FLORIDA FIRST COAST COMMANDERY

Jacksonville, Florida
Naval Order of the United States

  Join us for the 2024 CONGRESS in Buffalo, NY October 2024

  JAX Home - First Coast Commandery Calendar - 

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Remember the Sacrifices /Celebrate Freedom!!!!!

Remember the Sacrifices /Celebrate Freedom!!!!!

MISSION

To preserve, promote, celebrate and enjoy our Nation’s Sea Service history and heritage. To accomplish this we will:

  • Commemorate American Sea Service Heroes and important historical events,

  • Support the study of Naval History through writing, speaking and educational events,

  • Preserve Sea Service historical artifacts, documents and monuments, and

  • Promote Camaraderie among our Companions and members of similar organizations

First Coast contact email is nousfc@gmail.com ; Like us on Twitter @nousfc 

Visit our National Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NavalOrderUnitedStates

LEADERSHIP

  • Commander: CAPT Robert “Bob” Buehn, USN, (Ret)

  • Vice Commander - Vacant

  • Vice Commander - Programs: CAPT Pete Wynkoop, USN (Ret)

  • Vice Commander - Membership: CAPT Gregory F. Streeter, USN (Ret)

  • Vice Commander - Enlisted Affairs: ETCM (SW) John R. Craft, USN (Ret)

  • USS Stark Memorial: CAPT Pete Wynkoop, USN (Ret) / CAPT Ed Froelich, USN (Ret)

  • Treasurer: LCDR Frank Fenno, USN (Ret)

  • Asst Treasurer: CAPT Bob Whitkop, USN (Ret)

  • Chaplain: CDR Reverend Steven Souders, USN, CHC, (Ret)/ LT, USCG Aux

  • Historian: CAPT Edward Froelich, USN (Ret) / Dr Dick Murphy, PhD (Ret)

  • Immediate Past Commander: ETCM (SW) John R. Craft, USN (Ret)

  • Jacksonville Ship Museum Liaison: CAPT John E. O’Neil, Jr., USN (Ret) Past First Coast Commander

  • Commandery Advisory Council: RADM George Huchting, USN (Ret); CAPT Gregory F. Streeter, USN (Ret) Past Commander General NOUS; CAPT Michelle Lockwood, USN (Ret) Past Commander General NOUS

  • Commandery Companions: VADM Al Konetzni, USN (Ret); RADM Bill Merlin, USCG (Ret) Past Commander General NOUS; RADM Ron Fritzmeyer, USN (Ret); CAPT Jim Morgan, USN (Ret); CAPT Chuck Walker, USN (Ret), CAPT Ryan Tillotson, USN (Ret)

EVENTS

                                                         NOUS Florida First Coast Commandery Annual OPLAN 2024

Gather every Friday 0800 at Panera’s on 3rd St S Jacksonville Beach…..

 October

1-6    2024 Congress: Buffalo NY

13 Knight’s Templar arrested on Fri the 13, 1307 

18 Social - VUCB (Veterans’ United Craft Brewery), Western Way, 1530

 November

6          Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Board of Directors and interested Companions.  Location: Cypress Village Exec Dining Room 1100-1330. 

All companions are invited.

7 Navy League Mayport Council Dinner, Guest Speaker, RDML Hewitt, CNRSE “The Navy In Jacksonville” 1800-2100,

Ocean Breeze Conference Center, NS Mayport FL

11        Veterans Day Ceremony, Beaches Veterans’ Memorial Park, Atlantic Beach

30        Jacksonville Light Parade Viewing w/ Fireworks. USS Orleck

30        Winter Newsletter Articles Closing Date. All articles due. Include Photographs!

December

7          Pearl Harbor Remembrance Dinner.     1730-2000

Installation of Officers. Location: Cypress Village Senior Center,. Egret Hall (ICW Navy League Mayport)

Speaker: TBD

For Info on any events call (904)442-6948 or e-mail:  nousfc@gmail.com 

 Looking for Additional Inputs and ideas for 2024!!!

Commandery News

  • Help us bring attention to and restore the SS El Faro Memorial located at the Dames Point Memorial Park in Jacksonville. The El Faro was lost at sea Oct 1, 2015 during a hurricane north of Puerto Rico with all 33 souls onboard. The memorial keeps their memory alive. See the link below to donate to ththis and other efforts by the Commandery to preserve History!

  • The Navy History Command has produced a short video about the USS Stark (FFG-31) Attack as part of their display called “The History of the US Navy in 100 Objects”. Stark was homeported in Mayport FL and is remembered in a ceremony each May 17!

  • The Florida First Coast Commandery Welcomed the USS Orleck (DD-886) to downtown Jacksonville as a Museum Ship on 3/26/22. Congratulations to the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association and in Particular our Companion CAPT John O’Neal (JHNSA Exec Dir) for the dedication and perseverance to make this happen!!!

  • The efforts to move the USS Barry Stern Plate to the Navy Training Center at Great Lakes IL for permanent display have been completed. Many thanks to donors through the Naval Order Foundation for your support of the Stern Plate project!

  • JU NROTC is home to the Bell from USS ShangriLa - see story at JU Wave OnLine

  • Volunteer to help us promote Naval History in Northeast Florida! We will be working on a History Essay Contest as our Naval History Day Contest is planned to start with the new school year; Historic markers at NS Mayport; Restoring the El Faro Memorial at the Dames Point Memorial Park; Establishing a History Trail for the city; Promoting History events ICW the Jax Historical Society and Museum of Science and History (MOSH); and providing Educational services onboard the Orleck and at our meetings!!! Call or e-mail if you’d like to help!

    Contact ETCM(SW) John Craft at jrcraft@comcast.net or CAPT Ed Froelich at efroeh06@comcast.net

  • Our presentation by CAPT Michelle Lockwood, USN(Ret) Past Commander General Naval Order of the United States on the Topic: ‘Expand Your Carbon Footprint’

    Press here to review or download the copy of the Presentation as it was not recorded

  • The late LCDR Ben Nichols, USN (Ret) presentation to the FFC Naval Order can be viewed here:

See recorded Discussion Here!

All Companions are invited to attend any and all Commandery events. Any questions email Bob Buehn or Bob Whitkop at  nousfc@gmail.com

JAX Home - First Coast Commandery Calendar

JAX 2017 NOUS Congress Summary 

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