1966 Area V-E Conference Patch & Camp Comer

On April 29^th 1966 the gates were flung open to Comer Scout Reservation as Arrowman from all over Alabama and Northwest Florida gathered for the 15^th Annual Area V-e Order of the Arrow Conference. The patch pictured above was issued for this annual event and was designed by Svend Damhave of Woa Cholena 322. What is of significant note about this conference is that this was the first big event held at Comer Scout Reservation since its total completion that same year. The area pulled out all the stops for the weekend as two distinguished guest were in attendance during the conference. Both Martin Mockford, who served as Executive Secretary of the Order of the Arrow, and National Committeeman Carl Marchetti were both in attendance. Marchetti would go on to serve as the Chairman of the National Order of the Arrow Committee from 1984- 1993.

258 Arrowman attended the conference making it the largest attended conference to that date. During the weekend the official ribbon cutting and dedication of Achunanchi 135’s OA Lodge was carried out.

Camp Arrowhead 1942 - Cherokee Fifty 1st Patch?

Camp Arrowhead served the Birmingham Area Council from the early 1940's to 1971.  Located on the Coosa River near Clanton, AL it was the home of Cherokee Fifty Lodge.  Cherokee was the first lodge in the Deep South (outside of Wichita in Texas - if you include them as Deep South) and did not produce an official OA Patch until 1950.  The first patch was the R1 Cut Edge Round.  Or was it?  Many of the Lodge members were Staffers at Camp Arrowhead.  In 1942 the Camp issued for the first time a felt sewn patch made by Standard Pennant out of Pennsylvania.  Prior to this all patch has been "Flocked Pressed Hard Felt".  However this patch was different and came with an Arrow through the Arrowhead.

Old timers explained that this was given to them if they were a member of Cherokee Fifty Lodge on Staff.  The Arrow facing upward to the right was correct for the time.  So the debate would be "is this the first lodge issued patch" from Cherokee.  If it is it would be the second oldest OA issue in the State of Alabama.  Only Achunanchi 135's "Blue Owl" issued in 1940 would be older.  Whether an OA issue or not, this is one rare patch.   

Buckskin Lodge 412 Treasure Island Camp Patch

Bucksin Lodge is located in the Nassau County area of New York.  Noted for their OA Flaps that rarely change, they did at one time host a Spring Fellowship at the birthplace of the Order of the Arrow - Treasure Island Camp.  The event held in 1983 required the lodge to go to the Island Camp in the middle of the Delaware River.  It is a very difficult to find Lodge and T.I. collectible.  While there is nothing fancy about the patch, it is unique in that the lodge traveled some distance to host the event there and celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Camp.