Pirates With a Purpose: How a Fallen Brother's Dream Became a Living Tradition
Members of the Omar Pirate Unit dress as pirates and pose with patients from Shriners Children's Greenville.
As patients at Shriners Children’s Greenville watched, two mighty “ships” pulled into the front parking lot. Then came the pirates – dozens of them in full kit, toy swords at their sides and smiles wide – spilling through the doors to take over the hospital for the day.
On that hot summer day, the pirates didn’t march in a parade. They brought the celebration directly to the children.
What began as a joyful idea to bring together nobles for this special occasion turned into something more – a promise fulfilled, a tribute honored and a new tradition taking shape.
A Dream Born Between Brothers
Micheal Dodson of Sudan Shriners has been a noble since 2019. Ask him why he joined, and his answer is simple: to support the outstanding care at Shriners Children's.
But what brought him to Greenville, South Carolina, that August morning was something more personal.
Micheal first connected with fellow Shriner Logan Spencer in 2020 through a Shriners Facebook group. Both were members of pirate units – Micheal with the Sudan Pirates in New Bern, North Carolina, and Logan with the Alee Pirates in Savannah, Georgia – and quickly formed a bond.
“Five minutes around Logan and you were welcomed like family,” Micheal said. “He loved his family, especially his two young kids. He had a heart for the greater good of people.”
Together, they began talking about how their units could do more than parade. What if, instead of waving to crowds, they brought that same energy directly to the children they serve?
“We wanted to bring joy to the children and staff we parade for, but may never actually see,” Micheal said. “And to remind ourselves why we are Shriners.”
In the months that followed, the idea began to take shape. Plans were forming, and momentum was building.
Then, on February 13, 2024, the unthinkable happened. Logan was killed in a motorcycle accident. The idea they had shared was set aside.
But brotherhood has a way of carrying things forward.
Logan and his mom, Patti, are all smiles at a pirates’ ball in Tybee Island, Georgia.
The Pirates Arrive
Fellow Sudan Pirate Joe Shope encouraged Micheal to revisit the plan. With Joe helping coordinate with Shriners Children’s Greenville and Micheal reaching out to pirate units across the region, the vision began to take shape once more.
Six temples and pirate units answered the call: Sudan Pirates, Alee Pirates, Mystic Pirates of Kazim, Oasis Buccaneers, Omar Pirates and Hejaz Pirates.
Three dozen pirates arrived, bringing nearly $4,000 in contributions and a full day of energy, laughter and connection.
At first, the hospital staff might not have been quite sure what to expect. But the kids needed no convincing. From the moment the first pirate walked through the door, they were all in.
One young patient even took the lead, guiding the pirates through the hospital as their official tour captain for the day.
For Micheal, one moment stood above the rest.
Logan’s family was there – his parents and sisters, who live near Sudan Shriners in New Bern. His mother arrived dressed in pirate attire, honoring the spirit her son had shared.
“I watched her smile and enjoy being there, doing the same thing her son and I loved,” Micheal said. “That smile was buried deep in a grieving mother’s heart. Though he is no longer physically here, his presence is felt by many who knew and loved him.”
Pirate-clad Omar Pirate Unit pose in front of their pirate ship with patients from Shriners Children's Greenville.
A Legacy That Grows
The impact of the day extended beyond the hospital walls.
When Shriners Children’s shared the visit on social media, the response was immediate. Interest in the fraternity grew, with potential members reaching out to learn more.
For Micheal, the connection is clear.
“Without Masons, we have no Shriners. Without Shriners, we have no hospitals,” he said. “This is another way to help keep the organization going and growing.”
The next pirate invasion is already planned for this September, with expectations for an even larger crew. A committee formed to ensure the event continues – and expands. Because in the end, this isn’t just about pirates or parades. It’s about bringing joy where it matters most – and ensuring the mission of Shriners Children’s continues to reach the children who need it most.
What started as an idea between two friends has become something lasting.
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