• Members Only
  • Societies
  • Articles
    • founders and patriots

    The Order of the
    Founders and Patriots of America™

    123rd General Court - 2019
    Thur-Sat, May 23rd - May 25th
    More Information

    Background

    ™

    During the first half of the 17th century, a great migration of colonists set out from Europe to seek freedom in a new land. In tiny ships they crossed the gray Atlantic to carve out settlements on the east coast of what is now the United States.

    Learn More >>

    Membership

    ™

    Any man of the age of 18 years, of good moral character and reputation, and a citizen of the United States, who is lineally descended, in the male line of either parent, from an ancestor who settled in any of the colonies...

    Learn More >>

    Society Events



    June 23, 2018,
    OFPA awards a sabre to USNA MIDN 1/C Matthew Baugh 24 May 2018 at Commissioning.
    Virginia Society
    June 23, 2018,
    A Tribute to Judge Paul Carrington
    The above dignitaries and representatives participated in the wreath presentation portion of this historic event and are standing in front of the original law office of Judge Paul Carrington along with the newly dedicated stone marker in front. Birthday Announcement - Col. Volney H. Rattan - March 19th 2018
    Nov 2017
    Oct 2017
    On Sunday October 1, 2017, the Virginia Society of The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America participated in a joint Grave Marking Ceremony hosted by the James Monroe and the Richard Henry Lee Chapters of the Sons of The American Revolution along with The War of 1812 Society in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
    Sept 2017
    Aug 2017
    On August 12, 2017 former Virginia Society Governor, Mike Lyman, participated in the dedication of a Virginia Historical Highway Marker ceremony. The event was located at the entrance to the Leedstown Campground on the Rappahannock River in Leedstown. Westmoreland County, Virginia.



    Rhode Island Society
    OFPA ROTC Superior Achievement Award - Cadet David Hayes - April 6th 2018
    Rhode Island Society president Bruce MacGunnigle (left) presents the Founders & Patriots ROTC Superior Achievement Award to Cadet David Hayes, of the University of Rhode Island ROTC Battalion at their annual Awards Ceremony held on campus April 6, 2018.
    Ohio Society
    July 2017
    Left to Right: Ken Morgan, Russell Warren, Shawn Zurat
    Ohio Society lunch at The Cleveland Yachting Club in Rocky River, Ohio - June 6th 2017.



    Texas Society
    April 2017
    Former Texas Society OFPA Governor Dr. Robert J. Devine presents the OFPA Outstanding Cadet Award to Cadet Amber Fairley at the TCU awards presentation on April 13, 2017.



    Michigan Society
    April 2017
    Michigan Society Treasurer Doug Rasmussen presents the OFPA ROTC award to Western Michigan University Army Cadet Issac J. Koerner (left) on April 20, 2017. Joining in is Captain Travis J. Payne of WMU ROTC faculty (center).
    2017 MSU AF – Michigan Society Councilor General Dave Miller presents the OFPA ROTC award to Michigan State University Air Force Cadet Corey Lee on April 20, 2017


    Nov 2014
    The Michigan Society OFPA Annual Fall Meeting was held Nov. 12, 2016 in Lansing, MI. Our guest speaker was Sergeant Major Kent Smith of the Michigan National Guard who spoke on Michigan National Guard history and recent events, including Guard deployments to the Middle East.

    Michigan Society Associates, speaker and spouses
    Michigan Society Associates plus guest speaker Sergeant Major Kent Smith
    New Michigan Society Governor Tom Smart (right) swears in newly elected Society officers (from left) Bob Sprague, Larry Blackett, Doug Rasmussen, Charles Blackman, Paul Ensign and Dave Miller
    Acting Michigan Society Governor Dave Miller (right) administers the oath of office to newly elected Governor Tom Smart



    Louisiana Society
    Sept 2014
    Former Louisiana Society Governor William Allerton III presents The Order of Founders and Patriots of America Outstanding National Guard Unit Award for 2013 to the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, also known as the Washington Artillery, in ceremonies on September 25, 2014 at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans. Receiving OFPA's coveted award is the command leadership of the Washington Artillery. Allerton, second on the right, Louisiana National Guard Adjutant General, Major General Glenn H. Curtis far right.
    Former Louisiana Society Governor William Allerton III (left) greets Louisiana National Guard Adjutant General Major General Glenn H. Curtis (right) on September 24, 2014.



    North Carolina Society
    Aug 16th 2014
    North Carolina Society Participates in Grave Marking.
    Salisbury, NC.
    Deputy Secretary General, OFPA
    Ray M. Maxson, III



    New York Society
    May 27th 2014
    The United States Military Academy Award Presentation By Thomas H. Lipscomb, Counselor General, New York Society 27 May 2014. The Lieutenant General John Macnair Wright, Jr. Award Presented To: Cadet 1/C William Anderson, for excellence in Environmental Science



    Kentuckiana Society
    118th General Court in Louisville, KY - May 24th 2014
    General Court | General Court - Friday Dinner | General Court - Reception
    OFPA Governor General Charles Lucas presents to incoming CT OFPA Society member Tim Maybee his membership certificate at the 118th General Court in Louisville, KY 24 May 2014.



    ROTC Awards
    Kentuckiana Society Treasurer Terry O. Brown presents certificate and medal to ROTC cadet Samantha Fox at the University of Louisville, April 16, 2014.
    Kentuckiana Society Registrar Dennis Babbitt presents certificate and medal to ROTC cadet Liam Shelton at Ball State University (Muncie, IN), April 22, 2014



    South Carolina Society
    New Officers Sworn In
    Spring 2014
    The South Carolina Society of OFPA recently swore in new officers at the Spring Court.

    Left to right – John H. Cooper; William Lee; Capers McDonald; Ryan C. Lucas; Allison Wilder in the charming Map Room at the Carolina Yacht Club in historic Charleston, SC
    Incoming Governor Ryan Lucas swears-in Registrar John H. Cooper
    Past Governor Capers McDonald swears-in incoming Governor Ryan C. Lucas
    On March 29th, 2014, at the Carolina Yacht Club in Historic Charleston, SC, the South Carolina chapter of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America swore in new officers. Outgoing Governor Capers McDonald, after 4 years of dedicated service, swore in new Governor Ryan Lucas, including presenting him with the Governor’s Star and the unique Cypress and Turkey Foot Gavel*.

    New officers are: Governor, Ryan C. Lucas; Deputy Governor, Counselor General, and State’s Attorney Duke N. Stern; Secretary, John M. Proctor; Treasurer, Arthur p. Savage; Registrar, John H. Cooper; and Past Governor, Capers McDonald. The Council includes: Allison Wilder, Sandy Savage, John Winthrop, William Lee, Fred Kellogg, Gordon Parrott, Kerry Savage, Jason Stevens, and Martin Haskell.

    *The Cypress and Turkey Foot Gavel was a ceremonial gift from Founding Governor Thomas M. Leland to Past Governor Capers McDonald and future Society Governors. The gavel’s ‘business end’ is made of a Carolina cypress knee, while a wild turkey foot finishes the handle. The SC chapter takes pride in having a unique artifact of local significance.


    Virginia Society
    Culpepper, VA
    Spring 2014



    Michigan Society
    ROTC award presentation at the University of Michigan Tri-Service Awards on April 8, 2014.
    Pictured from left to right are: Army Cadet Jordan Macocha, Navy Midshipman Aaron Gzegorzewski, MI Society past Governor Tom Smart and Air Force Cadet Tyler Patrick.
    Other ROTC awards presented in April, 2014 by the Michigan Society included two at Michigan State University to Army Cadet William S. Anders and Air Force Cadet Andrew Shih, and one award at Western Michigan University to Army Cadet Gabriel Saren.
    Michigan Society Gives Award to the Michigan National Guard
    HQ 1st Batallion 125th Infantry Regiment
    20 July 2013
    Award given by Society Governor E. David Ladd, and Michigan State Governor Rick Synder




    Texas Society
    1994
    Lyttleton Tazewell Harris IV, Past Governor General of the Order and Past Governor, Texas Society, presents in 1994 to the Honorable George H. W. Bush, Former President of the United States the OFPA Distinguished Service Award.