AN EVENING OF FRIENDSHIP & PATRIOTISM
A Scottish Rite Family Life Program
Saturday, November 17th, 2001
Valley of Middletown
The Valley of Middletown's Family Life Night was inspired by
the current wave of patriotic enthusiasm sweeping the nation. The Committee
gathered together several concordant bodies to organize an event that would
inspire, entertain and touch each participant. As our plans grew, many Masons
in our Orange-Rockland area offered their talents to make this an evening to
remember. In this one grand activity, we combined the Scottish Rite Family Life
Program with the Scottish Rite Feast of Tishre short talk. It was a perfect
segue from patriotism to thanks for all our blessings, and back again to
confirm our allegiance to God and Country.
Please follow along to experience the evening that moved the audience and
participants in a full range of emotions from tears to laughter to
contemplation, and that instilled hope through a joyous celebration.
Earlier in the evening, the International Order of Rainbow, Assembly No. 16 sponsored their annual Turkey Dinner downstairs in the Assembly/Dining Room. As a result of combining this dinner and the Family Life Program, attendance and proceeds from the dinner were more than double their usual count. The delicious meal was prepared by the advisors and parents, set up by the young men of the Central Orange DeMolay and served by the enthusiastic Rainbow Girls.
After enjoying the turkey dinner and fellowship, the audience moved upstairs to the decorated Lodge Room. They were greeted by Uncle Sam (committee member Sam Phelps 32°), dressed in top hat and tails, who presented each person with a program and an American Flag favor (handmade by three members of the Queen Esther Chapter No.163, Order of the Eastern Star: Freda Clawson, Carlys and Geneva Baker.) Each cast member and dignitary also received a hand crafted red, white and blue support ribbon (handmade by Beth Denninger).
Kate Andrews, the Mother Advisor to
the Rainbow Girls, and the evening's Music Director, prepared a Prelude - a
Sing-A-Long - that proved to be an enjoyable time for everyone. She led us in a
full course of old favorites. We were certainly pleased at the enthusiastic
participation by young and old. She produced an extensive Song Book for the
evening.
During the program itself, Mrs. Andrews led the audience three more times in
singing patriotic songs and anthems.
Committee Chairman and Master of Ceremonies, Al Denninger 14°, welcomed the audience and introduced the officers of the Concordant Bodies who were in attendance. He then introduced Richard Huttner 32°, MSA, Thrice Potent Master who in turn introduced the Ill. Walter Gasnick 33°, from the Valley of New York City. Mr. Gasnick offered the Invocation.
The next part of the program brought the talents of another concordant body to the program - the Masonic War Vets, Beth-El Post No. 29. Slow stepping to "Amazing Grace" in the music of stirring Scottish bagpipes, three of the Veterans brought the flag of the United States of America to the center of the Lodge as the audience saluted.
The Rainbow Girls joined Mr.
Denninger in the East, and together they performed a special Pledge of
Allegiance in honor of Red Skelton 33°. Please see the
Red Skelton Pledge, which we
hope will move you as much as it did our audience that night.
The audience responded by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the
National Anthem, accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Andrews. The Veterans then
placed the flag in its display base and stood in the East to be introduced:
Allan Ackerson 32º, Ellsworth Kenney 32º and Robert Clawson
32º.
The Ill. Walter Gasnick 33º returned to the podium to present his explanation of the Feast of Tishre, accompanied by a heartfelt recitation of the Ten Commandments. Later, many audience members commented on how much they had learned from his wonderful Biblical history presentation.
It is one of the pleasures of Masonry to honor a member with a well-deserved award. Past Thrice Potent Master Harold Trout 32° (2000-2001) was escorted to the East by his granddaughter, where he was presented with the handsome Past Thrice Potent Master Jewel from current TPM Richard Huttner.
The surprise of the evening was a Proclamation the Lodge of Perfection had arranged on behalf of The International Order of Rainbow for Girls, Assembly No. 16. U.S. Congressman Benjamin Gilman 33°, issued a "Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition of Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Community" to the Rainbow Girls. Mr. Frank Fevoli, a Master Mason and District Assistant for Mr. Gilman, presented the Proclamation to Worthy Advisor Lisa Hendley.
Ambrose Kurtzke 32°, dressed in full Colonial Navy Captain's regalia, delighted the audience with a talk on "George Washington, Mason & Patriot." Mr. Kurtzke is the Chairman of the George Washington Masonic Historic Site at Tappan, the DeWint House. He shared his vast knowledge eagerly and completely, and after the program, members of the audience talked with him further about Washington and his activities in the Hudson Valley.
After the final course of patriotic singing, "Uncle Sam" once again made an appearance, accompanied by "Lucky", his trusty partner! To the lively tune of John Philip Sousa's "Liberty Bell March" (of "Monty Python" fame), Mr. Denninger and committee member Scott Geiger 14º danced and pranced to the hoots and laughter of the audience. Uncle Sam passed out golden horseshoes with the help of Masonic War Veteran Robert Clawson, while keeping a wary eye on the antics of the fleet-footed horse.
John Green 32º, Master of Ceremonies for the second half of the evening, presented "Why and How our Flag is Folded", a moving explanation of the military folding of the U.S. Flag. One note: Hanging over the stage in the dining room was a large flag donated for the evening by the Masonic War Vets. We were all thrilled when during the clean up, the Rainbow girls spontaneously folded the huge flag properly, as per Mr. Green's talk.
It was our great honor to have with us for the evening the Ill. Harold L. Aldrich 33º, Active for the Supreme Council and Deputy for the State of New York. He was escorted to the podium by Norman Moon 32º, Representative for the State Deputy. Mr. Aldrich offered the Closing Remarks. His words were very well chosen for this evening, reflecting the truth that no matter what world events transpire, Masonry has always been a patriotic organization, promoting fellowship and brotherhood.
One of the very first ideas the committee had for Family Life Night was "The Circle of Friendship". When the Masonic War Veterans agreed to participate, this section of the program became one of the most moving parts of the evening. The War Veterans marched the flag to the center of the Lodge. All the guests and participants came to the level and joined hands in a huge circle. Accompanied by the piano, everyone sang "God Bless America". Mr. Gasnick offered the benediction. In complete silence, the flag was retired from the Lodge.
While a recording of Ray Charles' "America the Beautiful" played, everyone visited and hugged and celebrated a great job well done. Audience and participants were invited to move back downstairs to the dining room for coffee, cake and ice cream.
