Page 7 - Sojourner Newsletter-Fall 2024 Final1

Volume 101, Issue 4 7

HISTORIAN’S CORNER

Edward W. Nolte, National Historian

Centennial Chapter Celebrations—The 1925 Chapters

A previous issue of The Sojourner addressed the 19 currently active Chapters of the 28 Chapters chartered
between 1918 and 1924 (Chicago through Los Angeles #26). This article addresses the 6 active Chapters
among the 15 that chartered in 1925 (LaCrosse #20 through Newark #42). These “Class of 25” Chapters are
encouraged to celebrate their chartering in 2025 to honor the members of the “Greatest Generation” who were
born about this time and were responsible for winning WWII. Of the 9 inactive “Class of ‘25” Chapters,
8 dissolved and one is on the In Memorial Chapter list.
The Chapter’s Centennial Anniversary IS a significant milestone and worthy of celebration. Just as each of
the Uniformed Services, whether continuous or not, celebrates its Anniversary, so should the National
Sojourners Chapters.
For those non-continuous Chapters, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy approaches offer some
guidance. The USN and USMC were formed on 13 October 1775 and 11 November 1775, respectively. Both
were disbanded by Congress in 1783 due to lack of funding. The USN was re-activated on 24 March 1794 and
originally used that date as its founding. The USMC was re-activated on 11 July 1798, four years later, but
used its original founding date of 11 November 1775 as its founding. Hence, the USMC Flag is senior to the
USN Flag. In 1971, ADM Zumwalt changed the USN founding date to its original date, but 51 years of
tradition and protocol prevail, and the USMC is still considered the senior service of the two for protocol
purposes. For our U.S. Army Brethren, the USA has been in continuous operation since 14 June 1775 and is
our senior service. Which date does the Chapter choose to use—its original Charter date or years of active
operation? Your National Historian recommends the former.
When and how to celebrate is up to the members of the Chapter, but as I said at the Centennial Anniversary
of the Order in 2018-2019, you will only have one opportunity in your lifetime to celebrate your Centennial
Anniversary. Also, as Noah told his sons, “Don’t miss the boat!”

The following, currently active Chapters reach their Centennial in 2025:

• Charleston #28: Chartered on 1 January 1925—100 years of continuous operation.
• Louisiane #33: Chartered on 14 June 1925, dissolved in June 1963, re-chartered on 1 July 1984—
79 years of active operation.
• Denver-Fitzsimons #37: Chartered on 11 September 1925, merged with Fitzsimons Army Hospital #377
in 1971—continuous operation for 100 years as Denver #37, Denver-Fitzsimons Army Hospital #37, and
currently Denver-Fitzsimons #37.
• Pittsburgh #38: Chartered on 29 October 1925, dissolved in 1977, operated as a Club from January 1966
to 2018, and rechartered on 26 March 2024 for 53 years of active operation.
• VADM Homer N. Wallin #40: Chartered on 2 November 1925 for 100 years of continuous operation as
Seattle (1925-26), Puget Sound (1926-85), and VADM Homer N. Wallin #40 (1985-Present).
• Northern New Jersey #42: Chartered on 24 November 1925 for 100 years of continuous operation as
Newark #42 (1925-30) and Northern New Jersey #42 (1930-Present).
For the 22 Chapters (#43 through #64) chartered in 1926, 8 of which are currently active (#43, #44, #45, #52,
#56, #58, #60, and #63), you have plenty of time to plan your celebrations for 2026. Please use this article to
remind the membership of your special upcoming event.