Grand Master's Flag Day & Father's Day Message to the Craft

June 14 – 15, 2008

My dear Brothers, families and friends …

Flag Day this year will be observed on Saturday, June 14th and Father’s Day is celebrated the very next day on Sunday, June 15th. How appropriate that these two national holidays are so closely linked. If we stop a moment and think of all the lessons we learned from our Fathers … the sense of patriotism and loyalty to our nation and its flag … taught to us by our Fathers and passed down through the generations by our forefathers, we can all appreciate how important these lessons are in today’s world.

Masons have always had a deep and abiding respect for our flag instilled by a fervor and zeal for the institutions of Masonry and Democracy. It is part of our Masonic heritage to do honor to our flag at every Masonic gathering. Likewise, it is part of our Masonic teachings to remember the values of family as demonstrated by lessons taught to us early on by our Fathers. Masonry did not invent these moral codes, but we try to reinforce them and, in turn, practice them as a rule and guide in all our actions throughout life.

As we prepared to observe this coming weekend of FLAG DAY and FATHER’S DAY, on behalf of myself and Helen, Virginia and Deputy Grand Master RW Vincent Libone, and our entire elected and appointed Grand Line, we wish you and yours a safe and very enjoyable holiday. We congratulate all of you who are Dads and Grandfathers and if your Dad is still with you, we know he will appreciate your expressions of love as much as you look forward to the hugs from those you love.

Good Bless all our Fathers and our Forefathers, and God Bless the men and women in our armed forces, past and present, who have stood tall and proud in defense of the flag that represents all of the liberties we enjoy today. May God continue to watch over us all, and God Bless you my Brothers. With all good wishes …

Sincerely and fraternally,

MW EDWARD G. GILBERT

Grand Master