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Grand Master Addresses Olympians

Good afternoon. I am Albert McNair Smith, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia. Accompanying me to this Olympiad is Robert E. Wheeler, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, Incorporated. Together we represent Freemasonry, the world’s oldest and largest fraternity, in this city. We join, on this wonderful day, to bring you greetings and good wishes.

This week your long hours of training over recent months will pay off. The butterflies that you will encounters as you enter your events will be quickly replaced, I am certain, by the competitive fire that burns inside each of you. Remember, my friends, that you can do anything. Good luck. By being here, you are all winners.

We all have our idols. It is only natural. Yours may be a parent, a teacher, or a sister or brother, your coach, or, perhaps, another athlete. A hero is someone who merits our respect and admiration. And you, my young friends, are all my heroes, and I have no doubt that your performances this week, win or lose, will be heroic.

We Masons thank you for permitting us to share this day; we thank your parents, your coaches, and your advisors for their effort in preparing you for the exciting activities in which you are about to be engaged. I am sure that they are as proud of your efforts as am I, and I must say that your demonstrated enthusiasm is contagious. I want to express my appreciation to those who helped to make this not only a day of celebration for us all, but more especially to those who also made this a day of Masonic Thanksgiving. Particular thanks in this regard are due Brothers Walter Simon, Bill F. Greschel, Kurt J. Hamrock, William F. Harvey, president of the Masonic Foundation of D.C., and a host of others. They worked all day, diligently and in harmony.

In our fraternity we give particular attention to the proclamation in the 133rd Psalm, wherein we are told to behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. That verse is no less appropriate for our consideration today. We come together as friends and neighbors, hopeful that these games will further promote understanding and good will. Let brotherly love prevail.

God bless you. God bless your families. God bless the District of Columbia. God bless America.

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