Page 29 - Sojourner Newsletter-Summer 2024 Final1

Volume 101, Issue 3 29

CAMP LEJEUNE CHAPTER #329,
Denny Norris, Secretary. On Monday,
May 27, 2024, various Masonic
organizations, to include members of the
National Sojourners’ Camp LeJeune
Chapter #329, veterans and the
community attended the Memorial Day
Ceremony at the New Bern National
Cemetery to pay tribute to lives of the
men and women buried in the cemetery.
All are veterans that took a sacred oath to
defend the Constitution of the United
Sates against all enemies and to safeguard
and guarantee the freedoms we enjoy.
Their purpose was not only to honor their
memories but preserve and carry their
commitment to freedom. First established
on February 1, 1867, New Bern National
Cemetery was initially used to reinter (L-r) : Johnny Surles, Arthur Romans, Bill Fitzpatrick, Tino Faustino,
remains from the numerous battlefield Russ Bauer, Richard Cabitat, Bobby Meadows
cemeteries around the area, including
nearly 1,000 unknown soldiers and the remains of Union soldiers who died at the Battle of New Bern. The
Memorial Day program consisted of an Invocation, presentation of the National Colors, singing of the National
Anthem by Sam Lewis, the Pledge of Allegiance, and introduction of Gold Star Families. Mark Sandvigen,
Chairman of the Veterans Council of Craven County (VCCC), opened the ceremony and presented the
principal speaker, Dr. Ronald E. Walters, PhD, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs
(PDUSMA) for the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) and the keynote speaker, Dr. Carrie A. Brown,
PhD, D-ABFA, ACC. Dr. Brown is a Supervisory Forensic Anthropologist and Laboratory Manager at the
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Laboratory on Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Both
speakers focused on the identification and repatriation process of the remains of Army Air Corps Staff Sargent
Robert L Ferris Jr., a B-17 Ball Turret Gunner, 80 years after his aircraft was shot down by a German fighter
and crashed near the village of Bernieres-sur-Seine France. The program closed with the placing of veteran
and community wreaths and the sounding of Taps. Attending the ceremony were Chapter members Brothers
Johnny Surles, Bobby Meadows, Russ Bauer, Bill Fitzpatrick, Arthur Romans, Robert Mull, Tino Faustino,
and Richar Cabatit.

SEMINOLE CHAPTER #373, Jim
Judovits, Secretary. The Heroes of ’76
of COL George F. Unmacht Camp
performed a Posting the Colors Honor
Guard for The Southeastern Grotto
Association Annual Convention on
Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Comfort
Inn, Orlando, Florida. PNC Martin
Schwebel delivered the “Toast to The
Flag”. Other participating members
were Brian J. Zeppa, Jim Judovits, Jim
Dickenson, Michael McMillian and
Jose Franco, Jr. who presented the colors and muskets before the business meeting. Everyone seemed to enjoy
having The Heroes of ’76 present.