Page 7 - Sojourner Newsletter-Spring 2025_Final

Volume 102, Issue 2 7

HISTORIAN’S CORNER

By Edward W. Nolte, National: Historian

Heroes of ’76 Manual Committee

In July 1922, COL Christopher Van Deventer, 33°, introduced Heroes of ’76 (H’76) to National Sojourners
(NSI) in Chicago Chapter and formed Bon Homme Richard Camp, but he did much more than introduce
H’76 to NSI. For the next 42 years, COL Christopher Van Deventer, 33°, served as Founder (1922-26), the
first elected National Commander (1926-30), and the only Emeritus National Commander (1930-64). He
ensured H’76 was conducted in a manner in which he and those who came before him (Atwater, Jones, and
Flournoy) would have approved. After he laid down his working tools on 24 February, H’76 no longer had
the oversight of its Founder, leader, and role model. For a period, it seemed that every National Commander
wanted to make his mark on the Order by tweaking and changing the H’76 Degree in some manner. Thus,
some oversight was necessary.

The Heroes of ’76 Manual Committee (HMC) was created in 1969 by Resolution 1969-17. It is interesting
that an H’76 topic was approved by an NSI Resolution, but that is the case. The 1969 Annual National
Encampment actually pre-approved the H’76 portion of the Resolution, which required all changes to the
H’76 Manual to be approved by the HMC.

The original HMC consisted of three PNCs, and while the requirement for PNCs remains today, the number
has been reduced to two (2) elected PNCs. My oldest copy of the Heroes Manual, dated 1979, states that
there are two elected Past National Commanders, so the reduced number occurred sometime within the first
ten (10) years. In addition to these two elected PNCs, the HMC now includes the National Commander as
Chairman, the Chief of Staff as Vice Chairman, and the Junior Past National Commander. No other Heroes
can be HMC members.
Since 1969, the HMC’s two elected positions have been filled by the following PNCs:
• CW5 Pedro A. Arroyo, PNC, LOH, and VDT.
• SgtMaj John J. Brown, 33°, PNC, and VDT.
• Brother SCPO Carl J. Diamond, NP, PNC, VDT.
• Brother Maj Charles A. Folsom, 33°, PNP, PNC, LOH, VDT #1.
• Brother 1SG Andrew F. Hirst, 33°, PNC, VDT
• Brother CDR Stanley C. Miller, PNC, VDT.
• Brother Capt Clarence M. Nelson, PNC, LOH, VDT.
• Brother Col Edward W. Nolte, 33°, PNC, PNP, VDT
• Brother BG Benjamin T. Sutherlin, 33°, PNC, PNP, LOH, VDT.
• Brother SSgt Richard D. Sutton, 33°, PNC.
• Brother Lt Col William G.L. Turner, 33°, PNC, PNP, LOH, VDT.

The Annual National Encampment Proceedings, published in the Summer 2024 issue of The Sojourner
stated that two, non-eligible Heroes were elected to three-year terms. Neither of these elections are valid, as
the “elected” members of the Heroes Manual Committee must be PNCs, augmented by the current National
Commander, Chief of Staff, and junior PNC, who are automatically members. In addition, there are no three
-year, elected terms on the HMC.
This is stated for two reasons. First, that the National Heroes of ’76 Line and Staff Officers know the HMC
requirements. Second, that Heroes attending the Annual National Encampment know the requirements for
oversight of the Official Manual Heroes of ’76.

Editorial notes: The HMC error and misinformation reported to the NA and published in the 2024 Summer
issue of The Sojourner was immediately corrected in the MMS and Staff Directory back in July, 2024.