Neckerchief History
The first neckerchiefs to appear in the lodge came by way of chapter neckerchiefs. In 1956 the lodge was divided into four
chapters: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast. A Richland silk-screening company was asked to submit designs of an
Indian theme to the executive committee for consideration. After deciding which design they preferred, the committee approved
white silk-like neckerchiefs with red letters and art work on the back. The name of the chapter appeared along the outer
borders of the neckerchief.
Around 1960 the first lodge neckerchiefs appeared. Again, the cloth was white. However, a small triangular embroidered patch
was designed to be sewed to the back of the cloth neckerchief. The patch was very similar to the lodge flap patch designed by
Tom Simonton of Pendleton. This remained the official lodge neckerchief for over twenty years.
It was not until 1985 that a new lodge neckerchief patch was designed and approved by the executive committee. Tony Finfrock
of Kennewick and Bill Buchmiller of Pasco developed the design. It was fully embroidered, multi-colored with grey border. It
featured red letters indicating the name and number of the lodge. The main design displayed a large head of a mountain sheep
looking slightly sideways. The patch completely fills the back of the neckerchief.
At the October 1993 executive committee meeting approval was given for the development of a slightly different version of the
patch, which added Brotherhood bars. It was also determined that only Brotherhood and Vigil Honor members of the lodge would
be allowed to purchase the neckerchief. A special gold border version of this neckerchief was issued to the 1994 NOAC
contingent.
A special 50th Anniversary neckerchief patch was developed in 1995 by a committee under the chairmanship of Luke Roach of
Pasco. The design was similar to the first triangular patch introduced in 1960, only fully embroidered; however, there was a
red 50 and it featured a gold mylar border. This patch was one of two commemorative patches prepared in a packet and made
available to arrowmen as a means of raising funds for various 50th anniversary activities scheduled in 1995 and 1996.
