Page 3 - Sojourner Newsletter-Spring 2025_Final

Volume 102, Issue 2 3
NATIONAL COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

Please note in The Sojourner, Volume 102, Issue 1, Winter 2025, page 3, the following paragraphs were inadvertently
amiss from the National Commander’s Message. Apologies for this oversite from the Editor and ‘Publisher’—

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“In October, I travelled to Washington’s Mount Vernon to lead a distinguished Heroes of ’76 Color Guard for the
Cornerstone Rededication Ceremony which was sanctioned and performed by the Officers of the Grand Lodge of
Virginia. The color guard was comprised of ten Heroes in Colonial uniforms. I was extremely proud to be in the
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company of these fine Heroes of ’76 Brethren, and proud that we represented our order in such grand fashion.

In November, I travelled to Snellville, Georgia for the Georgia Area Conference and Encampment (GACE). After
briefings regarding the state of affairs of the various Chapters in the Georgia Area, and other briefings and training, the
General Oglethorpe Camp (Clarence H. Cohen Chapter #162) performed an extraordinary Heroes Degree and inducted
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MWB Ben Polston, Past Grand Master of Georgia into the Heroes of ’76 . The camaraderie and energy I witnessed
from the members present at this AC&E was absolutely infectious!

In December, I had the honor of representing our National President, Brother Carl Diamond, as St. Louis Chapter #22
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celebrated its 100 Anniversary. Later in December, I scheduled a couple of recording session dates to re-accomplish
the bugle calls and create an updated CD for our Order. I hope to have the project completed by midspring and to
present new CDs/digital music files at the Annual National Encampment (ANE) in Omaha.”

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My Dear Heroes of ’76 Brethren,

IEAR? My official travels have continued since my previous message in The Sojourner, and the
experiences have been an absolute pleasure! Please allow me to share with you the following,
my latest travel summary:

In January, I attended the Mid-Winter Meeting (MWM) in Charleston, South Carolina. I was
expecting a nice respite from the winter conditions in the Midwest, and I’m sure the other
attendees were expecting some warmth in the Southern U.S. as well. However, I had to endure a
snow/ice storm that only subsided as I reached about 30-40 miles north of Charleston, and the
temperatures remained rather cold for the duration of the MWM. I thought that the MWM went
very well and I certainly enjoyed the company of our Brethren who attended. Later in January, I
had a couple more recording sessions to work on the production of an updated CD for our Order.
At the time of writing this article, all physical recording is complete, with only minor post-production details remaining
to be accomplished. I’ll be creating the CD cover and liner notes in the next month or so, and then producing the
necessary copies for presentation at the Annual National Encampment (ANE) in Omaha. This whole project has been
done of my own accord and expense, as I wish for this project to be a lasting gift from me to our beloved Order.

In late January, I travelled to Northern Ohio to personally present a new Camp Charter to the Rodger W. Young Camp
from Fort Stephenson-Firelands Chapter #571. I was very impressed by the attendance at the dinner/meeting and of the
enthusiasm and dignified protocol displayed by the Sojourners/Heroes and their ladies. Since their Camp is brand new, I
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proceeded to present a brief history of the Heroes of ’76 , which I hope gave the Brethren a better idea of the noble
Order to which they are now Chartered. I had also been asked to present another new Charter, which would have
required me to be in Southwest Missouri on the very next day. Finding that to be nearly impossible because of the travel
distance of 700+ miles from Ohio, I asked our National Chief of Staff, Brother Peter Cauchon, to present the new Camp
Charter to the Brethren of Big Canoe Camp from Springfield (Missouri) Chapter #84. Brother Peter reported that all
went very well, and they also held an Encampment along with the Ozark Camp (Harry S. Truman Chapter #152) whose
Brethren have provided exemplary mentorship over the last couple of years to the Brethren of the Big Canoe Camp. I
extend my sincerest apologies for missing the Chartering ceremony, and I want to thank Brother Peter for representing
me and the rest of the National Heroes line. Finally, among other travels, I look forward to another trip to Eastern Ohio
in the coming months to officially present a new Camp Charter to the Brethren of Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter #572.
Again – congratulations to all of the Brethren from all of these new Camps! I’m very proud of all of you and look
forward to hearing about all of your future successes!

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To all Heroes of ’76 Brethren, thank you again the faith that you have put in me by electing me as your National
Commander. It has been truly an honor and pleasure to serve you. EIAR!

Paul A. DeMerath
National Commander