Change #2: “The Sojourner Chapter will meet on the first Wed in April, 5 April, at Pullman Restaurant on Cherokee St Leavenworth. NOT AT THE CAFÉ. Originally the meeting night was changed to 12 April because of the Armed Forces Scottish Rite Reunion. But I just checked the AFSR home page and see the Reunion is not until 18 April. Also April 12 is in the middle of Holy Week and a lot folks have church commitments.” – Bro. Dick Wright.
Therefore, the meeting is back to the original Wednesday. Please let Bro. Dick know if you are planning to attend.
It’s a short month and the first Wednesday arrived quickly (Feb 1st!), the day before Groundhog Day. Rather than wait for the rodent to predict gloom and doom for the next six weeks, Brother WhistlePhigg took the initiative to yank the woodchuck from his burrow and make him part of the evening’s repast. BBQ marmot went well with the fricasseed spotted owl and the clubbed seal bacon. As always, a great meal.
Our ship has come in! Unfortunately, we were at the railroad depot. In a pre-snow, cold, January evening, the gang gathered at Pullman’s in Leavenworth for the first meeting of 2017. Keeping with the railroad motif, a train whistle was plainly heard when the idea of initiating a new member was proffered.
In fine military fashion, the members of Old Frontier Camp, Heroes of ’76® mustered for an autumn encampment at Fort Boughton on October 5th. Things were going per plan when all of a sudden, a skirmish occurred on the picket line. Pandemonium ensued. Fortunately, the firelocks simply offered only a flash in the pan because the arriving force was actually our National Commander, Brother Carl Diamond, and his staff. Just about the time that falderal was quelled, another interloper was snagged near the guard house. After a thorough interrogation, the scalawag turned out to be Brother Devin Larson who was looking for the latrine. In order to share that secret, he was initiated, sworn to secrecy, and then shown the way. Too late. He got cold feet.
September may be back-to-school month, but we Sojourners have been laboring through the summer, although we do what we love and love what we do. At this month’s meeting, we initiated Brother Aaron Ewing in due form. He is seen here receiving his Sojourner’s medal from Bro. Dick Wright. Welcome Bro. Aaron.
NOTE: In lieu of the October meeting, Heroes will meet per OPORD No. 2016-01. All Heroes of ’76 should have received orders for activation and muster at Camp Boughton on the evening of 05OCT16 1800 Hours. No Sojourner’s meeting in October.
Brother Mike received his official certificate of membership into Sojourners at our August gathering. He is seen here in an official reenactment of the event that took place only moments before. (The cameraman was a little slow.) Bro. Barry, President (pro tem) presented the certificate. Bro. Dick served as the official witness.
This is the first meeting after the inaugural chapter newsletter, The Sunflower Patriot, was published. Our editor, Bro. Rick, presented the feedback he received as a result of the publications distribution. If you are a member of Fort Leavenworth Chapter #154 and did not receive an email copy, contact Bro. Rick at TheSunflowerPatriot at this web address.
“Explosive”, is how Brother Dick described our July meeting. “One-Arm” Arnold Denten was our special guest who ‘single-handedly’ (pardon the pun) gave a demonstration of pressure-loading an 80mm home-made pan mortar from re-constituted dud fireworks. While placing bets whether it would work, the gathered mass was thrilled to see that our guest presenter got a flash-in-the-pan and and he was Denten the ceiling.
“Capacity crowd!”, yelled the caterer as he looked at the number placard near the door. Fortunately, the maximum allowable was equal to the maximum attending. Wow! What a great time among Sojourners that gathered at the usual watering hole for the June 1, 2016 meeting.
A quick inspection revealed no June Bugs, but Brother Beauregard W. Evils, a.k.a. “Beau Evil”, resident entomologist, gave a very graphic demonstration on field checking oneself for ticks and other carriers of pestilence and mayhem. We learned more about blow flies than we ever wanted to know.
Next meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at the Cafe, Abernathy Building, 1102 N 2nd St., Leavenworth, KS. Gather at 6:00 pm, Dinner at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:00 pm. Brothers, you are encouraged to bring your lady. Meetings are usually over well before 8 pm.
At our next meeting, “One-Arm” Arnold Denten will show how to reconstitute dud fireworks left over from the local 4th July celebration.