I’d also suggest that Memorial Day shouldn’t just be for our fallen soldiers, but also spend some time remembering your family members that have passed as well. I try and go out once a year to a local cemetery where the vast majority of my relatives are buried on my father’s side. My mom’s side are all up in British Columbia, which is a bit more of a struggle.
But my dad had 16 brothers and sisters as well as his parents, all of which have passed. Going to the cemetery is a little more than a quick jaunt. They are scattered from one end to the other, although most are situated in a relatively small area. I had worked with the cemetery caretakers and got maps and plots of just about all of them, using the website findagrave.com to fill in missing pieces and just happenstance to wander around and finding others.
It’s sad that a large number of my relatives are long forgotten and neglected by the rest of their children and grandchildren, and someday I’m going to be just as forgotten as the others. I think that is in the back of a lot of masons mind as they age - what legacy will I have left behind, will it be enough to be remembered in 100 years?
All masons should strive to be that one, not just some guy who wore a ring with a square and compass. Maybe you won’t, but you should try.
The veterans here do a good job honoring the graves of the vets who have passed on. It is a good thing to see.
But, just as with my Lodge and its Masonic markers, it is something that gets harder with each passing year.
My Lodge no longer has enough Masons willing to do the job with our markers, so we have to rely upon other Masons traveling here to help us. And I'm told by the local veteran who arranges the flags for vets graves each year that his group too is finding it harder and harder to turn local people out to help.
That's sad to me, and I hope that it can turn around.
This is similar in principle to what my Lodge in Centralia does every Memorial Day when we place Grave Markers at the headstones of our Brothers who have gone before us.
We really don't have a holiday to commemorate our deceased loved ones that is separate from Memorial Day -- this is likely why we utilize this day to pay homage to ALL who have passed before us, as well as those who have died in war.
I was called out by someone on social media who thinks it wrong that our Lodge honor departed Masons on Memorial Day. A day designed specifically to honor those who have fallen in battle.
And, in a way, I think he has a point.
But, looking at the larger culture, his point fades away to nothingness. Most people do BBQ's and shopping the Memorial Day sales, they aren't out honoring those Veterans who never made it home. Surely honoring the dead, combat dead or not, is much more important than getting a good buy on five gallons of paint.
Correct. I know the post you're talking about -- I also made a comment, although I purposefully did not respond to the person who made the comment. I didn't need to get into an argument over such a topic.
But yes, the holiday did get muddied up over the years since the two World Wars.
To Live Respected and Die Regretted is one of my favorite sayings in all of Freemasonry. And it provides us a valuable instruction I think. How do we live our life now, so that our peers can respect us, what will we leave behind so that people will regret our passing?
The first part is well known - we Should commemorate those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep our Country as the shining beacon of Freedom.
What you mention in your second part is overlooked much too often. We, as citizens, aren't doing our due diligence. We have too many military soldiers that die defending a country that is decaying from within... due to the apathy, inaction, and lack of prioritizing of important matters concerning our way of life in this country. It is time that all of us step up to the plate and do the right thing - get engaged as the citizens of this country.
We own the old Port Townsend Laurel Grove cemetery so we have to take care of everything and many many Masons of the past are there and I visit for 3 days on Memorial weekend and once per month on the way to the Stated and in fact I last year and tomorrow I will be there to clean up the one for the Charter member of Lodge #6 so it looks as good as possible
Last Memorial Day I went there 3 days of that weekend for 4 hours each day and talked to people there and did some Masonic marker cleaning and took a couple videos and some pictures by myself and if you check my FB account you can see my last year videos.
That so many have been willing to give their lives that we might continue to have this glorious experiment that is the United States, does I think place an obligation upon all of us to do what we can to preserve it in peace.
But, that might require getting up off the couch once in awhile, and engaging in Civil Society.
We need more toasts to our fallen Brothers in Masonry I think. We've done those from time to time in my Lodges, and they can be quite wonderful and well received. A bit more of that would be a good thing.
I’d also suggest that Memorial Day shouldn’t just be for our fallen soldiers, but also spend some time remembering your family members that have passed as well. I try and go out once a year to a local cemetery where the vast majority of my relatives are buried on my father’s side. My mom’s side are all up in British Columbia, which is a bit more of a struggle.
But my dad had 16 brothers and sisters as well as his parents, all of which have passed. Going to the cemetery is a little more than a quick jaunt. They are scattered from one end to the other, although most are situated in a relatively small area. I had worked with the cemetery caretakers and got maps and plots of just about all of them, using the website findagrave.com to fill in missing pieces and just happenstance to wander around and finding others.
It’s sad that a large number of my relatives are long forgotten and neglected by the rest of their children and grandchildren, and someday I’m going to be just as forgotten as the others. I think that is in the back of a lot of masons mind as they age - what legacy will I have left behind, will it be enough to be remembered in 100 years?
All masons should strive to be that one, not just some guy who wore a ring with a square and compass. Maybe you won’t, but you should try.
Live respected, die regretted.
The veterans here do a good job honoring the graves of the vets who have passed on. It is a good thing to see.
But, just as with my Lodge and its Masonic markers, it is something that gets harder with each passing year.
My Lodge no longer has enough Masons willing to do the job with our markers, so we have to rely upon other Masons traveling here to help us. And I'm told by the local veteran who arranges the flags for vets graves each year that his group too is finding it harder and harder to turn local people out to help.
That's sad to me, and I hope that it can turn around.
This is similar in principle to what my Lodge in Centralia does every Memorial Day when we place Grave Markers at the headstones of our Brothers who have gone before us.
We really don't have a holiday to commemorate our deceased loved ones that is separate from Memorial Day -- this is likely why we utilize this day to pay homage to ALL who have passed before us, as well as those who have died in war.
I was called out by someone on social media who thinks it wrong that our Lodge honor departed Masons on Memorial Day. A day designed specifically to honor those who have fallen in battle.
And, in a way, I think he has a point.
But, looking at the larger culture, his point fades away to nothingness. Most people do BBQ's and shopping the Memorial Day sales, they aren't out honoring those Veterans who never made it home. Surely honoring the dead, combat dead or not, is much more important than getting a good buy on five gallons of paint.
Correct. I know the post you're talking about -- I also made a comment, although I purposefully did not respond to the person who made the comment. I didn't need to get into an argument over such a topic.
But yes, the holiday did get muddied up over the years since the two World Wars.
Yeah, I thought about arguing back, but there is no point fighting with random people online.
And, I think our Brother made a great argument as a combat veteran.
To Live Respected and Die Regretted is one of my favorite sayings in all of Freemasonry. And it provides us a valuable instruction I think. How do we live our life now, so that our peers can respect us, what will we leave behind so that people will regret our passing?
MW Cameron, what you mention here is KEY.
The first part is well known - we Should commemorate those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep our Country as the shining beacon of Freedom.
What you mention in your second part is overlooked much too often. We, as citizens, aren't doing our due diligence. We have too many military soldiers that die defending a country that is decaying from within... due to the apathy, inaction, and lack of prioritizing of important matters concerning our way of life in this country. It is time that all of us step up to the plate and do the right thing - get engaged as the citizens of this country.
We own the old Port Townsend Laurel Grove cemetery so we have to take care of everything and many many Masons of the past are there and I visit for 3 days on Memorial weekend and once per month on the way to the Stated and in fact I last year and tomorrow I will be there to clean up the one for the Charter member of Lodge #6 so it looks as good as possible
I was able to visit Laurel Grove a few years ago. I know that it is a huge responsibility for the Lodge, and I salute you for taking it on.
Thank you MW
Last Memorial Day I went there 3 days of that weekend for 4 hours each day and talked to people there and did some Masonic marker cleaning and took a couple videos and some pictures by myself and if you check my FB account you can see my last year videos.
That's awesome! I'll check them out!
https://www.facebook.com/100001811800844/videos/794991951902993/
That so many have been willing to give their lives that we might continue to have this glorious experiment that is the United States, does I think place an obligation upon all of us to do what we can to preserve it in peace.
But, that might require getting up off the couch once in awhile, and engaging in Civil Society.
Great time for reflection, scotch toasts, and Masonry.
We need more toasts to our fallen Brothers in Masonry I think. We've done those from time to time in my Lodges, and they can be quite wonderful and well received. A bit more of that would be a good thing.
May these brave individuals continue to Rest In Peace among the angels watching over us.
😇 ✨💜🙏🤗
Yes Ma'am.