Brian Gregson Memorial Collectables -- Now you can purchase
beautiful limited-edition patches and other collectables to support Blue Heron Lodge's campaign to build the Brian Gregson Center at Pipsico
Scout Reservation!
Brian Gregson Memorial Collectables -- Now you can purchase
beautiful limited-edition patches and other collectables to support Blue Heron Lodge's campaign to build the Brian Gregson Center at Pipsico
Scout Reservation!
The Order of the Arrow is a brotherhood of honor campers chartered by the Boy Scouts of America.
It was founded in 1915 by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson at Treasure Island, a Scout camp located in the Deleware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
It recognizes those campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and, by such recognition,
cause other campers to conduct themselves in such a manner as to warrant similar recognition,
to promote camping and to crystallize the habit of helpfulness as a life purpose. The current national chief of the order is
Josh Feigelson.
Blue Heron Lodge, No. 349, was founded in 1946. In the summer of that year, Mr. Norman Jones and Mr. Gordon Linsey
of Norfolk, Va., were visiting Pennsylvania. While there, they became aware of the Order of the Arrow program there
and returned with the idea of forming a lodge for Tidewater Council Scouts. In the fall of 1946, a
ceremonial team from Octoraro Lodge in Pennsylvania came to Camp Darden at Sedley, Va., and inducted the first members
into Blue Heron Lodge. The lodge's first official membership meeting was held on January 5, 1947, when A.G. Buckwalter was elected
the first lodge chief. The lodge selected the blue heron as its lodge totem because the great bird was a frequent
visitor to Lake Constance, the lake at Camp Darden. This totem and the first patch incorporating the heron were selected
at an executive meeting on May 31, 1947. Its design was a red arrowhead with a white "baby blue heron"
superimposed on it.
Blue Heron Lodge now has five chapters, one for each of the five districts in the council.
All ordeal candidates must attend either the June or August ordeal. Candidates who do not make one of these events will need
to be re-elected next year. Scoutmaster should help their troop member and transportation to one of these ordeals. Candidates who did
not get called out at the Freeze-o-Ree or district camporee may attend one of the ordeals.
Ordeal candidates who have completed 10 months of service should contact the brotherhood chairman to complete their brotherhood
requirements. More information is available by calling Matt Buschert at 420-1172 or Bill Weissner at 424-9319.
Blue Heron Lodge's 50th anniversary occurs in 1996, but the celebration is beginning early. In 1995, the latest in the popular "Blue Moon" limited-edition series of lodge flaps will be issued -- featuring an unusual moon. This patch will not be sold during the anniversary year. The only opportunity to obtain it is in 1995. The "Golden Moon" flap, which is sure to become a coveted collectors' item, will sell for $10 and can be purchased as follows:
Also coming is a "Golden Moon" jacket patch, a six-inch patch featuring a fully embroidered metallic gold background.
The price is $20 and purchase restrictions are the same as the flap except a member may purchase only one patch, regardless
of the number of events attended with one exception: members attending the 1995 Section 7 Conclave will be entitled to purchase
one additional jacket patch. Be sure to register, attend and bring your money to each 1995 lodge event and to the conclave. It will
be the only way to get the "Golden Moon."
Ground will be broken in 1995 for The Brian Gregson Center at Pipsico Scout Reservation in Surry County, Va.
The center is named for 1992 Lodge Chief Brian Gregson, who drowned in a surfing accident.
The center will including a Scouting museum, library, welcome room and public restrooms.
Blue Heron Lodge's Memorial Committee, chaired by Matt McIvor, a sophomore at James Madison University, has approved a design for the center.
A sign has been erected at the entrence of Pipsico to mark the location of the center.
The center is being financing through donations to the Brian Gregson Fund and through the sale of special Brian Gregson
patches and memorabilia.
The 1995 membership cards were mailed with the March issue of "Drumbeat." Members who had not paid their dues by Feb. 10 were mailed cards
separately. The next "Drumbeat" will be mailed in late April. Members who have not paid dues in 1995 will not receive a copy. The dues fee, including
late charges, are $7, and may be paid at chapter meetings, lodge activities and the council service center.
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and InfiNet, L.C., of Norfolk, Va. It is maintained by Kerry W. Sipe, who is solely responsible for its contents.