LOYAL LEGION HISTORICAL

J O U R N A L The Publication of The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States

VOL. 73 No. 2 Summer 2016

Original Letter from Levi Gupton to his Wife Head Quarters, 116th Reg't Ohio Vet. Inf., Co. C, Camp Near Winchester, May 27th, 1863, 2 o'clock My Dear loving wife, As I was on guard this morning I thought while the rest were asleep I would answer your letter of the 24th which I recd. last night by the hand of A.J. Morris and which I was very glad to receive and it found me well, and I was glad to hear that you were all in pretty good health and I was glad to hear that A.J. Floyd had got back safe for I was afraid that he was amongst the killed. If he comes out there give him my best respects and tell him to write to me. Well Dear, I should have liked to have been at home on last Sunday to have had seen Jim and Lydia and Uncle George, but more particularly to have seen you for I am not so very anxious to see anybody but you and the children. If I could only see you every day I would be satisfied without seeing the rest. Well Dear, I wish you would tell me what R.A. lectured you about for you did not say in your letter only that she gave you fits. Now I would like to know what it was about and I will drop her a few lines by way of advice for I don’t care what the provocation was she had no right to say anything to you under the circumstances for you have enough to bear without being lectured by her. I am very thankful to you for your forbearance on my account, but if they cannot tend to their own business and let you alone why don’t spare them for me, but give them their just due, for what they say against you they say against me, for although we are separated at present we are one and only one, and I would rather they would talk to me than to you for I am more able to bear it, and if there is anything wrong I am to blame for it more than anyone else, but enough of this for the present. You stated in your letter that Clark and Elwood had wrote home that we were expecting a fight here. I don’t think there has been anything that looked much like it, at least I have heard no such news lately and there has been no enemy very near except a few guerrillas and bush wackers, but I do not think there is much danger here with the fortifications we have and they are still working more and there is some more troops coming in. The 18th Connecticut Regt. came in on Monday and I hear that there is three more coming. We have very good news from Gen. Grant. He has beaten the enemy pretty badly and has probably taken Vicksburg before this time so that things seem to be going along finely. Well I must stop and go and visit the guards. Well I found them all wide awake and all quiet in the Shenandoah Valley. I found out by talking to G. Gannon the cause of Clark’s & Elwood’s stating that we expected to be attacked, some of our men captured a Secesh mail. In amongst the letters there was one that had in it something about [General John] Imboden going to attack us last week, but it was all just some of the Secesh women when they spunky will tell our men that it will only be a few days until the Rebels will drive us out and then they will have their own way, but still they have not come and I don’t think they will very soon, but if they do they will have a warm time of it. Well I must bring my letter to a close for my paper is full so good bye Dear wife. May the Good Lord bless you is the prayer of your loving husband. Lieut. L. Lupton Levi Lupton, was 39 years old, when he enlisted on July 25, 1862, at Columbus, Ohio, as a 2nd lieutenant. He was commissioned into Co. C, 116th Ohio Infantry, on September 19, 1862, at Gallipolis, Ohio. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on June 13, 1863, but was never mustered at that rank because he was captured the next day, June 14, 1863, at Winchester, Va. He spent time confined in Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., and at Macon, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., where he died on September 12, 1864. -Submitted by Adam Gaines

THE LOYAL LEGION HISTORICAL JOURNAL is published by the MEMORIAL FUND of the Military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, which was founded April 15, 1865. Pertinent materials will be welcomed from Companions and others. Information should be submitted to the Editor, Robert Rock, 68 W. Marion St. Doylestown, OH 44230. Information should be typed and photographs may be black and white or in color. If submitted electronically to mollusjournal@aol.com please use .doc or .rtf for text and .jpg for photos. Contribute to the Memorial Fund through the National Headquarters.

Commander-in-Chief’s Message Companions, As we march into Summer, I wish you all an enjoyable season with your family and friends. I represented MOLLUS in Waterloo, New York, the Congressionally recognized birthplace of Memorial Day. We were also well represented in Washington DC, and at Memorial Day ceremonies around this great Country of ours. I encourage all who can, to attend the sesquicentennial of the GAR/SUVCW this August 11-14, at their National Encampment in Springfield, Illinois. I will be there along with many MOLLUS Companions who are also Sons. October 14 and 15, is our planned invasion of Pensacola, Florida, and our National Congress. I have been to Pensacola many times, and it is an amazing place. Please remember that Pennsylvania puts on the Congress every three years (next year in Gettysburg instead of Philadelphia), and DC hosts our Mid-Winter Business Meeting every year in February. While we are very grateful for all of the hard work that goes into those functions, we are occasionally encouraging State Commanderies to host a Congress somewhere other than the North East. Please come and enjoy the brotherhood of your fellow Companions, while we continue the good work of our Order. Pensacola also gives PCiC Kinny Post an opportunity to sport his Brooks Brothers blue and white striped seersucker jacket. I'll see you in Springfield and Pensacola, where we'll toast to our ancestors and to our fellow Companions. For the good of our Order, Captain James Alan Simmons Commander-in-Chief

National Officers 2015-2017

Commander-in-Chief: Capt. James Alan Simmons

4304 Woodlake Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76135 redbarron5590@att.net

Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief: Col Eric Armando Rojo (DC)

4430 Tindall Street, NW Washington, DC 20016-2718 eric@er-x.com

Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief: Joseph Thomas Coleman, Ed.D. (PA)

85 Beddington Lane Strasburg, PA 17579-1451 drjtc30@comcast.net Registrar-in-Chief:

Michael Timothy Bates (DC) 8 Boice Ln Belle Mead, NJ 08502-4334

michael.t.bates@comcast.net Chancellor-in-Chief: Adam Polhemus Flint

396 Colebrookdale Rd. Boyertown, PA 19512 484-415-9227 adampflint@aol.com

Judge Advocate-in-Chief: Gerald Fitzgerald Fisher, Esq, (NY), Chair

77 Seventh Avenue, Apt 16E New York, NY 10011 gerald_f_fisher@hotmail.com

Recorder-in-Chief: Capt. John Kent Kane, II USCGA

101 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Yorktown, VA 23692 757-898-6953 jkk28ga@cox.net

Treasurer-in-Chief: Lee Allan Tryon

4 Raven Circle, Avon, CT 06001-3317 860-676-9060 leetryon@comcast.net

Surgeon-in-Chief: Dr. Daniel Henry Heller (IN)

201 East Desert Park Ln Phoenix, AZ 85020-4075 Chaplain-in-Chief:

Rev Robert G. Carroon, PCinC (CT) 24 Park Place #22A Hartford, CT 06106

jcarroon@aol.com Editor-in-Chief:

Robert E. Rock, (OH), Elizabeth Rock, Ass’t 68 W. Marion Street, Doylestown, OH 44230 330-212-9969 mollusjournal@aol.com

National Webmaster & Membership List Coordinator: Keith Graham Harrison, PCinC (MI)

4209 Santa Clara Drive Holt, Michigan 48842-1868 517-694-9394 pcinc@prodigy.net

National Historian: Adam Gaines (MI)

293 Lakeside Drive Harrow, Ontario Canada N0R 1G0 gaines_adam@hotmail.com

Quartermaster: Joseph T. Coleman, Ed.D.

85 Beddington Lane Strasburg, PA 17579

National Membership Contact Laurence Alan Converse (TX)

17105 Northavens Cove Pflugerville, TX 78660 converse_larry@yahoo.com

Printed by:

Davis Printing Barberton, Ohio

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 2

LOYAL LEGION HISTORICAL

JOURNAL The Publication of the military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States

Vol. 73, No. 2 Summer 2016

Letter Home from Levi Lupton Cover Commander’s Message 2 Commandery News 4 Trustee’s Corner 7 131st MOLLUS Congress 8-9 Merchandise Order Form 12

Remembering “MOLLUS” In Your Will After you provide for your family and other matters, would you consider including a memorial gift in you will to our hallowed Order? Your gift to the Loyal Legion Memorial Fund, which is tax deductible, would be used to support the preservation of battlefields, monuments and programs that serve to memorialize the

Civil War. In this way you would be perpetuating the memory of your Civil War ancestors and fellow companions.

WELCOME NEW COMPANIONS

The following Companions have joined the Military Order of the Loyal Legion since the Winter 2015 issue of the Journal. Commander-in-Chief James

Simmons extends congratulations and a warm welcome to each one.

Insignia Commandery Companion

Hereditary 22671 WI Bryce L. Nelson 22673 NY Jonathon Jensen 22674 MI Peter L. Sheerin 22676 OH Denny L. Schillings 22678 PA Philip Price, Jr.

Junior 22675 PA Quinn James DeCoursey 22677 PA Ronan William Carter

Associate A292 VA Melchor M. Rosabal Jr. A293 OH Scott C. Derr A294 RI Henry A. L. Brown

Honorary 22672 PA Oliver St. Clair Franklin

Hereditary Member Recruitment

New membership represents the future of our Order. In recognition of that fact, the Commandery-in-Chief honors those Companions who recruit three or more hereditary Companions during a membership year (October 1-September 30) with the Lincoln Medal Award. Companions who qualify for the Medal may receive the award at either the Annual Congress, the Mid-Winter meeting in Washington, or the Lincoln Tomb Ceremony in Springfield. Please contact the Commander-in-Chief, or Membership Committee Chairman Col. Eric Armando Rojo, for more details.

MOLLUS WEBSITE Loyal Legion Historical Journal is now online!

http://www.mollus.org

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 3

NY Commandery The New York Commandery held regular business meetings in March and April with a highlight being our April luncheon at the Harvard Club of New York where members from the Florida and Pennsylvania Commanderies and prospective applicants joined us for an enjoyable afternoon. A number of members of the New York Commandery attended the annual Gold's Dragoon's Mess Dinner in Wesport, Conn. towards the end of April. This formal black-tie military mess dinner has it's roots in colonial America, the organization being founded in 1660 and today focuses on the US/UK 'special relationship'. On May 19th the annual meeting of the New York Commandery was held at the Squadron A Club in midtown Manhattan where we heard remarks from past CinC Kinny Post on his time in the top slot. Annual reports were received and election of officers for the 2016-2017 year were voted upon.

Princeton University: The Princeton

University Army

ROTC Tiger

Battalion awards

dinner this year was

held at the Trenton Country

Club

of Union Blue on April 12. They are members of the University of Richmond’s “Spider Battalion,” which includes students from six area schools. Air Force ROTC Cadet Brianna Washington of Mary Baldwin College received her award from Companion Edmund Potter on April 22. She is a junior from Concord, N.C. majoring in Leadership Studies, and a member of Mary Baldwin’s “Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership.” Two cadets at the “Revolutionary Guards Battalion,” juniors Nicholas B. Best from Manassas, Va. and Henry C. Fox from Ashburn, Va., received awards on April 18 from Recorder-in-Chief Jack Kane. Best is a Middle Eastern Studies major, and Fox studies Political Science. Their battalion is drawn from students at the College of William and Mary and Christopher Newport University.

WI Commandery The Wisconsin Commandery held its annual winter meeting Jan 22, 2016. The major topic of discussion was the 2018 Convention. First, the Commandery reaffirmed its commitment to hosting the convention; decided that the host city would be Milwaukee; the dates of the convention would be

(Continued on page 5)

where PUROTC Cadets Katherine Maffey and Matthan-Matthew Martir received Loyal Legion ROTC awards

from the New York Commandery.

Princeton University Midshipman Second Class Brett Hinrichs received the

New York Commandery NROTC Award on April 15, 2016 at the Imperia Room in Somerset, N. Jersey. Presenting is CAPT Dave Wright, USN. Commanding Officer

NROTC Princeton / Rutgers.

VA Commandery The Virginia Commandery awarded five Medals of Merit to cadets at three battalions this spring. Army ROTC cadets Kiana R. Miller and Dereck L. Gunn,

both sophomores at Virginia Commonwealth University, received their medals and copies

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 4

Oct 5-6, with registration on Oct 4. Some of the tasks were assigned, with the task of booking hotel space being assigned at the next meeting (2 years in advance). A general discussion of events and speakers continued with many different options offered. One event that was agreed upon was a tour of the Civil War Museum of the Great Lakes in Kenosha, WI which has a very interactive layout and a not-be-missed interpretation of the Cyclorama form popular after the Civil War. Details will be reported as they developed. These details will be reported MOLLUS Historical Journal as well the Wisconsin Commandery Journal available on the MOLLUS website.

MI Commandery Winter was unpredictable and slow to leave Michigan this year. Now with Spring finally here, the Companions of Michigan have been busy with several activities.

MOLLUS ROTC Awards Presentations

The Michigan Commandery presented 6 medals and

Keith Harrison making presentation to Cadet Shane Neal

(Continued from page 4) certificates at three different Michigan universities. ROTC Awards Coordinator, Companion Fred Roberts made the presentation to Army Cadet Thomas Barlow at Eastern Michigan University. Barlow claims his ancestry from General Francis Barlow. Companion Keith Harrison made two presentations at Michigan State University to Army Cadet Shane Neal and Air Force Cadet Nathan Gaggin. Three Awards were made at the University of Michigan to Army Cadet Brandon Goethals, Air Force Cadet Emily Patrick and NROTC MIDN Wesley Howell.

Showing The MOLLUS Colors

A number of our Companions have been involved in a variety of efforts to show our flag and promote MOLLUS. Companions Keith Harrison, Dale Aurand, and Paul Davis attended the 150th GAR Celebration at the GAR Memorial Hall and Museum in Eaton Rapids, Michigan in April. DOLLUS Dame Jan Davis also attended handing out flyers and a couple of applications to interested parties.

From left, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth, Companions Aurand, Shaw and Davis at

Lincoln Tomb Observance The Michigan Commandery was represented at the 60th Lincoln Tomb Observance on April 16th in Springfield, Illinois. Companions Dale Aurand, Don Shaw and Paul Davis participated in these activities. The Lincoln Tomb Observance is sponsored jointly by the SUVCW and MOLLUS.

Commander Davis had the opportunity to speak with C-In-C James Simmons

and pose for a quick photo op. Companion David Smith elected

DSVC SUVCW Companion David Smith, currently MOLLUS SVC, Michigan Commandery, was recently elected Department of Michigan Senior Vice Commander for the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

In addition, Dame Jan Davis was elected to the Department of

(Continued on page 6)

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 5

Following the Lincoln Tomb Observance, the same MOLLUS

Companions also attend the services in Petersburg, Illinois for Benjamin Stephenson, founder of the GAR.

Michigan Presidency for the Auxiliary To The Sons Of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Michigan MOLLUS Companion Still Making History

Vernor’s Ginger Ale And Its Civil War Connection: Without The Civil War There Would Be No Vernor’s Ginger Ale In 2016, Vernor’s Ginger Ale celebrates its 150th year making it the oldest soda pop, older even than Coke or Pepsi Cola. James Vernor was an American pharmacist and druggist, and a Civil War Lieutenant who became famous for the invention of Vernor’s Ginger Ale. Born on April 11, 1843 in Albany, New York, Vernor moved to Detroit, Michigan with his parents during his youth. As an employee at Higby and Stern’s Drug Store in Detroit, Vernor began to experiment with flavors in an attempt to create a new recipe for ginger ale. With the onset of the Civil War, Vernor enlisted in the 4th

(Continued from page 5)

Companion James Vernor Civil War era (left) and in later years (right) Insignia

Number 4714 Michigan Cavalry as a Union Army Hospital Steward in 1862. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and served to the end of the Civil War in 1865. The 4th Michigan Cavalry is credited with the capture of Jefferson Davis. Without the Civil War, there would be no Vernor’s. Before Vernor left to serve in the Civil War, he had stored some of his experimental ginger ale in an oak cask. When he returned to Detroit four years later, he opened the cask and found that the drink had been changed by the aging process, tasting even better than it had before. He declared the ginger ale to be “Deliciously Different,” which became one of the many slogans for the drink. Around 1880, James Vernor opened his own drug store on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan at the corner of Clifford Street, where he sold “Vernor’s Ginger Ale” at the store’s soda fountain. He closed the drug store in 1896, opening a soda fountain closer to the center of the city on Woodward Avenue, south of Jefferson near the riverfront ferry docks, so that he could concentrate solely on his soda business.

Today, Vernors is part of Plano, Texas-based Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, an integrated refreshment beverage business marketing more than 50 beverage brands throughout North America. On October 29, 1927, at the age of 84, James Vernor died in Grosse Ile, Michigan from pneumonia and influenza. He is buried in Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. Although he will be most well known for creating Vernors Ginger Ale, James Vernor was also one of the original members of the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, which was formed in 1887, and he held License No. 1 throughout his career. In addition, he served on the Detroit City Council for 25 years and on many civic and philanthropic organizations.

MA Commandery Once again, in February, the Massachusetts Commandery co-sponsored the annual Lincoln Day celebration in the town of Hingham. Companions attended a special service and talk at the Old Ship Church and laid a wreath at the foot of the President’s Statue.

(Continued on page 10)

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 6

Trustees’ Corner

Trusts are creatures of the law. They maintain, under the control of named "trustees," a legal existence separate from the individuals or organizations that created them. They have their own tax obligations, their

own rights and responsibilities, and their own institutional "lives" that can extend across generations.

The Loyal Legion Memorial Fund has, since 1955, been the legal entity through which the Order has interacted with the general public. It does this by making philanthropic gifts, helping pay for public events, and underwriting publication of the Loyal Legion Journal. It has a securities account, where its assets are

invested and managed.

It is important to understand that the Fund's actions are directed, not by the Order as such, but by the seven trustees of the Fund. These seven (the five leading officers of the Commandery-in-Chief, plus two other

Companions named by them) must consider the Fund's interests first and foremost when acting as trustees. The trustees have a high legal duty to act prudently and responsibly.

FL Commandery

How does Florida relate to the Civil War 1861-1865?

Fort Pickens and the Santa Rosa Island battlefield (within Gulf Islands National Seashore) www.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-pickens.htm is a worthy place to visit enroute to or from Congress. With Florida seceding January 1861 (the third to do so, after South Carolina and Mississippi) and for a month an independent nation, Fort Pickens could easily have been contested before Fort Sumter. Fort Pickens did not fall despite repeated attacks, the first of which was remembered in a sesquicentennial observance September 2011 attended by Companions Heiple and Ward. Fort Barrancas (www.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-barrancas.htm ) and Fort McRee on the mainland did fall, and engaged in massive artillery duals with United States Navy vessels and Fort Pickens November 1861 and January 1862. All forts and Pensacola itself returned to Union forces in May 1862.

With 1845 statehood, Tallahassee was selected as Florida capital because it was halfway between Pensacola and Jacksonville. It was the only confederate state capital east of the Mississippi River to avoid Union capture until the end of the Civil War. April 2, 1862 President Andrew Johnson proclaimed the insurrection in Florida and nine other former confederate states to be at an end.

1,239 Union Veterans are buried at Barrancas National Cemetery (www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/barrancas.asp) at Pensacola Naval Air Station. The Pensacola Navy Yard with two Civil War era buildings is also at NAS Pensacola. Historic Pensacola Village consists of 27 historic sites www.historicpensacola.org.

In Bay County, Lynn Haven was founded and developed as a home for Union Veterans. In 1920 one of the first privately funded Union monuments in the South not located in a cemetery was built. It is a statue of a Union soldier on a 40-foot pedestal.

In Osceola County, Saint Cloud was also developed as a home for Union Veterans. Many are buried at Mount Peace Cemetery, including Medal of Honor Recipient Amzi Davis Harmon.

For lighthouse fans, the considerable Florida shoreline led to several being constructed, which often were disabled, shelled, or burned during the Civil War.

Reference: Florida Civil War Heritage Trail www.flheritage.com

Contacts for information and questions on the Congress are: Jim Ward jamesgward@earthlink.net Robb Allan robb@helical.com

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 7

MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES 131st MOLLUS National Congress Meeting

Pensacola, Florida 14-15 October 2016

Greetings Companions, Dames and Guests: The Commandery of the State of Florida invites you to Pensacola, Florida for the 131st National Congress to be held Friday October 14 and Saturday October 15 2016. The primary purpose of this Congress will be to focus on the business of the Order, report good works advancing our mission, and address pertinent opportunities and challenges. A number of area Civil War opportunities are available before and after the Congress. A program is planned in a city and state with significant military history.

The headquarters of the 2016 Congress will be the Pensacola Grand Hotel, 200 East Gregory Street, Pensacola, Florida 32502, telephone (850)433-3336

www.pensacolagrandhotel.com Ask for our “MOL”-code group rate.

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 8

131st MOLLUS NATIONAL CONGRESS RESERVATION FORM

PLEASE INDICATE THE FUNCTIONS YOU PLAN TO ATTEND Registration fee …Number attending _______$55 per person ……………………….... $ _______________ (Registration fee is required for all Companions, Dames, and Guests) FRIDAY 14 October 2016 3:00 pm Registration opens 6:00 pm Guided tour of the Pensacola Grand Hotel and environs ….. No Charge 6:00 pm Dinner on your own, options include:

McGuire’s Irish Pub, 600 East Gregory Street (850) 433-6789: steak plus Dharma Blue,300 South Alcaniz Street (850) 433-1275: seafood from harbor docks in Destin A list of other options will be available

8:30 pm FL Commandery hosts OPEN HOUSE in the C-in-C suite … No Charge SATURDAY 15 October 2016 8:00 am Continental breakfast with Civil War display table……… No Charge 8:00 am Meeting for MOLLUS in the “Grand Ballroom” 9:00 am Meeting for DOLLUS in the “Boardroom” 11:00 am Transportation to Naval Aviation Museum Lunch at Cubi Café Tours Number for lunch and tours ___________$60 per person …..….….. $ _______________ 6:00 pm Reception with cash bar in the “pre-room” – (music) 7:00 pm Dinner in the “Grand Ballroom” (white or black tie, or uniform, with decorations) Speaker: Civil War historian & Palm Beach Atlantic University faculty member Dr. Wesley Borucki Number attending ________________________ $85 per person …….….. $ _______________ 10:15 pm FL Commandery hosts OPEN HOUSE in the C-in-C suite … No Charge TOTAL ENCLOSED: (if attending all functions, this should be $200 per person) ……. $ _______________

SEND RESERVATION FORM AND CHECK TO BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 1 SEPTEMBER 2016 TO: Don Twiss, MOLLUS FL Commandery, 660 Beachland Blvd, Ste.206,Vero Beach, FL 32963-1707

Please make check payable to “MOLLUS FL Commandery” Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Commandery: ________________________________________Telephone: ________________________________________ Name tag: ______________________________________ email address: __________________________________________ Additional names for name tag:____________________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________________________________ State: ____________ Zip: _______________________ Dinner menu choices: Chicken Marsala (number): __________ Grouper with Salsa (number): ____________ Special dietary restrictions: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 9

Following another annual Commandery tradition, in April, Companion Brendan O’Connell (pictured), son of past MOLLUS C-in-C Lenahan O’Connell),

presented awards to outstanding ROTC cadets from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Associate Companion Robert Schecter presented an award to an outstanding ROTC cadet from Northeastern University. Each of the cadets, chosen by their commanding officers, received a special medal, a certificate, and $500.

(Continued from page 6) DC Commandery

Francis T. Adams, III DC MOLLUS presenting the MOLLUS ROTC award to

Cadet Jason Hang. Cadet hang is the Operations Officer for the College

Infantry Battalion.

The MOLLUS ROTC award was presented to Cadet Hartman at Widener

University on Saturday, April 23, 2016 by Francis T. Adams, III DC MOLLUS.

PA Commandery The PA-Commandery is pleased to report that in 2016 it awarded MOLLUS Medals of Merit to deserving cadets and midshipmen from 17 different ROTC programs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Each awardee received the medal, a signed certificate and a copy of Union Blue. This year we also

included a personalized MOLLUS Challenge Coin which was extremely well received by the students. Presenters of the awards included Commander Matt Dupee, Recorder Gary Grove, Brad Mills and Andy Waskie. We were especially delighted that Alice Schmidt was able to carry on the fine tradition that her late husband Mitch initiated by being the presenter for the 3 Penn State ROTC programs.

Mt. Moriah Civil War Veterans

Plot Maintained The PA Commandery is the owner of the former Soldiers Home plot in Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Delaware County. (Parts of the cemetery are located in both Philadelphia and Delaware County). Everyone now knows the story of the "Silent Sentry" statue which had stood watch over the plot since the late 1800’s and was vandalized, repaired and relocated to Laurel Hill Cemetery after many years in storage at a foundry in Chester, PA. While the base (which was moved to Gettysburg in 1986) and statue were moved, the graves of 92 Civil War veterans remain on the

(Continued on page 11)

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 10

Yeadon side of Mt. Moriah in Delaware County. The entire cemetery, once a picturesque resting place for many prominent Philadelphians - including Betsy Ross, fell into

major disrepair and was essentially abandoned. The Friends of Mt. Moriah Cemetery (FOMM) have spent countless hours trying to clean up the cemetery and honor those buried there. Under the work and leadership of past PA Commander, Adam Flint, the MOLLUS plot has received basic levels of maintenance over the last few years and is accessible. Current efforts, also headed by Adam, are being made to place a marker on the plot where the statue had been. The picture shown here was taken by Sgt. Tom Reynolds of the Yeadon Police after the FOMM participated in the Wreaths Across America program honoring the veterans of our armed forces. Sgt. Reynolds keeps an eye on the MOLLUS plot during his daylight patrols through Yeadon and contacts his cousin, past PA Commander Joe Coleman, with updates on the

(Continued from page 10) conditions there.

OH Commandery A lovely afternoon meeting day was held on April 23rd for the Ohio Companions, Dames & Guests. Four new Companions were welcomed, and our Jr. Vice Commander traveled from Florida to be sworn into office. All in attendance enjoyed lunch at the Golden Lamb Restaurant in Lebanon, Ohio. Since 1803, it’s been a community gathering

place – for neighbors, travelers, statesmen, presidents, families and friends. Today, the Golden Lamb is Ohio's longest continuously operating business, a familiar weeknight spot to meet and a place to celebrate special occasions that mark our lives. Following lunch, members

adjourned to the Warren County Historical Society Museum to

take a tour and enjoy a talk by Thomas Mackie, Director of the Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum at Lincoln

Memorial University, who traveled up from TN to be with us for the day. The Commandery is currently preparing for participation at the Hayes Presidential Library &

Museum’s Centennial Ceremony on Sunday, May 29. Cokie Roberts will be the guest speaker for this 100th anniversary of the opening of America’s first presidential library. The weekend of events will include tours of the Hayes Home, Library & Museum, the grounds, a wreath ceremony at

the tomb, chicken barbecue and much more. The Ohio Commandery will be dedicating a new plaque to be placed on this Library, describing who we are.

For more information visit: http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/ Join the Ohio Commandery on May 29th at: The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Spiegel Grove, Fremont, OH 43420-2796

Loyal Legion Historical Journal 11

Pre Sorted Std. U.S. Postage

PAID Akron, OH

Permit No 29

Military Order of the Loyal Legion Keith Harrison 4209 Santa Clara Drive Holt, MI 48842 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM Please make sure you include the shipping cost associated with your purchase according to the new scale. ITEM PRICE QUANTITY AMOUNT Large Emblem Medal (Hereditary or Associate)* $160.00 __________ _________ Miniature Emblem Medal (Hereditary or Associate)* $85.00 __________ _________ Emblem Medals 14-16K Gold (3-4 month delivery) On Request __________ _________ Hereditary or Associate Ribbon (Large Medal) $20.00 __________ _________ Hereditary or Associate Ribbon (Miniature Medal) $20.00 __________ _________ Officer Neck Ribbon $20.00 __________ _________ Rosettes (Hereditary, Associate or Honorary) $9.00 __________ _________ Officer Rosette (Indicate State or National) $23.50 __________ _________ Necktie or Bow Tie (All Silk) $34.00 __________ _________ Blazer Patch $20.00 __________ _________ Certificate of Hereditary Membership (8 1/2” x 11”) $25.00 __________ _________ Certificate of Hereditary Membership (17” x 19”) $65.00 __________ _________ Certificate of Associate Membership (8 1/2” x 11”) $25.00 __________ _________ Official MOLLUS Scarf (9 1/2” x 72”) $45.00 __________ _________ ROTC Medal with Ribbon Bar and Certificate $35.00 __________ _________ Book: Union Blue by PCinC Robert G. Carroon $25.00 __________ _________ MOLLUS Golf Shirts (No Smalls) $25.00 __________ _________ MOLLUS T-Shirts (S,M,L,XL,XXL) $15.00 __________ _________ MOLLUS Cuff Links (Vermeil) $100.00 __________ _________ Gold Plated Challenge Coin $25.00 __________ _________ Shipping is now on a graduated scale if your Total Merchandise Cost is: Up to $10.00 = $5.00 $10.01 to $50.00 = $8.00 Shipping _________ $50.01 to $100.00 = $10.00 $100.01+ = $14.00 Total _________ Please be sure to visit MOLLUS.org for a complete list of merchandise available. Large Membership Certificates require additional information -forms available at MOLLUS.org *Vermeil (Gold on Sterling Silver) Questions on supplies and orders should be sent to Joe Coleman at drjtc30@comcast.net

NOTICE The Fall Issue of

The Loyal Legion Journal Will be published in September of 2016.

EDITORIAL DEADLINE IS August 15, 2016

Please email all material to: Robert E. Rock

MOLLUSJournal@aol.com

Send orders and payment to: Joseph T. Coleman, Ed.D.

85 Beddington Lane Strasburg, PA 17579

Please make checks payable to: MOLLUS Commandery-in-Chief Name______________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________ City_______________________ State/Zip___________________ Insignia # __________________ (All orders must now include this)

Email ______________________ ___________________________ ___________________________