Lieutenant General
Thomas Crews, Sr., PGER Virginia Brigade Commander |
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A Brief History of the Virginia Antlered Guard
Department of the I.B.P.O.E. of W.
October 20, 1943 the Smithfield Lodge #65 I. B. P. O. E. of W held a mortgage burning in Smithfield, Virginia.
The Honorable Dr. J. Finley Wilson convened the Lodge in a Special Session during which time upon several recommendations named W.G. Braye of Portsmouth, Virginia, a member of Beacon Light Lode #34, Brigadier General to fill the position vacant by recent death of Walter Smith of Norfolk, Virginia.
Within five days W. G. Braye after being recommended as Brigadier General called a meeting in Beacon Light Lodge #34 of Portsmouth, Virginia on October 25, 1943. The Antlered Guard of Virginia was organized with the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler presiding Robert L. Johnson and the following officers were elected.
1st Lieutenant William Harris .....................................Commander
2nd Lieutenant Emery Reid ................................... Sr. Commander
1st Lieutenant Rufus Hicks ..................................... Jr. Commander
2nd Lieutenant Major H. Lawrence ......................... Sergeant Major
2nd Lieutenant Andrew Simpson ............................... Quartermaster
2nd Lieutenant William Scott ...............................Sergeant-at-Arms
2nd Lieutenant John R. Williams ......................................Chaplain
2nd Lieutenant Davis L. Henderson .......................Officer-of-the-Day
Major Louise Bailey .................................................... Adjutant
2nd Lieutenant Elease Mitchell ..................................Asst. Adjutant
Also in this meeting 41 persons were recommended for their commissions and paid their money. From October 20th of 1943 to December W. G. Braye performed his duties as Brigadier General of the State of Virginia, and laid the foundation upon which the Antlered Guard of the State of Virginia stand for today.
At this time December 20th the Commander-in-Chief, the Honorable, Dr. J. Finley Wilson wrote the Grand Legal Advisor, Thomas H. Reid of Portsmouth, Virginia that two names had been sent in to him and both for the same commission and Floyd Jackson commission was 1st and he being out of the city on the arrival of two commission would W. G. Braye accept the commission of the Adjutant General of the State of Virginia, which he did and has performed a good work in the State of Virginia since that time.
1944-1945 Eighty-three persons had received their commissions, 15 Warrants issued, all done by the Adjutant
General, his Colonel, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants and Co-workers.
The Honorary members are:
The late Attorney W. H. Land, Daughter Helene S. Lee, Grand Trustee, Attorney Thomas Reid, David Alston, Exalted Ruler of Greater Norfolk Lodge #132, A. A. Rountree, Exalted Ruler of Beacon Light Lodge #34, Portsmouth, Virginia, Joe Burke, Greater Norfolk Lodge #132, Norfolk, Virginia.
The Antlered Guard Motto: “Pull Together” Our Colors “Purple and Gold”.
Other Brigade Commanders: Brigadier General Asberry Mitchell from Portsmouth, Virginia served until 1977; Major General Joe Carter, Jr. from Petersburg, Virginia served 1978-1988, Major General James E. Hicks from Williamsburg, Virginia served 1988-1991, Lieutenant General James L. Carson, Sr. from Suffolk, Virginia served from 1991 to the present time.
Present membership: Four Companies home based in Suffolk, Virginia – Greater Suffolk Unit #2508, Hampton, Virginia – Excelsior Mizpah Unit #2511, Alexandria, Virginia – Northern Virginia Unit #2514, and Charlottesville, Virginia – Rivanna Lodge/Blue Ridge Temple Unit #2518.
Quarterly Workshop/Meetings: are held each quarter in March, June, September and November and rotates in each Unit home base city.
Meeting Dates 2016: March 5, 2016 – Hampton, Virginia – Excelsior Mizpah Unit 2511 (Host)
June 4, 2016 – Charlottesville, Virginia – Rivanna/Blue Ridge Unit 2518 (Host) - (Military Ball)
September 10, 2016 – Franklin, Virginia - Greater Suffolk Unit 2508 (Host)
November 12, 2016 – Alexandria, Virginia – Northern Virginia Unit 2518 (Host) - (Anniversary Celebration)
For more information about becoming affiliated with this department. Email Lt. General Thomas Crews.
Department of the I.B.P.O.E. of W.
October 20, 1943 the Smithfield Lodge #65 I. B. P. O. E. of W held a mortgage burning in Smithfield, Virginia.
The Honorable Dr. J. Finley Wilson convened the Lodge in a Special Session during which time upon several recommendations named W.G. Braye of Portsmouth, Virginia, a member of Beacon Light Lode #34, Brigadier General to fill the position vacant by recent death of Walter Smith of Norfolk, Virginia.
Within five days W. G. Braye after being recommended as Brigadier General called a meeting in Beacon Light Lodge #34 of Portsmouth, Virginia on October 25, 1943. The Antlered Guard of Virginia was organized with the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler presiding Robert L. Johnson and the following officers were elected.
1st Lieutenant William Harris .....................................Commander
2nd Lieutenant Emery Reid ................................... Sr. Commander
1st Lieutenant Rufus Hicks ..................................... Jr. Commander
2nd Lieutenant Major H. Lawrence ......................... Sergeant Major
2nd Lieutenant Andrew Simpson ............................... Quartermaster
2nd Lieutenant William Scott ...............................Sergeant-at-Arms
2nd Lieutenant John R. Williams ......................................Chaplain
2nd Lieutenant Davis L. Henderson .......................Officer-of-the-Day
Major Louise Bailey .................................................... Adjutant
2nd Lieutenant Elease Mitchell ..................................Asst. Adjutant
Also in this meeting 41 persons were recommended for their commissions and paid their money. From October 20th of 1943 to December W. G. Braye performed his duties as Brigadier General of the State of Virginia, and laid the foundation upon which the Antlered Guard of the State of Virginia stand for today.
At this time December 20th the Commander-in-Chief, the Honorable, Dr. J. Finley Wilson wrote the Grand Legal Advisor, Thomas H. Reid of Portsmouth, Virginia that two names had been sent in to him and both for the same commission and Floyd Jackson commission was 1st and he being out of the city on the arrival of two commission would W. G. Braye accept the commission of the Adjutant General of the State of Virginia, which he did and has performed a good work in the State of Virginia since that time.
1944-1945 Eighty-three persons had received their commissions, 15 Warrants issued, all done by the Adjutant
General, his Colonel, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants and Co-workers.
The Honorary members are:
The late Attorney W. H. Land, Daughter Helene S. Lee, Grand Trustee, Attorney Thomas Reid, David Alston, Exalted Ruler of Greater Norfolk Lodge #132, A. A. Rountree, Exalted Ruler of Beacon Light Lodge #34, Portsmouth, Virginia, Joe Burke, Greater Norfolk Lodge #132, Norfolk, Virginia.
The Antlered Guard Motto: “Pull Together” Our Colors “Purple and Gold”.
Other Brigade Commanders: Brigadier General Asberry Mitchell from Portsmouth, Virginia served until 1977; Major General Joe Carter, Jr. from Petersburg, Virginia served 1978-1988, Major General James E. Hicks from Williamsburg, Virginia served 1988-1991, Lieutenant General James L. Carson, Sr. from Suffolk, Virginia served from 1991 to the present time.
Present membership: Four Companies home based in Suffolk, Virginia – Greater Suffolk Unit #2508, Hampton, Virginia – Excelsior Mizpah Unit #2511, Alexandria, Virginia – Northern Virginia Unit #2514, and Charlottesville, Virginia – Rivanna Lodge/Blue Ridge Temple Unit #2518.
Quarterly Workshop/Meetings: are held each quarter in March, June, September and November and rotates in each Unit home base city.
Meeting Dates 2016: March 5, 2016 – Hampton, Virginia – Excelsior Mizpah Unit 2511 (Host)
June 4, 2016 – Charlottesville, Virginia – Rivanna/Blue Ridge Unit 2518 (Host) - (Military Ball)
September 10, 2016 – Franklin, Virginia - Greater Suffolk Unit 2508 (Host)
November 12, 2016 – Alexandria, Virginia – Northern Virginia Unit 2518 (Host) - (Anniversary Celebration)
For more information about becoming affiliated with this department. Email Lt. General Thomas Crews.