Appreciation Celebration

Appreciation

Celebration

Kwame Acquaah ,

Junior Grand Warden

On Saturday, October 7 th , at the Scottish Rite Center, the Grand Master convened the Grand Lodge in Special Communication in order to host, after the conclusion of essential business, a well-attended lodge and family appreciation ceremony. The celebration began with a processional entrance of the Grand Master, Grand Lodge officers, and Worshipful Masters into the auditorium for a proGrand Master presents contribution for the renovation of the V.A. Medical Center gram in honor of our lodge officers and chapel. Pictured (L to R) Robert B. Heyat, DGM; Max Beloff, PM and Grand Lodge our Masonic families. representative at the Medical Center; Grand Master Albert McNair Smith; Rev. Allen Stewart, V.A. Chaplain Service; David West, representative of the Medical Center As it is the hope of reward that sweetens Director; and Jess Villarreal, JGD. labor, it is fitting and proper that, as often as possible, in private as well as in public, our lodge Among the highlights of the evening was the rousing officers be commended for their selfless service. Also speech given by the Grand Master, after which, with the deserving of like recognition are the members of our famiassistance of MW Robert Heyat, Deputy Grand Master, lies, for they, in their own ways, also contribute to the and MW Mansour Hatefi, Grand Secretary, he presented continuing prosperity of our fraternity. service certificates to the Worshipful Masters of the conThe program included a selection of organ pieces; a welstituent lodges. coming statement by the Grand Master; an opening prayer The Grand Master took this occasion to announce that by WB Jahangir Sajjadi; the recital of the Pledge of Alle$26,000 had been collected as donations from the brethren giance; the screening of a DVD of the Year in Review; a and their lodges for the refurbishment of the chapel at the prayer in memory of the deceased; recognition of Grand Veterans Medical Center in Washington D.C. Following his Lodge officers and Past Grand Masters, and a closing remarks, he presented David West, representative of the prayer by the Grand Chaplain, David Balcom. Medical Center Director, who was accompanied by Rev. Allen Stewart, representing the Chaplain Service, with a facsimile check. Mr. West thanked the brethren for their generosity which, as he put it, “will have a huge impact on veteran patients as they continue to receive support from the members of the Grand Lodge who regularly escort them to the various chapel services.”

Entertainment was provided by “On A Sensual Note”, an AmeriMark Bovino, Managing Director of the Special Olympics Summer Games, as a representative of the Special Olympics Organizing Committee for the District of Columbia, was also present to thank the Grand Lodge for its generous support of the 2006 Special Olympics and expressed the hope that the collaboration would continue

can University male a cappella group. into the future. He also presented the Grand Master with a continued on next page