National Sojourners, Inc. James Monroe Chapter No. 549 Charlottesville, Virginia Proudly serving the cause of Patriotism January 2018 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, February 7th, 2018 meeting Page 2, President s Message. Page 3, Jack Jouett Camp info & Commander s message Page 4, Toys for Tots and Remembrance Page 5, Upcoming Meetings and other Chapter News Page 6, Useful Information Page 8, Chapter Roster February Meeting The next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 7th, 2018 at 1800 hours (6:00pm) for a social and dinner at 1830 hours (6:30 pm) at the Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant located at the Lodges at Old Trail, 1015 Heathercroft Circle in Crozet. We have a room reserved for us and will be ordering from the menu. Please RSVP to Bro Goldie Tomlin before January 30th. Please see the President s message for more information and page 5 for the details. All your ladies are invited and encouraged to come! 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 and Ladies, I greet you from the warmth of my house after several days of ridiculous low temperatures. This appears to be our quiet period. The holidays are over and the beltlines are stressed for some of us. Brother Tomlin did a fantastic job with Toys-for-Tots again this year. Thank you, sir. The December meeting at Aberdeen Barn was well attended and our cadet guest was a great example of what we are looking for in our Valley Forge attendees. The February meeting will be at a Mexican restaurant in Crozet. Brother Tomlin has already promulgated this information in an earlier email. Until February, be safe, be happy, and be at our meeting if possible. 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) M. 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 Brother Heroes Your performance at the degree this month was stellar. We have a new Hero who was deeply impressed with the program. I saw him the other night and he was again thankful for the honor we have bestowed upon him. Our next event will again be at Louisa Baptist Church on Friday, 16 March 2018 at 1800 hours to present the colors at the official visit of the Grand Master to the 7th and 10th Masonic Districts. We will muster there at 1730 hours. There is also a request for the Traitor play which we must discuss. Until we meet again, keep smiling, it makes others wonder what you're up to. Fraternally, Ed Crebbs Commander Jack Jouett Camp of Heroes of 76 3
Toys for Tots Congratulations to Brother Goldie Tomlin for chairing a successful program this year. We had six full boxes of toys and over $1700 (Charlottesville and Waynesboro) in donations. The only disappointment was not being able to officially present the toys and donations due to weather.. Nevertheless, Brother Tomlin and President Crebbs delivered all the toys to the donation site two days later. 4
UPCOMING JAMES MONROE CHAPTER MEETING on February 7th! Location: Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant in Crozet Social Begins at 1800 hours (that is 6:00pm) Dress will be coat and ties (James Monroe Chapter tie if you have one). All your LADIES are invited and encouraged to come. We will be ordering from the menu. Mi Rancho have gotten very good reviews. Even if you do not Mexican food, there are other items to order. They have received a 4.7 out of five star rating! Their website is http://www.miranchomexican.com/. Please RSVP to Brother Goldie Tomlin; e-mail is ddgm2017gwtjr@gmail.com and phone number is 434-361-6386 by January 30th, 2018. Jack Jouett Camp, Heroes of 76: The next bivouac will be announced in the near future. Look for the announcement in your e-mail. Camp Followers: The book club is currently reading Women Heroes of the American Revolution. This will be discussed at the February meeting. One does not need to be a Camp Follower to join in the fun. If you have questions, please contact Lady Susan Hodges. Future Meetings: Wednesday, 4 April 2018: At the home of Brother Bill and Lady Randy Baskerville. This will include a meal and a Flag Disposal Ceremony. Please plan on attending. Wednesday, 6 June 2018: Location TBD and elections! 5
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE Americanism and Youth Leadership Conference: Spring is really not that far away. We will need assistance in the presentation of our Americanism Award to desiring cadets from both our JROTC and ROTC programs at the various schools in our area. Please plan on participating in presenting the awards to the various schools and colleges. I know that Brother Scott Fielding will greatly appreciate your help in this endeavor of our chapter. You should have received information about the 2018 Sojourners program at the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge s Spirit of America Youth Leadership Conference,. Our funds for this program and for the Americanism program are low. We have you to encourage your Lodges and others to contribute to this worthy program. We have just below $94.00. As attested by the programs for the past couple of meetings, the students we attend gain a great appreciation of America and of American patriotism. We sent four last year and hopefully be able to afford to send four this coming summer. Please help! Thanks to the Lodges and brothers who have given, but we need more! If you can gave, please do! Checks can be sent to your secretary or bring one to a meeting! Special Request from your Secretary: I will be filling our annual report with Headquarters in July. Thank you to all the brothers who kept me informed of their Sojourners activities. 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. 6
Officers James Monroe Chapter #549 Lt. Edgar (Ed) M. Crebbs, President 1SG Scott L. Fielding, Jr., First Vice President CPL James A. Fields, Jr., Second Vice President Fred G. Soutter, 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* COL John Thomas Province 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 7