 19 Oct—British
surrender ending the Revolutionary War at Yorktown, VA; 1 Nov—cornerstone-laying at the George
Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA; 11 Nov—Veterans Day at Arlington National
Cemetery, VA; 7 Dec—Attack on Pearl Harbor at the WWII Valor National Monument, HI; 8 Jan—Battle
of New Orleans in 1815 at the Chalmette Battlefield National Historic Place; 17 Jan—Battle of Cowpens at
the Cowpens National Battlefield Park, SC; 14 Feb—George Washington’s unanimous election at Mount
Vernon, VA; 6 Mar—Siege of the Alamo at the Shrine of San Antonio de Valero in San Antonio, TX; and
15 May—Virginia as first colony to legislate for Independence at Colonial Williamsburg, VA.
Already honored with 245 years of the Nation’s development, this U.S. Flag developed a historic
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connection to our Order. At the 98 National Convention (ANC) in Norfolk, VA, it flew before 105
members of numerous Chapters. During the Order’s Centennial Year Celebration, the National President
presented this Flag at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, PA; DeMolay Headquarters for their Centennial
Event in Kansas City, MO; and at his visitations with members from 89 Chapters in 30 States and from all 20
Areas. This flag was present at three Chapter chartering ceremonies: Devil’s Brigade #558—the only
Chapter in MT; William A. Powell, Sr. #556—the second Chapter in UT; and Black Hills #422 the only
Chapter in SD at Mount Rushmore. In addition, this flag flew at the Mid-Winter Meeting (MWM) in Tucson,
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AZ; the Grand Lodge of Nebraska; the Conference of Grand Masters in Rapid City, SD; the 99 National
Convention in Omaha, NE; and at Jameson’s Charhouse in Chicago, IL on 1 Aug 2019 to commemorate the
Order’s incorporation.
Since our Centennial Year, the official National Sojourners’ U.S. Flag has flown in a place of honor at the
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96 and 97 MWMs in Jacksonville, FL (2020) and Baton Rouge, LA (2022) and at the 101 and 102
ANCs in Milwaukee (2021) and Atlanta (2022) to signify our motto, Proudly Serving the Cause of
Patriotism. This Flag, like Country Music Hall of Fame singer, Hank Snow, can now proudly say, “I’ve
Been Everywhere.”
Have you seen it, yet? Become a part of our Flag’s legacy—See it at the 2023 ANC in Harrisburg, PA!