Page 19 - Sojourner Newsletter-Fall 2023 v1.3

Volume 100, Issue 4 19
CHAPTER NEWS

CLARENCE H COHEN CHAPTER #162 and
GENERAL OGLETHORPE CAMP (Brian C. Coffey, Secretary).
Members of the Chapter and Camp attended the thirteenth annual Signer’s Monument
celebration in Augusta, Georgia. The event began 13 years ago with Brother James
Hanby, a locally born Mason who served as a judge in Delaware. Brother Hanby wanted
something to bring notice to the three signers of the Declaration of Independence who are
buried beneath the Monument. Although in the early years the crowds were quite sparse
and mainly consisted of just his family; National Sojourners signed on to help beginning
in 2015 and have been running the ceremony since 2022, seeing the total number of
spectators grow to over 100. This year’s celebration included our National Commander of
the Heroes of ’76, Bro. Brian Coffey as keynote speaker with a local high school historian
as guest speaker. The Color Guard was made up of members from various Georgia
chapters. Fabio Mann amazed us with his trumpet playing, including the National
Anthem. The kids were enthralled with ringing the bell as the names of all the Signers
were read. Various masonic lodges and organizations were present to lay wreaths at the
monument as well as several civic and political groups. Through the years our celebration has gotten bigger and better,
and we hope to continue the tradition for a very long time.

Heroes’ Color Guard presenting the Colors Attendees at the monument

KENTUCKY #134 (Mark Galloway, Secretary). At its August 2023
meeting, Kentucky Chapter #134 presented an oversized check of $3,000.
Mr. to Jeff Thoke, Chairman of the Board of Honor Flights, Bluegrass, KY.
Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit organization, created in 2005
comprised of independent hubs working together to achieve the Honor
Flight mission. In furtherance of this common goal, we have the enormous
privilege of showing our nation’s veterans the appreciation and honor they
deserve. Participation in an Honor Flight trip gives veterans the opportunity
to share this momentous occasion with other comrades, remember the fallen,
and share their stories and experiences with other veterans. Honored
veterans always travel free of charge, thanks to generous donations to our
organization. Honor Flight Network currently honors those who served
during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and veterans of
any service era who are critically ill. Transporting approximately 22,000
veterans annually, Honor Flight Network has flown nearly 275,000 veterans
to Washington, D.C. since its inception. Information about Honor Flight can
(L-r) Bro. Mark Galloway,
Sec., Mr. Jeff Thoke, be found on their website at www.honorflight.org.
Bro. Bill Harvey, President