Virginia Grand Assembly

By Kassie

Our Grand Assembly was good and we had lots of fun there.  Some of us were in the Cavalcade of Flags.  I carried the New Hampshire flag, because I was the Grand Representative to New Hampshire.  Ashley and Anna carried the flags of Missouri and Vermont, because those were their Grand Representative states.  The Grand Worthy and Grand Worthy Associate Advisors from Maryland, Pennsylvania and South Carolina were there.  Gia, who is Libbie’s friend from California, was also there.  Libbie’s theme was the sailboat and shark.  During the morning session, they played How Far I’ll Go, sung by Moana.  During the afternoon session the song was That’s My Girl, by Fifth Harmony.  I was excited to see some majority girls from my assembly, especially Rachel, the past Grand Worthy Advisor.  Ilana and Andi received their majority cards.  At the banquet we received our awards and found out who won the raffle prizes.  When it was time to announce the Grand Representative and Grand Officer positions we found out we had three Grand Representatives, two Grand Officers, one Flag Bearer, and one Grand Page from our assembly.  After the banquet we had a dance and it was fun.  In the morning, the new Grand Officers were installed.  Kensley, the new GWA, had her home Assembly do the ribbon ceremony, and introduced her family and friends.

On Monday, July 30th, Supreme Assembly began in the Hampton Coliseum. Before the start of session, Hampton and Manassas girls walked around welcoming Rainbow girls to Hampton and exchanging swap gifts. The Supreme Officers preformed their walk-in for the first time and everyone in the audience clapped along, sparking a trend for the rest of the time we spent there. The opening, although similar, was not the traditional opening our Rainbow meetings have. It focused more on the higher level of Rainbow and was very interesting to hear. The Supreme Officers talked with such grace and beauty. It was an amazing experience to watch. Seeing girls do such an awesome job reciting ritual was inspiring and it made me (along with everyone else I’m sure) wish they were Supreme Officers too! The Supreme choir did a lovely job singing and filled the room with harmony. There were an overwhelming amount of PGWAs as well as GWAs who introduced themselves this day and it was an honor to have so many present. Flag bearers gave tributes and presented our sponsoring bodies’ flags and jurisdiction flags with confidence. There were introductions and speeches from many people and the session was called to rest. Afterward, Virginia Rainbow and honored dignitaries gathered in the convention center to enjoy a reception of appetizers and Good Company.

With Rainbow Love and Service, 

Lauren Ann

Grand Assembly

On the weekend of June 29 to July 1st, Virginia had its 25th annual Grand Assembly at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. The girls who attended are myself, Katie, Sami, Gigi, Vanessa, Kate, Dalanie, Zoey, Isabella, Joella, Batu, Balu, Alyssa, Allison, Eliza, and Emma. I rode with Mom Jean, Zoey, Balu, and Batu. We left on Thursday, as we wanted to help with setting the assembly room beforehand, and all of us were either grand flag bearers or grand representatives, and we had practices the next day.

The sessions were long, and I was really shocked at how long they were. They were interesting, but at some points I wanted to go to sleep (mostly the night sessions) because I was tired. The ritualistic initiation was beautiful, and I thought all the girls that were participating did a fabulous job.

Manassas Assembly came home with a lot of awards. For the awards, the Assembly won Assembly of the year and the traveling gavel, which was amazing. We also had a lot of competition winners, Ella, Alyssa, won first place in the 11-14 competition, Kate won first in the 14-16 competitions, Katie won 2nd, and Vanessa won 3rd. In the Rose lecture, Katie won 2nd, and for the dad talk, Dalanie won 1st, I won 2nd, and Katie won 3rd. All the winners for the adult competitions were in our Assembly, including Mom Robin, Mom Priscilla, Mom Erin, Mom Jean, Dad Tom, Dad Clancy, and many more adults. Our assembly was the only one to participate in the baby dedication, Katie and Sami winning first place, Gigi and Dalanie winning 2nd. For the rodeo, our team, consisting of Katie, Sami, Vanessa, and Kate won 2nd. Jasmyn, Alyssa, Batu, M’Balu, Maribel, Isabella, Sami, Joella, Ella, Zoey, Gigi, Katie, Vanessa, and Dalanie all won the traveling award, and I won the Amanda Award, which was cool. I remember stumbling on my acceptance speech and trying to figure out what to say on the spot, and somewhat failing at it.

We also got a lot of grand appointments and came back with a lot of grand officers. Alyssa is now a grand flag bearer, Joella, Isabella, Maribel, Balu, Sami, Batu, and Allison are all grand representatives for the coming year. For grand officers, Vanessa, Kate, Dalanie, and Katie all got grand bow stations, Zoey got Grand Confidential Observer, and Gigi got Grand Associate Worthy Advisor! I am so proud of the assembly and what we have achieved! Assembly of the year is a huge deal!

After grand assembly, a bunch of us helped some of the adults put the assembly room stuff back in the storage. It was hot outside, and that slowed us down a little, but we got it all done. Afterwards, Mom Jean, Zoey, Balu, Batu and I all hopped back in the car, stopped for lunch at Dairy Queen, and then head back home. When I got home, I directly went to bed, because I was tired. Overall, Grand Assembly was fun, and I can’t wait to go back next year!

In Rainbow Love and Service,

Akshita

Manassas Assembly #13

Founders Day Tribute

The founder of our beautiful organization that we are a part of is William Mark Sexson. His birthday is July 8, 1877.   He was born in Missouri, but moved many times.  At the age of 14 he began his ministry and soon after became an ordained minister when he was just 17 years old. 

He became a Master Mason in 1902.  Soon after he moved to Oklahoma where he continued to be an active member in his lodge.  In 1923 he was elected to serve as the Grand Master.  He also became very involved with the Scottish Rite and Eastern Star.    

During this time he decided an order for girls was needed.  He expressed the idea to the Worthy Matron.  She loved it and said that  “We would start it if we had someone write the ceremony of initiation.” Rev. Sexson accepted the challenge and wrote the ritual and gave it the name “Order of the Rainbow for Girls”.

He asked the officers of South McAlester Chapter No. 149, O.E.S., to exemplify the ceremony and furnished them with typewritten copies of the Ritual.  On April 6^th, 1922, the degrees were given for the first time to 171 girls in the auditorium of the Scottish Rite Temple in McAlester, Oklahoma.

Rev. Sexson formed the Supreme Body in June of 1922. He wrote the governing laws and was made the Supreme Recorder.  Later, he received the title of the Supreme Worthy Advisor Emeritus.

On December 20, 1953, Rev. Sexson died in a hospital in McAlester, OK. The funeral service was held at the church where he served as minister for many years and where the Ritual of our Order was written.  

There are two special days that we honor in our organization. The first is Founder’s Day, which is recognized on his birth date of July 8th.  The other is the Sunday closest to April 6^th,  which is  to recognize and celebrate our anniversary.  Fun fact….did you all know that on the day the assembly goes to church, no member of the assembly is excused unless sick or out of the area?!

This great man created the organization we are affiliated with today. He is the reason we are all sitting in this room together. He made our friendships possible and why we have memories to hold with us for a life time.

Katie

Manassas #13