Yes sir, I understand that stickpins in general are not unique to Switzerland but the note indicates hat these are. The gentleman referenced in the note (John Conrad Herter) was my grandfather and he was a 32nd degree mason at the time of his death in 1972.
It's not certain that his father, who died in 1944, or his grandfather (the original owner?) were the first to immigrate to America so the pins in question almost certainly originated in Switzerland.
As for the box, it may very well not be the original box as my mother has 'jumbled' things around since her mother's death in 1998. Asking her now is hit and miss as she's 83 and "sliding" which is why I'm currently in the states and came across these items. (caretaker)