Page 6 - Sojourner Newsletter-Summer 2025 _V2

6 THE SOJOURNER

NATIONAL COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

Let Freedom Ring

The theme for my term as National Commander is “Let Freedom Ring” as represented
by the bell on my pin, patch, and coin.

Grammerhow describes “Let freedom ring” as a metaphor, in which the abstract concept of
“freedom” acts like a bell, and so we must “let freedom ring”, like a bell, so that its sound may
echo throughout the land. The phrase is basically saying that more people must know the
“sound” of freedom”.

Just what do these three words mean? During the American Revolution the sound of bells was
used to inform the colonist of both good and bad events. It called them when there were
weddings, funerals or any event the citizens need to be informed of. They also rang out during disasters, indian attacks,
or when the militia was called to the village green. Over the years bells have only rung for weddings, funerals, or to tell
the time.

We can as Heroes of ’76 can “Let Freedom Ring” by our actions. We can accomplish this by holding events at our
chapters/camps celebrating events for the 250th anniversary of our nation’s Independence, 1775 - 1776 / 2025 - 2026.
Look at all the events that happened in 1775 - 1776, here is a list I took from the National Park website, there are many
more not listed.

1775
March 23: Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech, Richmond, VA
April 18: Revere and Dawes Ride
April 19: Battles of Lexington and Concord, MA
May 10: Ethan Allen and Green Mountain Boys seize Fort Ticonderoga, Second Continental Congress meets
June 15: George Washington appointed commander-in-chief
June 17: Battle of Bunker Hill
1776
January 9: Publication of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"
March 3: First landing on foreign soil by Marines
March 17: British evacuation of Boston
July 4: Signing of the Declaration of Independence
Other battles such as the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, Battle of the Cedars, Battle of Sullivan’s Island, and Battle
of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn).

Be a Bell Ringer! Let Freedom Ring!

Peter G. Cauchon
National Commander

NATIONAL COMMANDER’S MASONIC BIOGRAPHY

NC #97 (2025-26) CCM Peter George Cauchon, 33°

Personal: Peter G. Cauchon was born on 20 May 1950 in Furth, Germany, as the second of three children to

Wilfred G. and Hermine (Meier) Cauchon. He attended grade school at St. Francis Xavior in Winooski, Vermont;
middle school at Paramount Junior High School in Paramount, California; and high school at Dominguez Senior High
School in Compton, California. Peter married Jane D. (Ruehl) Cauchon on 28 August 1971, and they have three adult
children and three grandsons. After his military retirement, he attended and graduated from Harris-Stowe State
University (1975) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. The remainder of his civilian career was working for
the U.S. Postal Service, as a letter Carrier, from 1975 until retiring in 2005. For civic organizations, in the American
Legion, Peter G. Cauchon is a Past Commander, Past Finance Officer, and the current Adjutant and Historian of Webster
Groves (Missouri) Memorial Post #172. In the Independent Order of Oddfellows, he is a member of Saint Louis
Lodge #5, a Past Noble Grand (1988),Past District Deputy Grand Master. (1989), and has served on various committees