76

Since before the American Revolution, American patriots have been prepared to protect and defend this bountiful land and its freedoms, with both pen and arms.

Today's Heroes of '76 of the National Sojourners, Inc. are committed to the freedoms we enjoy under our nation's Constitution and have committed their lives, fortunes and honor to its defense.

Hap Arnold Camp Officers
Commander	RW Donald W. Litewski
Chief of Staff	Bro. Jesse A. Norman
Assistant Chief of Staff	Bro. Gerard Senecal, Jr.
Officer of the Day	Bro. John Tinker
Adjutant	Wor. Carl "Gabe" W. Gaborik	gabegaborik@cox.net
Chaplain	RW Franklin M. Jackson
Senior LT	RW George F. Black, Jr.
Junior LT	Bro. James E. Gillikin, Jr.
Cdr. of Guard	Bro. Adrian L. Eure

The Bennington Flag

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.