AFTER-ACTION
REPORT
Sunday,
October 5, 2003
Ed King, Adjutant
The Black
Angus Restaurant in Quechee Gorge, Vermont was the site of the regeneration of
the Henry Knox Camp of the Heroes of '76 in splendid form. Heroes from Vermont's
General Stark Camp welcomed our three Heroes and dozen ragged recruits and acted
as host to both our Camp and the New Hampshire William Whipple Camp with their
recruits.
Despite
some initial confusion amongst the recruits, the day proceeded apace and we
ended the friendship and fellowship with a reenergized Camp.
If you are
interested in becoming a part of this very unique group, let our Commander, Bro.
Jack Lagerquist, know!
The Heroes of '76 is a side degree of the National Sojourners, Inc., a
Military-Masonic order. The election of a fellow Sojourner to join Heroes of `76
is an honor and reward "in recognition of exemplary service" given to
those who have "demonstrated their loyal support of National Sojourners,
Inc.".
Our
camp is named after Henry Knox (1750-1806)
a major figure in American Independence, General in the Continental Army and
close confident of General Washington, first Secretary of War, principal founder
of U.S. Military Academy and co-founder of the U.S. Navy.
We are in the process of 'revitalizing our Camp and will have more information
here presently.
Our new Camp Commander plans
some type of 'program' team to provide our
Heroes with an active involvement.
The
Bennington Flag Lecture
The
flag of our Order is the Bennington Flag. It was adopted at the National
Encampment in May 1928. At the time of its adoption, legend had it that the flag
had flown during the Battle of Bennington over the storehouse where the
Bennington Monument now stands and may have been present at the surrender of
General Burgoynes's forces two months later. The distinguished Vermont
historian, John Spargo, thought it to have been the flag referred to by General
John Stark as he exhorted his men to battle by shouting "Tonight the
American flag floats over yonder hill or Molly Stark sleeps a widow!"
The Bennington Flag
first appeared shortly after the outbreak of war with England in 1812 in the
possession of Nathaniel Fillmore, a veteran of the Revolution and a participant
in the battle of Bennington. It does not take too much imagination to believe
that it is a reproduction of a flag which Fillmore remembered from the battle.
Maude Fillmore Wilson
donated it to the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont in 1926. Accounts of
its display vary considerably. One is that such a flag flew over the tent of the
Commander in Chief, General Horatio Gates. Another version relates that it was
carried at the head of a parade of victorious American troops. Also present is
the familiar story of how the flag was made by patriot women cutting up their
flannel petticoats in a burst of patriotic devotion. It was on continuous
display at the Bennington Museum until 1995 when it was removed for examination,
cleaning, restoration and preservation. In the Fall of 1996 the newly restored
flag was again placed on display where it remains unchallenged as the oldest
complete stars and stripes in existence.
The
uncommon design of the Bennington Flag with its 13 seven pointed stars and the
numbers "76" in the canton make this flag a distinctive and unusual
interpretation of our national colors. It is uniquely suited to be the flag of
the Heroes of '76 as if it had been especially designed for that purpose.
You can read more about
the history and preservation of the actual Bennington Flag at the Bennington
Museum website where there's also a picture of this national treasure.
