Grand Master's Memorial Day Message to the Craft
MEMORIAL DAY, May 26, 2008
To the Brethren of the Masonic Fraternity in New York, our families and friends…
Memorial Day 2008 and our nation is still at war and tens of thousands of our young men and women continue to serve our nation away from home and their loved ones. Many of them are Brother Masons or the sons and daughters or relatives of ours.
I ask you to please pause in your activities on this day of remembrance and give thanks to the Great Architect for our myriad blessings, our independence and the freedoms we enjoy that were earned through the sacrifice of so many millions of our veterans past and present.
Honor them by remembering. Honor them by flying your American flag at half mast. Honor them with a poppy in your lapel or by wearing your veterans cap … or whatever is appropriate.
Many of you have heard me repeat so often the inspiring words of our Brother Irving Berlin, who composed GOD BLESS AMERICA. Together we have sung this anthem in our Lodge rooms and at countless gatherings. Sometime during this Memorial Day weekend, gather your family together and give thanks and homage to our veterans by joining together to sing this fitting anthem.
God Bless America
Words and music by Irving Berlin
© Copyright 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin
© Copyright Renewed 1965, 1966 by Irving Berlin
© Copyright Assigned to the Trustees of the God Bless America Fund
International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.
Used by Permission
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home."
On behalf of Helen and myself, our Deputy Grand Master RW Vincent Libone and Virginia, and our entire elected and appointed Grand Line, I pray that you and your families enjoy a safe and peaceful Memorial Day. May God continue to watch over our military, our wounded military past and present, and all of our veterans. May He continue to look kindly upon us and those we love, and be gracious to us all. God Bless America, our fraternity, and God bless you and yours.
With warmest fraternal regards,
Edward G. Gilbert
GRAND MASTER
