1776 Militia Chapter #560, National Sojourners, Inc.

08/11/2023

Picture taken by Jarrod Coffey National Sojourners Photographer at the 2023 Annual National Convention in Harrisburg, PA. This is Syd Hill, Col, USAF Ret, Adjutant of The Great Dismal Swamp Camp Heroes of 76. The colonial uniform you see is the hunting shirt in favor for the troops by George Washington prior to his order for Colonial Army Uniforms in 1779. The Deplorable Dismalites of the 1776 Militia Chapter 560 Camp chose this as their camp uniform and the standard rifle issue for the Deplorables is a Traditions 50 caliber flintlock musket. They are used for live fire 21-gun salutes for Ceremonies and honor guard functions. The tricorn hats, cockades, ribbons and medals are National Sojourners issued to the Heroes of '76. Each rifleman has some variations by choice on the uniform for their gear which includes powder horn, possibilities bag and equipment for musket. Each hero may have some variations to the uniform and equipment such as personal preference for boots, knives, tomahawks and possibilities bag design. This particular uniform has been decorated with embroidery of Metis Culture which goes back to the 1700s. Syd is a Metis Nation Ontario Citizen, and his ancestry goes back to the Georgian Bay Metis Communities in particular, Gendron, Langlade, Vasseur, and Lamarre Family lines. The Tomahawk shown is a 1799 Chippewa design which is also a peace pipe, and the Knife is of Chippewa culture as well. The Heroes of '76 proudly serves the cause of Patriotism. They conduct programs of Bridge of Light in the Masonic Lodges and Americanism in their communities. Some of the programs are as follows: Toast to the Flag, Build the Flag, Military Flag Program, History of Old Glory, Awards to ROTC/JROTC, Gun Salutes at Funerals, Dedication of Flag Poles, Laying Wreathes at Veteran Graves, Honor Guards, Speakers at Lodges and Service Clubs in the surrounding communities. They do provide services/programs to their fellow veterans. The National Sojourners are military masons with some honorary masonic members.

07/11/2023

It is probably the most famous painting in American history as the best know painting by the least know artist: It is The Spirit of ’76. It shows two drummers and a fife player marching with a 13-star U.S. flag, saluting the spirit of the American Revolution. It ranks with the flag-raising at Iwo Jima during World War II as the most iconic American images. You may know it as the center piece of our Heroes Medal. It was originally known as Yankee Doodle because the painter based the scene on summer picnics in Wellington, when veterans from the War of 1812 drank rum all day and by evening were mock-marching and playing their drums and fifes to the tune Yankee Doodle. The painter Archibald Willard fought in the Civil War as a member of the 86th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Before and after the war he worked for the Wellington carriage maker. His career took off when he formed a partnership with J. F. Ryder who ran a photography and art studio in nearby Cleveland selling humorous sketches and posters by Willard. In 1875 Ryder encouraged Willard to produce a piece for Americas Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Willard began work on his famous painting, moving to Cleveland to complete the large 8-foot-by-10-fot oil painting. He used people he knew as models. The drummer in the center was his father, the Rev. Samuel Willard. The fife player on the right was his boyhood friend and fellow Civil War soldier, Hugh Mosher. The boy on the left was Henry Devereaux, a cadet at a Wellington military academy. Even the often-overlooked fallen soldier in the foreground was based on a pair of Wellington residents. Originally, the piece was meant to be humorous, and the men were portrayed marching in a light-hearted manner. But in 1875, Willard’s father fell ill; he died before the painting was completed. Willard adjusted the painting to have a more somber tone to reflect the dignity, fortitude and moral heroism of his father. Even when the painting was displayed at the Philadelphia exhibition in 1876, it was put in a room separate from the rest of the art exhibits, because officials didn’t think it represented serious art. But the painting was wildly popular. Thousands of people poured into the room to view the painting, with many returning several days in a row. U.S. President Ulysses Grant arrived late one evening, as Willard repaired a small tear caused by the jostling crowds. The 18th president was moved by what he saw. After the exhibition, the painting went on exhibit in Boston – where it was renamed Spirit of ‘76 – then later was on display in Washington, D.C. In 1880, Wellington railroad magnate John Devereaux, father of the cadet in the painting, purchased the artwork for $5,000 – a ridiculous amount of money then. Devereaux donated it to his hometown, Marblehead, Mass., where the giant painting still hangs in the town hall. Spirit of ‘76 soon became one of the most copied paintings in American history, even as art historians derided it as cartoonish and criticized its commercial popularity. One critic snorted, “The number of people who saw it (on exhibition) is dwarfed by the number who came to own copies.” There were where 28 different originals of the painting in smaller sizes by the artist. Now you know the story behind the Medallion/Painting. For you the “Deplorable Dismalites" of The Great Dismal Swamp, that is be quite a story behind it to fit in with our rag tag outfit.

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Here is to our next century of Heroes of 76 – a Renewal!

05/16/2023

05/05/2023

Attended the End of the Year/Change of Command Ceremony at Pasquotank High School Air Force JRTOC. Picture on top, Cadet Major Ankney a Junior was presented the National Sojourners JROTC Medal by Hero of 76, Syd Hill, Col USAF Ret. Picture on top is a group shot with the instructor SMSgt Coffey taking the Picture. Great group of JROTC Cadets.

02/08/2023

1776 Militia Chapter 560 Participated in the Initiation of Most Worshipful Brother Kevan Frazier, The Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina in National Sojourners. This occured at the Camp Lejeune Chapter 329 National Sojourners Blue Lodge Night on Feb 6. The National Sojourners President Denny Norris officiated. All five National Sojourner Chapters in North Carolina were present, and all Masters of the Masonic Lodges were present from the district. The Meeting was held at the York Rite Temple in New Bern, North Carolina. Everyone met on the square to greet our Newest Member in the National Sojourners.

01/18/2023

Congratulation to Widow Sons Masonic Lodge #75 on their 200 + 2 Year anniversary. Covid delayed their ceremony for 2 years. May they Shine their light for many more years to come. The Heroes of 76 in the 1776 Militia Chapter #560 National Sojourners was honored to dedicate their flagpole and present a US Flag as a gift in honor of the occasion.

This was posted 20th Dec on the Grand Lodge of North Carolina GLONC Facebook

09/05/2022

Events for this Month are highlighted in light blue. Lodge dates are for informational purposes.

09/02/2022

Acting Worshipful Master Widow's Son Lodge 75 receiving the Toast to The Flag Plaque from Paul Simpson The Great Dismal Swamp Camp Commander with Syd Hill the Adjutant looking on with Richard Quinilone the 1776 Chapter President and Mike McLain honoring the Worshipful Master with Cross Muskets.

09/02/2022

Paul Simpson Camp Commander of the Great Dismal Swamp Camp Heroes' 76 doing the Toast to the Flag at Window's Son Lodge #75 in Camden NC. This is the 7th Lodge in the Mighty District 1 being presented with the Toast to the Flag Plaque.