My Dear Brethren,
As your Grand Master, I am deeply moved to remember and pay homage to the many Men and Women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep the torch of Freedom burning not only for our Countrymen today, but for our generations yet to come. Each of us who enjoy the bounty of this great Nation of ours have been touched in a profound way by the unsung heroes to whom we memorialize today. I ask each of you to pause for a brief moment this Monday, and reflect on Brother Benjamin Franklin’s statement in answer to the question “Do we have a Republic or a Monarchy?” His answer, “We have a Republic, if you can keep it.” With the help of Freemasonry, let’s keep the torch of Freedom burning.
With kind Fraternal regards,
MW/ Steven Adam Rubin
Grand Master
A Memorial Day Tribute
By RW/Bro. Rick Bateman, SGT – USAF 95th SAC
On June 6, 1944, during a live radio broadcast, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a member of our Holland Lodge No. 8 in New York City, appealed to the American People to join him for a moment of prayer as our young men and women of the Allied Forces launched the D-Day Invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France in World War II. The renowned D-Day Prayer as it became known will forever be enshrined in the hearts and minds of our beloved Nation, which we now share: “Almighty God: Our sons and daughters, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy Kingdom. Amen.”
Eighty-years later, the members of our Armed Forces no longer face the perils of Imperial Japan or the Nazi Regime, but rather a host of new enemies and terrorists scattered throughout the world who continue to threaten the security of our Nation and its People. In these uncertain times, we as Masons must stand tall with unwavering gratitude and respect for our Nation. Especially, we as Masons need to recognize those men and women who have served during the trying and tough times of war.
The Grand Lodge of New York through the efforts of the Masonic War Veterans, the Military Outreach Committee, the National Sojourners and the Heroes of 1776 continue to support and have supported our veterans for many years with various programs. Some of these programs include the Veterans Administration Hospital Volunteer Program, the distribution of Veterans Canteen Kits, and the “Free Call Home” program. We also in the not-too-distant past provided every known veteran with a handsomely designed pin and certificate in recognition of his or her respective military service to our country.
During the height of the War in Vietnam, our Military Outreach Committee [then known as the Grand Lodge Committee on Veteran Service & Rehabilitation] showed their true colors and steadfast support for our troops by spearheading a program called “Operation Vietnam”, from which our Grand Lodge shipped well-over 100,000 pounds of gifts, toiletries, stationary, harmonicas, general reading material, fruitcake, chocolate and supplies valued in excess of $264,000 to military units stationed throughout Vietnam.
John R. Siska, LTC, QMC, U.S. Army Commanding Officer of the 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne) in Vietnam wrote in a letter dated November 16, 1966, “The Paratroopers of the 173rd received your gifts with great pleasure and on their behalf, I thank you… the Masons of the Grand Lodge from the bottom of my heart for your thoughtfulness in sending these gifts… The troops were amazed at the variety of gifts within [the care-packages]. The harmonicas were especially appreciated and the troops who received them have decided to activate a harmonica band and entertain the Battalion during Christmas… When the troops know they are being thought of by the people back home, such as the Masons of Grand Lodge, the heavy load they bare here is greatly alleviated…”
Due to the overwhelming support received from the members of our Craft in sponsoring “Operation Vietnam”, our Grand Lodge was the recipient of countless numbers of letters of appreciation from the soldiers, sailors, corpsmen and airmen attached to field and combat units on the frontlines. Amongst these letters were citations of appreciation issued to the Grand Lodge from various military leaders and officers, including General Creighton W. Abrams, United States Army Commander of the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam; Brigadier General W.M. Van Harlingen, U.S.A. Commander, Headquarters – 1st Signal Brigade; Captain Herbert A. Markowitz, U.S. Navy Commanding Officer, Medical Corps., Naval Hospital – USS Repose (AH-16); and General W.C. Westmoreland, U.S. Army Headquaters – Vietnam.
Over the past several decades prior to the onset of the Pandemic of 2020, each Grand Master has made it an annual tradition to place a wreath at West Point honoring two esteemed Brother Masons, namely General George Washington and General Douglas Mac Arthur. Not to mention the participation of our Masonic War Veterans at countless parades and color guard presentations throughout the Empire State. The Spring 2000 issue of the Empire State Mason Magazine dedicated a “free” page in tribute to the United States 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration. Looking back to the cover of our Spring 1991 issue of the ESM Magazine, we featured the cover story “How Masons Supported Our Troops” during Desert Storm.
Grand Master Edward R. Trosin established in May 2005 the first overseas Military Lodge in over 30 years, aptly named the Land Sea & Air Lodge No. 1, U.D. comprised of Brethren from several jurisdictions. The installed Worshipful Master of this worthy and prestigious Lodge was our own Major E. Daniel Walther of Master Builder Lodge No. 911, who opened the first Communication of Land Sea & Air Lodge No. 1, U.D. at Base Speicher in North Tikrit, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In speaking about their mission to introduce Freemasonry in the Middle East, Wor. Brother Walther stated “this goal would prove that the strength of Masonic teachings can withstand anything, even tyranny!”
Within the past 2 ½ years, Grand Master M.W. Richard J. Kessler, together with his late wife, Joanne brought to the forefront the dilemma of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) facing many Veterans returning home from the horrors of War. To combat this devastating illness and stem the tide of loss, MW Kessler teamed up with the “Battle Within” Foundation in a concerted effort to offer further funding for both treatment and public awareness.
Continuing our Masonic tradition in Observance of Veterans, each year during St. John’s Day, the Grand Master with the support of the Grand Lodge and the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home places a memorial wreath at the foot of the soldier in front of the old Army Navy Hospital Building on the grounds of the Masonic Care Community. This year will be no different, as Grand Master Steven Adam Rubin will lead the Craft in recognizing and saluting our Veterans during a special ceremony on the Campus of the Masonic Care Community.
“The Masonic Fraternity in New York State has a long and proud history of supporting our men and women in the military service of our nation, and we will never forget those who have served and are serving to protect our freedoms and our way of life,” exclaimed Grand Master Edward R. Trosin in June 2004. “We are privileged to pause and reflect on their sacrifices during this planned “Salute to Veterans!” he said. “As Masons, we do not simply remember on Memorial Day and Flag Day and Armed Forces Day … we should count our blessing every day, and be thankful for those dedicated Americans whom we honor today!”
In closing, let us be ever mindful on this Memorial Day of all of our Veterans and active Military Service Men and Women who place their lives on the line for our God given Freedoms. May each of you and your loved-ones be of good cheer, good health and be safe during this Special Day of Remembrance. May God bless you and your family, may God bless this beloved Fraternity, and may God bless America!
