Wahunsenakah Summer Service patch salutes Naval Weapons Station

Wahunsenakah Lodge 333 of Newport News, VA held their annual Summer Service weekend on Sept. 12-14 at Bayport Scout Reservation. The patch issued for the event continues the 2014 theme of saluting the military installations in the council area. The solid embroidered oval emblem recognizes the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown.

Wahunsenakah 'Bayport Builder' flaps issued

The Wahunsenakah Lodge special edition flaps to raise funds for an OA Shelter at Bayport Scout Reservation are out. The flaps were sold via preorder and are now shipping. The fundraiser flap patch is solid blue with ghosted design pictured above. There are three versions: blue border/lettering sold for $5 each, silver mylar border/lettering for $20, and a gold mylar border/lettering  only available in a set of all three for $75.

Wahunsenakah Spring Service patch continues military theme

Wahunsenakah Lodge 333 continued their "Saluting the Military theme" for their Spring Service weekend patch. The Spring Service weekend was held May 16-18 at Bayport Scout Reservation and the oval patch issued for the event features a jeep and truck in salute to Fort Eustis Military Transportation.

You can see all of the activity patches issued by Wahunsenakah Lodge since 1996 here.

Wahunsenakah Winter Service Weekend patch issued

Wahunsenakah Lodge issued their first activity patch of 2014 for their Winter Service Weekend, held Feb. 21-23 at Bayport Scout Reservation.

The solid embroidered oval pocket patch with attached button loop pictures an F-22 fighter jet against a sunset over water background, with "Saluting Our Military - Langley Air Force Base" lettering in addition to the Lodge and event names.

Recognizing the military is an especially appropriate theme for the Lodge's 2014 event patches since the Hampton Roads area the council serves (along with neighboring Tidewater Council) has the largest concentration of military bases and facilities of any metropolitan area in the world. Nearly one-fourth of the nation’s active-duty military personnel are stationed in Hampton Roads (Wikipedia).

Established in 1916, Langley Air Force Base is one of the oldest continuously active  air bases in the United States. Today it is headquarters of the Air Combat Command and home of the 1st Fighter Wing whose 27th Fighter Squadron and 94th Fighter Squadron fly the Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor.

Final 2013 Wahunsenakah Activity patch

Wahunsenakah Lodge 333 held their final activity of 2013, the Holiday Banquet, on December 7 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Smithfield, VA. To commemorate the occasion a large oval pocket patch with attached button loop was issued that continues the theme of prior 2013 event patches featuring ceremonial team members.

The Holiday Banquet patch includes all four of the characters from the Ordeal ceremony. From left to right: Nutiket (Guardian),  Kichkinet (Guide),  Allowat Sakima (Mighty Chief), and Meteu (Medicine Man). These characters were featured on the Summer Service, Spring Service, Fall Fellowship, and Winter Service patches, respectively. You can view pictures of all Wahunsenakah activity patch issues here.

The OA History Timeline has a wealth of fascinating information about the history of Order of the Arrow ceremonies. Check it out.