Page 16 - Sojourner Newsletter-Fall 2023 v1.3

16 THE SOJOURNER

Granite Bench and Tree Memorial
at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial

At the 2022 Federal Area Conference and Encampment (FACE), Lady Linda Sanner, wife of Bro. Bill
Sanner, Federal Area Representative, challenged us to collect donations to provide a memorial Granite Bench
and to plant a tree at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (GWMNM) in Alexandria, Virginia
in honor of the Heroes of ’76 for our Centennial Year. The first donations were made by attendees at FACE in
2022.

The goal was to raise funds to donate a tree and bench during the Heroes of ’76 Centennial year. Heroes of
‘76 will be recognized on the tree and bench. Each Area Conference and Encampment was asked to accept
donations and for each Camp and Individual Hero to consider donating to help the GWMNM and our Order to
have this everlasting memorial.

The response was incredible! We collected $6,962.00! This allows us to provide a granite bench and tree in
the memorial garden at the GWMNM with a Heroes of ’76 Centennial Medallion to add to the bench. A
presentation was made to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial at this year’s Federal area
Conference and Encampment, one year after we started this project.

The following individuals and groups made this project a success!

Omaha Chapter #19 El Paso Chapter #74
Harrisburg Chapter #76 Walter Reed Chapter #303
Old Dominion Chapter #364 Shenandoah Valley Chapter #543
James Monroe Chapter #549 North Carolina Chapter #97
Anson Jones Chapter #507 Grand Masters Chapter #996
Carolinas AC&E

Dan Alati Dave Alderfer
Richard Arroyo Mort Lindner
Brian & Wendy Coffey Paul DeMerath
Carl & Carolyn Diamond Edward & Nancy Ford

Bill Free Randy & Carol Geck
William Haynes Bob & Patricia McConnell
Jeff McLaughlin Dave & Tammy Leonard
Fritz McMullin Joe Musumeci

John Nelson Charlie Odorizzi
Frank Ortiz Paul & Nancy Pennybacker
Bill Pickle Ed Raper

Raymond Robinson Bill & Linda Sanner
Dennis Shraeder Mike Smith
Howard Sobel Phil Stroud
Ron and Lady Tami Stites Bill & Patty Turner