The VA Chapel Project

For many years the Masons of the District of Columbia have assisted in transporting patients in the nursing home at the Washington, D.C. Veterans Hospital to their worship services on Sunday mornings. Each week one of our Lodges visits the hospital and assists wheelchair bound veterans make their way to religious services offered in the “All Faiths Chapel.” In the past the Masons of this jurisdiction have contributed a piano and an organ to this Chapel, as well as a bus to the nursing home.

Now there is another need, one to which we can respond, and one which has commanded the attention of our Grand Master. The Chapel is undergoing renovation to provide more space for wheel-chair bound worshippers. Associated with this renovation effort will be a necessary reconfiguration of the pews used by ambulatory patients.

The Grand Master has received an appeal to provide funds for the purchase and installation of new pews in the Chapel. Seeing an opportunity for Masons of the jurisdiction to express their concern for ill veteran’s, he has launched a campaign to raise $28,000 for this cause. This drive is, in fact, his benevolent objective for the year.

All donations will certainly be appreciated and donors are urged to send their tax-deducible contributions to the

Jesse Villarreal Junior Grand Deacon

Masonic Foundation of D.C., 5428 MacArthur Blvd., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20016-2524. Checks thus submitted should indicate that they are earmarked for “the VA Project.” Further, all donations will be recognized.

It is the Grand Master’s hope that every D.C. Mason will elect to play a role in achieving the goal he seeks. It is also his hope that lodges having a flexible charitable budget, will want to consider purchasing a dedicated pew. They may do so at a cost of $1,500 per pew. On pews thus purchased, by lodges or individuals, memorial plates will be affixed.

It is the hope of the Grand Master that this project will be successfully concluded in ample time to permit interested Masons to join him in making a presentation of our collected funds on Veteran’s Day on November 11th of this year. Won’t you accept the challenge and do your part to make his planned presentation a reality?

Remember, my brethren, that every human being has a claim on your kind offices; do good unto all, more especially to the household of the faithful. We are, after all, our brother’s keeper.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS July – December 2006

July 4 Palisades Parade and Picnic August 20 Grand Lodge Officers visit Veterans Hospital September 15–16 Fall Leadership Conference at the 4-H Center in Front Royal, Virginia October 20–21 Grand Master’s Class at Scottish Rite Temple November 4 Lodge and Family Visitation of the Grand Lodge December 9 Grand Lodge Annual Communication December 16 Third Communication of the Grand Lodge; Installation of Officers

Washington Centennial Lodge No. 14. Grand Master Smith presents 50- year Veteran’s Award to William M. Edwards in the presence of his lady.

Annual Grand Lodge - Almas Temple Golf Tournament. A colorful threesome added spice to the event.

Samuel Gompers — Benjamin Franklin Lodge No. 45. Sixty-year Veteran’s Awards are presented to Irving and Ralph Rothstein.

Pictured are (L to R) WB Joel Shulman, Master of Benjamin Franklin Lodge No. 50 in 1981; Irving “Bud” Rothstein; Ralph Rothstein; and MW Jules Tepper, PGM.

Grand Secretary Emeritus, Stewart W. Miner, and his lady enjoy dinner with the members of Samuel Gompers –Benjamin Franklin Lodge No. 45

MW L. Robert Baker, Grand Master of D.C. in 1987, receives a Grand Lodge of Virginia 50-year Veteran’s emblem. Grand Master Smith aids MW Donald Robey, PGM of Virginia in 1987, make the presentation.

Special Olympics

Athletes and their sponsors assemble for the opening ceremony in the gymnasium of The Catholic University.

Voice of Freemasonry Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. of D.C. 5428 MacArthur Blvd, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016-2524

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage Permit No. 559 Washington, D.C.