Page 4 - Sojourner Newsletter-Summer 2023 Final

4 THE SOJOURNER

NATIONAL COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

I want to thank the Heroes of ’76 for honoring me with election as your National
Commander. I want to give special thanks to my family, Lady Wendy, Grand Dame,
Bother Jarrod Coffey, PNP Wayne Barnes and Lady Floretta Barnes, Grand Dame,
for their support during the years of this journey. I also want to specifically thank
PNC Boog Powell for appointing me to the Heroes of ’76 Officer Line and my
Chapters and Camps for their support.

Our theme this year is: Fellowship – Patriotism – Masonic Ideals, as found in the
Purposes of the National Sojourners. I want us to have fun, while promoting
patriotism and always adhering to our obligations as Masons. I hope to work hard to
help Camps do the work to help their Chapters. Strong Camps build strong Chapters.

I will use this year to stress Proficiency in our Ritual. In any of our other Masonic
Bodies, do you confer Degrees with a book in your hand, reading the Ritual? My guess is that you do not. I
want us to learn our Ritual and become proficient in conferring the Heroes of ’76 Degree. The example given
us by York Camp at the Annual National Encampment should make us strive to meet this goal. They were
excellent!

I will travel to as many Area Conference and Encampments (ACE’s) as I can, and I look forward to seeing
many of you there and at the National Meetings. I will hold Quarterly Commander’s Calls on Zoom to provide
information and training to the assembled Heroes. All are welcome to attend. Details will be posted on the
Commander’s Bulletin Board.

I look forward to a good year serving you as your National Commander; please do not hesitate to contact me
if there is anything I can do to help you or your Camps.

Fraternally yours,
Brian C. Coffey
National Commander
2023-2024

NATIONAL COMMANDER’S MASONIC BIOGRAPHY

Brother Brian C. Coffey was elected as the National Commander, Heroes of ’76 at the June 2023 Annual
National Encampment held in Harrisburg, PA In National Sojourners, Inc., Brother Coffey has served as an
Area Representative, member, Vice Chairman and Acting Chairman of the Committee of 33, Chairman of the
National Bridge of Light Committee, and serves on several other National Committees. Brother Coffey was
selected as a member of the Constitutional Commission to return the Order to government by a National
Constitution and Bylaws. He is Past President of Clarence H. Cohen Chapter #162, and Past Commander of
General Oglethorpe Camp, Heroes of ’76. Brother Coffey is a member in perpetuity of 16 Chapters.
Brother Coffey is a thirty-nine-year Mason and is an active member of three Lodges: Hinesville Lodge #271,
PM (2001); Clarence H. Cohen Daylight Lodge #749, PM (2016); Martinez Lodge #710, Worshipful Master
(2022). Brother Coffey has served in almost every office in the Lodge and committees, including Education
and Board of Financial Trustees. He has served as Director of Work for #710 and #749 and served as Secretary
of #749 for two years. He was elected Secretary of Martinez Lodge #710 and Junior Warden of Clarence H.
Cohen Daylight Lodge for 2023. Brother Coffey served as the Charter Master of the Augusta Lodge of
Research #6 in 2013-2014 while simultaneously serving as the Master of Lodge of Research #1 in Savannah.
He served as Master of Research Lodge #6 in 2021 and 2022 and he is Past Master of the Tenth Masonic
District Convention. He was named Mason of the Year for the Tenth Masonic District for 2017. In 2014,
Martinez Lodge #710 honored Brother Coffey by naming the Lodge Library in his honor and naming him
Mason of the Year. In 2018, he was appointed Third Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Georgia and is