National Sojourners, Inc. James Monroe Chapter No. 549 Charlottesville, Virginia Proudly serving the cause of Patriotism May 2017 Newsletter Purposes The Purposes of National Sojourners shall be to organize current and former members of the uniformed forces of the United States and Honorary Members, who are Master Masons, into Chapters, for the promotion of good fellowship among its members, 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 forces 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. Included in this issue Page 1, June 7th meeting Page 2, President s Message. Page 3, Jack Jouett Camp info & Commander s message Page 4, Nominations for Coming Year Page 5, Upcoming Meetings and other Chapter News Page 6, Useful Information Page 7, Other information of interest June 2017 Meeting The next meeting will be on Wednesday, June 7th, 2017 at 1830 hours (6:30 pm) at the home of Bother Goldie Tomlin and Lady Sara s home: 52 Hunters Point, Nellysford, VA 22958. Please see the President s message for more information and page 5 for the details. All your ladies are invited and encouraged to come! Please see further information on page 6 of this Newsletter. Page 8, Chapter Roster Secretary/Treasurer Kent Schlussel 1171 River Chase Ridge Charlottesville, VA 22901 (434) 973-8189 E-mail: k2j2@earthlink.net 1 President Edgar (Ed) M. Crebbs 175 Waldrop Road Gordonsville, VA 22942-6203 (540) 832-2708 E-mail: ed.crebbs.1949@gmail.com
President s Message Brother Sojourners: Our next gathering will be at Brother Tomlin s home in Nellysford. We will gather at 1830 hours for social and dinner around 1915 hours and the business of the Chapter. This is a time change to accommodate several who have a distance to travel and earlier commitments. Please RSVP brother Tomlin at ddgm2017gwtjr@gmail.com or at Lady Sara s e-mail at Peacerose1@verizon.net. This should be done by Monday, 5th of June 2017. The program for the evening will be the election and installation of officers for the Chapter and the Camp. If you are interested, and I encourage you, to become an officer (besides those who have volunteered), please give me a call. Participation is highly encouraged. The date of the August Sojourners meeting will be on Sunday, 27 August at Fort King Solomon (aka King Solomon Lodge in Crozet, VA) at 1700 hours. For those of you who are Heroes, a Bivouac will proceed this meeting beginning at 1500 hours. We need to practice for a Hero degree. Hope to see all of you at the June meeting. Fraternally, Ed Crebbs President James Monroe Chapter #549 National Sojourners Inc. Charlottesville, Virginia 2
Jack Jouett Camp Heroes of 76 Officers 2016-2017 LT Edgar (Ed) W. Crebbs, Commander COL Kent Schlussel, Chief of Staff CPL James A. Fields, Jr., Assistant Chief of Staff SGT Henry Booth, Adjutant MAJ Mike D. Griffin, Commander of the Guard Jeffery E. Hodges, Officer of the Day SSGT David N. Goodwin, Senior Lieutenant M.E.& 1SG Scott L. Fielding, Junior Lieutenant MAJ Mike D. Griffin, Commander of the Guard CT2 Harvey L. Fleshman, Sentinel M.E. & SGT Russel G. Snodgrass, Chaplain Heroes We will be having a Bivouac on Sunday, 27th of August 2017 to practice a Hero degree. This will occur at 1500 hours and will be followed by the Sojourners meeting at 1700 hours. We have several events coming up to include the bi-centennial of the University of Virginia on Friday, 6th of October 2017. Others are planned but not all finalized so keep your eye on e-mails for details. Until out next gathering. Fraternally, Ed Crebbs Commander Jack Jouett Camp of Heroes of 76 3
Nominations for 2017-2018 Thanks to Brother Scott Fielding for volunteering the following brothers to take on areas of responsibility for us: Sojourners Nominations President Edgar (Ed) Crebbs 1 st Vice President Jim Fields 2 nd Vice President Scott Fielding 3 rd Vice President Fred Soutter Jr. Secretary/Treasurer Kent Schlussel Marshal Hank Booth Chaplain Russ Snodgrass Heroes Camp Nominations Commander Chief-of-Staff Assistant Chief-of-Staff Adjutant Commander of the Guard Officer of the Day Senior Lieutenant Junior Lieutenant Sentinel Chaplain Edgar Crebbs Kent Schlussel Jim Fields Hank Booth Mike Griffin Jeff Hodges David Goodman Scott Fielding Harvey Fleishman Russ Snodgrass Thank you to the above Brothers who will be giving their time and talents for us. 4
UPCOMING JAMES MONROE CHAPTER MEETING on June 7th! Social Begins at 1830 hours (that is 6:30pm) Casual dress (e.g. polo shirt) will be the uniform of the day. However, bring a light jacket or sweater as it gets cool when the sun goes down. All your LADIES are invited and encouraged to come. Brother Goldie Tomlin and Lady Sara will host our meeting at their residence on June 7th at 1900 hours. Brother Bill and Randy are providing the whole meal of Smoked Texas Style Brisket and 3 or 4 salad dishes (all suitable for those who do not partake of red meat). If you like, you can bring a dessert to share with everyone. Since our numbers vary from meeting to meeting... It suggested that all who plan to attend please send your RSVP to Brother Goldie or Lady Sara by June 5th, 2017. His phone number is: 434.361-0386 or email him at ddgm2017gwtjr@gmail.com. Their address is: 52 Hunters Point, Nellysford, VA 22958. You may also RSVP to the Secretary, Kent Schlussel, at 434.973.8189 or email k2j2@earthlink.net. Future Meetings: Sunday, 27 August 2017: Fort King Solomon (aka King Solomon Lodge, Crozet, VA) Wednesday, 4 October 2017 (Place TBD) Wednesday, 6 December 2017 (Place TBD) 5
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE Americanism and Youth Leadership Conference: We have been presenting the Americanism Award to the local JROTC and ROTC units. Thank you to all the brothers who have presented. We will again be sponsoring high school students this coming year. If the students are anything like the students we had this past summer, we can be please by this activity as we promote patriotism and Americanism to these students. This is not limited to JROTC students, but could be a deserving Boy Scout or Girl Scout. It is a great way to promote patriotism among our youth! We will be discussing the nominations at our June meeting. We have several nominations but a limited amount of money. Be ready to make a decision! Remember these things cost money. The Youth leadership Conference costs approximately $500 per student. Donations are always welcome to help cover these costs. Checks and cash are acceptable to the Chapter for these activities. Special Request from your Secretary: Each year I am required to report to HQ our activities during the year. This Chapter and Camp is very active and has number of activities ranging from presenting the flags, Bridge of Light talks, and Americanism activities. At each activity, your secretary requests that someone from that activity send to the secretary of what was done, when it was done, how many participated, and how many people were at the activity (e.g. audience). Pictures would be great also. This Memorial Day, remember all the veterans that are no longer with us. Thank them for their service in defense of our Freedom Have a Great Summer 6
Publication of Members Information After many comments, we will not be publishing information on our members except for that which is listed in this Newsletter (re: personal info). With good reason, our members are concerned the information can be used for other purposes other than for chapter business. If a member needs to contact another member, they can always call, write, e-mail the Secretary for the information that is needed. Certain officers (e.g President and Secretary) will have personal information on each member. This includes the member s: Name Address E-mail Phone(s) Wife s name Dues information Membership information Service Branch Last four SSN This information is provided by Sojourners Headquarters to the Secretary annually and is safe guarded. No Change in Meeting Days Results of the poll conducted and reported in the last meeting minutes, there will be no change in the meeting day. Hence, we will continue to meet on the first Wednesday of the even number months. However, in August 2017, we will be meeting on a different day. Brother Steve Young presented the Americanism Award to Cadet Margrita Hernandex- Perez of Harrisonburg HS JROTC. Following awards, the Battalion conducted a change of command ceremony. Cadet Hermandez-Perez was promoted to the rank of Cadet/Command Master Sergeant at that time. Cadet Pineda (left) and Cadet Hermandez-Perez (right) Cadet Michelle Pineda was selected as the Cadet/Battalion Commander. The Chapter sponsored Cadet Pineda to the Youth Leadership Program at Valley Forge last summer. 7
Officers James Monroe Chapter #549 Lt. Edgar (Ed) M. Crebbs, President M.E., R.E. and CPL James A. Fields, Jr., First Vice President MAJ Christopher (Kirk) N. Sheap Second Vice President 1SG Scott L. Fielding, Jr., Third Vice President Col. Kent Schlussel, Secretary/Treasurer Sgt. Henry Booth, Marshal SGT Russel (Russ) G. Snodgrass, Jr., Chaplain Color Bearer Chapter Members, *Membership In Perpetuity (MIP) LT Allan G. Anderson* MAJ Stephen S. Barranco, Jr.* SSGT William F. Baskerville*# SGT Henry Booth*# 1LT Louis K. Campbell*# LTC Robert M. Carlisle SSGT Reese E. Carroll, Jr.* LT Edgar M. Crebbs*# **TSGT H. Arthur Dechent* Mr. William T. Ellison, Jr.*# 1SG Scott L. Fielding*# CPL James A. Fields, Jr.*# CT2 Harvey L. Fleshman*# LtCol Randolph Geck*# SSGT David N. Goodwin*# MAJ Mike D. Griffin# LTC William E. Hershey, Jr.*# DR Jeffery E. Hodges*# COL William F. Hughes* LTC Carl E. Hollar, Jr.*# COL Mike Jaffee, MD *# **CAPT Charles M. Johnson, III* SGT Christopher R. Kintner*# SGM David C. Merchant* CSM Charles W. Moubray* CPT John A. Muhler* LTC Charles E. Reinhold* LTC William F. Reinhold* LTC Harry E. Sanders, Jr.*# MSGT Charles S. Sarbaugh*# COL Kent Schlussel*# MAJ Christophoer N. Sheap* MR Fred G. Soutter* CT2 Robert E. Simpson*# MR Paul D. Sleeper* SGT Russel G. Snodgrass# ENCM James L. Starcher* SSGT Goldie W. Tomlin, Jr.*# LTC William G. L. Turner*# LTC Charles M. Ward* **CAPT Kent S. Webber*# MAJ Richard W. Williamson*# LT Stephen L. Young*# #Heroes * MIP **Deceased Birthdays U. S. Army, 14 June 1775 U. S. Navy, 13 October 1775 U. S. Marines, 10 November 1775 U. S. Coast Guard, 4 August 1790 U. S. Public Health Service, 16 July 1798 National Oceanic & Atmospheric Service, 1917 U. S. Air Force, 17 September 1947 8