Page 23 - Sojourner Newsletter-Winter 2023 Final revised
P. 23
Volume 100, Issue 1 23
GARDEN STATE CHAPTER #438
(Christopher Sands, Secretary) Six National
Sojourners were present at Atlas-Pythagoras
Lodge’s Charity night to accept a $250.00 donation
to our ROTC/JROTC fund. Present that evening
was 98-year-old RW Thurman Pace Jr., who helped
liberate Dachau Concentration Camp at the end of
World War II. We were all delighted to see him as
he had not been out to lodge in over 2 years .
(L-r) Bro. Ed Bates, Bro. Larry Duba
FRESNO CHAPTER #269 (Larry L. Duba,
Secretary). Two members of Fresno Chapter # 269
participated in the 103rd Annual Veterans Day
Parade in Fresno, California on November 11th.
Bro. (LtCol) Larry Duba, Chapter Secretary/
Treasurer and Commander of Fort Miller Camp of
the Heroes of ’76 drove his 1956 Ford Thunderbird
in the parade. Larry is retired from the United
States Air Force Reserve. His passenger was Hero
(Col) Ed Bates, who has been a Sojourner for 41
years. Ed is a World War II Veteran who served in
the US Navy. Bro. Ed also served as a Colonel in
the California State Military Reserve, and he
retired as the Madera County, CA Sheriff. The
magnetic sign on the sides of the vehicle advertises The pictures are from our display table at the
National Sojourners and there is an effort to locate Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of
other Veterans who are Masons to join the New Jersey. I met many of the National Sojourners
Chapter . from our two New Jersey Chapters. I spoke to
many of our Masonic Brothers who are interested
in joining National Sojourners. One Brother, who
lives in South Jersey mentioned he was already a
Sojourner. I asked him to which chapter, to which
he replied it is in Pennsylvania. I told him we were
trying to start a chapter in South Jersey, and he
replied that might work! There are many military
Masons in my lodge, so let’s hope it does work out!
Chapter President Ray Ortiz III was also present
during Grand Lodge and WB Richard Forman was
part of the Commandry Honor Guard which formed
an arch with their swords for the entrance of the
Most Worshipful Grand Master and his elected and
Decal referenced in article appointed line.
