My Brethren, Family and Friends …

 

The month of February is particularly significant to me, and I hope to all of our Brother Masons in New York and wherever located throughout the world. They are dates of great importance to all of us as family men, Masons and Americans.

First there is St. Valentine’s Day, February 14th, when we all pause to remember our ladies … our Mothers, our wives and significant others and all of our ladies.  This is another opportunity to express our thanks and appreciation for all that they do to make our lives happier and richer by their support.  While we should always remember to say “Thank You!” to our wives and Mothers whenever we can and in a meaningful way, Valentine’s Day gives us a timely opportunity to include our sisters and daughters and especially the surviving spouses of our Brother Masons, in our thoughts and prayers.

February also marks the Birthday of many men who are important to us as Masons. This month we remember Brother George Washington, whose Birthday is February 22.  February 12th is Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday.

I am sure most of you will remember when these birthdays were observed individually.  Now there is one National Holiday, President’s Day, celebrated this year on Monday, February 21.  Notwithstanding the combined national holiday, I ask each of you to remember Washington and Lincoln individually and the particular significance each of these men had in the development of our nation.  We, as Masons, hold them both in high regard and veneration and respect. However else we observe this President’s Day, we should all take the time to show our respect and give both our Brother George Washington, as well as Abraham Lincoln, the public and private recognition due them for their leadership and the critical role they each played in our nation’s history.  Without them, who knows were we would be as a nation today?

Please enjoy these holidays with your loved ones, but observe the special significance of these men and their meaning to us as Freemasons.  And also say a special prayer of remembrance for the men and women who are serving our nation in the armed forces at home and abroad, as well as for our veterans and first responders, past and present.

 

Thank you and God Bless!!!

 

Fraternally,

M:. W:. Vincent Libone

Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York

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