Page 3 - Spring Sojourner Newsletter-Spring 2024 Final

Volume 101, Issue 2 3

NATIONAL COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

National Convention and National Encampment

The Midwinter meeting is in the books, and we are looking forward to the National
Convention in Austin, Texas. Let me pause here to say how sorry I am to hear of
Brother PNP Jim Baker’s passing. Brother Baker was one of the first that took
interest in my advancement in the National Sojourners at the national level,
allowing me to become a member of the Americanism Committee. He is missed.

I know that many of you feel like the National meetings, the Midwinter and
National Convention are for the National Officers and some of the long in the tooth
members, like me, that have been active for a long time. There could not be
anything further from the truth. It is vital to the health and future of the National
Sojourners that you take an interest and attend these meetings. We need your input,
we need your ideas, and we also need YOU to be present to keep our beloved Order moving forward. As you
know from your attendance at your Chapter and Camp meetings, nothing beats the fun and fellowship that you
get from being together with your fellow Sojourners, Heroes and Ladies. Remember that the first purpose of
the National Sojourners in our Purposes is the promotion of fellowship among our members. Translate that
feeling from your Chapter to the National level; you have the opportunity to gather with Brothers and ladies
from around the country. You will make friendships that will last your lifetime; I know that I have.

Attendance at the National Convention also affords you the opportunity to increase your involvement in the
business of the Order. You can debate resolutions, meet and get to know those running for positions to lead
our organization, and cast your vote as you see fit in order to help us continue to move forward to fulfil the
other items listed in our Purposes: “…for assisting such as may be overtaken by adversity or affliction, for
cultivating Masonic ideals, for supporting all patriotic aims and activities in Masonry, for developing true
patriotism and Americanism throughout the nation, for bringing together representatives of the uniformed
services of the United States (past and present) in a united effort to further the military needs of national
defense, and for opposing any influence whatsoever calculated to weaken the national security.”

I hope to see many of you, and more importantly, many new faces, at our National Convention in Austin.
Grand Dame Lady Wendy and I personally invite all Heroes of ’76 to the National Encampment and ask you
to escort your Ladies to the Bennington Banquet which will be held on Wednesday, 12 June.

EIAR!

Brian C. Coffey
National Commander
Heroes of ‘76
2023-2024