Stepping Off with the Left Foot (On the Moon

Stepping Off with the Left Foot

(On the Moon)

Roman Volsky Grand Marshal

Many men of note have risen through the ranks it, “bruzzer.” This mispronunciation stuck, and he of Freemasonry, making their indelible mark was heretofore known as “Buzz.” In 1988, his famous as leaders in business, industry, and politics. moniker became his offi cial name. Some people may Several have risen to even greater achievements, say that it was no coincidence that Brother Aldrin fi lling our history books with stories that will last was one of the fi rst men to walk on the lunar surface. far after we have passed. A few have reached the It was practically his birthright, as his mother’s pinnacle in their respective careers, becoming stellar maiden name was… Moon. examples of what the Craft is all about: being men of distinction. Throughout his historic lunar This summer we landing, Aldrin are celebrating remembered his an achievement Masonic roots. The of mankind that first words ever involved one of our spoken on the Moon own and that is were very likely landing on the Moon. those of Lunar Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin was pilot for the Apollo 11 fl ight that was the fi rst manned lunar landing mission. Raised in New Jersey and later affi liated with a lodge in Texas, he was the fi rst Mason to walk on the Moon. He could have been the fi rst man to walk on the Moon, but positioning of the astronauts inside the compact Lunar Landing Module made it easier for the commander, Neil Armstrong, to be the fi rst to exit the spacecraft. Module pilot Aldrin’s, “Contact Light… Okay, Engine Stop.” He carried with him the “Special Deputation” of then Grand Master of Texas J. Guy Smith, who constituted and appointed Brother Aldrin as his Special Deputy, to represent the Grand Master on the Moon. Brother Aldrin later certifi ed that he carried the “Special Deputation” to the Moon on July 20, 1969. In addition, he carried with him the Masonic fl ag, which was emblazoned with the Blue Lodge Emblem, along with the Scottish Rite insignias. Main: Brother Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon. Inset: Brother Aldrin Buzz Aldrin was not the fi rst Mason to make space travel history. John Glenn, the fi rst American that went in to space, is also a Mason. It doesn’t matter that he wasn’t the fi rst Mason to be shot in to space. It doesn’t matter that he was the second man to walk on the Moon. What matters is It seems that Buzz Aldrin was destined to become how he did it. I am confi dent that he stepped off with a Mason. As a child, his sister could not pronounce his left foot. ■ the word “brother” properly, instead pronouncing