Commandery Honors Community Exemplars

Companions were happy to once again be able to meet in person on June 11th, as the COVID 19 pandemic originating in Communist China continued to disrupt the lives of people across the globe. Companions gathered for a social at the Sunset Lanai, hosted by the Commandery to honor exemplars in the community. Honored Guests included Col, USMC Ret. Jason Seal and Franklyn Harrison.

Col Seal provided a moving presentation on the great work of his committee to restore the Naval Air Station Barbers Point Memorial, an effort chronicled in the pages of this magazine. The Commandery recognized Col Seal for his leadership and significant accomplishment, which directly supports the first and second purposes of the Order since its founding in 1894, namely: 1) To honor and perpetuate the names of brave and loyal men and women, and: 2) To keep in mind the memory of their martial deeds and the victories which they helped gain. Under Col Seal’s leadership, his committee overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to accomplish in 6 months what two previous committees could not do in over three years. The memorial was rededicated on June 6th. Commander manchester presented Col Seal with the MOFW Meritorious Service Medal, which may be presented to non-Companions for service.

The Commandery also recognized Theodora “Teddy” Brown Harrison, who made the wonderful wreath that was featured on the cover of the June 2021 issue of Commandery News. Teddy was a U.S. Army Nurse Corps nurse; a Veterans Affairs nurse in the Vietnam Soldier Annex, Los Angeles, Calif.; and an American Red Cross volunteer charge nurse at Presidio, San Francisco, Calif., during the War Orphan Airlift (Operation Baby-lift) Fall of Saigon, 1975.

Teddy was recognized for her incredible support to both the 50th Vietnam War Commemoration and the Hawaii World War One Centennial. Teddy was the President of “Remember the Lady,” a grass roots organization dedicated to honoring Military Nurses, and a registered 50th Vietnam War Commemoration Partner. where she helped to coordinate an event at Tripler Army Medical Center honoring Army Nurses. Teddy also supported the capstone event of the Hawaii WWI Centennial on November 11, 2018 at the War Memorial in Waikiki, where she distributed “Flanders Flowers” hand-made poppy flowers she had prepared to distribute, while supporting the reenactment as a WWI nurse in a historically accurate uniform. Teddy was unable to attend, and so her husband and Army Vietnam War Veteran Franklyn accepted both a Commandery Citation and a Hawaii WWI Centennial Volunteer Recognition Certificate signed by Companion and former Hawaii Adjutant General Arthur J. Logan.

Photos. Top: Col Seal briefs the assembled guests on the complex project of restoring the Naval Air Station Barbers Point that had just successfully concluded just a week prior. Center: Commander Manchester presenting Col Seal with the MOFW Meritorious Service Medal. Bottom: Franklyn Harrison accepting the WWI Centennial Commemoration Volunteer Certificate, one of two awards for his wife “Teddy.”

In addition to honoring community exemplars, the Commandery inducted its newest Companion, LT, former, Daniel Garcia. Dan was selected for direct-commissioning into the U.S. Navy Reserve on November 14, 2002 as a Public Affairs Officer, and was assigned to the Navy Information Bureau, Detachment 102 at Naval Station Norfolk. Dan served subsequent assignments in the Public Affairs Staffs of U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He was mobilized in August of 2007in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and assigned to the Public Affairs Office of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force—Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP) in Balad, Iraq, from September 7, 2007 to March 8, 2008. Dan continues to serve his country as a Department of the Navy Civilian in the J9 Directorate of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith.

All in attendance enjoyed the buffet and bar offerings set up by the Camp Smith Sunset Lanai staff, who did a wonderful job catering our social event. We look forward to doing this again next year.

Commander Manchester presents Companion Garcia with his diploma and Veteran neck medal, signifying his induction into the Order.

The assembled participants (less Col Seal) from Left to Right: MOFW Candidate Major Alberto Nunez , Companion Larry Dicks, Franklyn Harrison, Companion LTC Dan Curtis, Companion COL, Ret. Peter Hirai, Companion LT (Former) Dan Garcia, Commander LTC Ret. Manny Manchester, Secretary COL , Ret. Arthur Tulak, Becky and Fred Staedel, Mrs. Jacqueline Grose and MOFW Candidate. LTC Ret. Chris Grose, andMrs Lea Atchley and MOFW Candidate Col Jim Atchley. USAF