Centennial Memory #7: Arnold Palmer Receives the Legion of Honor

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

The following story is told by Past State Scribe, Bro. Aaron Muldowney.

Pennsylvania DeMolay has had many recipients of the DeMolay Legion of Honor, but perhaps the most famous of them all is legendary golfer, Arnold Palmer. I had the privilege of being part of the team of DeMolays who helped confer this honor to Mr. Palmer at his home office in Latrobe, PA on September 24, 2015.

Arnold Palmer won 92 professional tournaments, 62 of which are PGA Tour wins (fifth most all-time), won seven PGA Tour Majors, is a two-time PGA Player of the Year, co-founder of the Golf Channel, recipient of the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, and recipient of both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Palmer was a longtime supporter of Westmoreland Chapter and other youth programs of the 30th Masonic District.

We arrived at Mr. Palmer’s home office and were warmly welcomed inside. The lobby of the office housed many of Arnold’s accomplishments, including trophy replicas of PGA Majors he had won, medals and honors ranging from the Presidential Medal of Freedom to coins he was awarded for some of his first career wins as a PGA Amateur. I found myself in awe and humbled by the sights before me. Within a few moments Mr. Palmer entered the room, there was no grand announcement or big gasp in the room, Arnold entered quietly and surveyed the room of young men and masons before him, I can distinctly remember seeing his smile for the first time. As we realized that Mr. Palmer was in the room, we slowly began to congregate toward him. Mr. Palmer’s longtime assistant Donald Giffin, a 70 year senior DeMolay and fellow recipient of the Legion of Honor on this momentous day, made the introduction. Many celebrities have a reputation for being larger than life and selfish, but Arnold Palmer was an exception. He began showing us around the room, stopping at certain points to tell us about honors or awards in the room. The way he told his stories and spoke with us reminds me greatly of how my grandfather recounts family tales to my siblings and I. After the tour was complete, we gathered at the back of the lobby to perform the Legion of Honor Investiture for Mr. Palmer and Mr. Giffin. We were given the opportunity to take pictures with the newest DeMolay Legionnaires, individually and as a group. Arnold thanked us for the honor and told us how proud and humbled he was to be receiving our Legion of Honor. Bro. Jake Beers said it best in a blog post he wrote about the day a few years ago, “I don't think I really noticed until now that a man who seemingly had everything - trophies, medals, championships, Presidential recognition - could be so proud, so honored, to be given this recognition from an organization such as ours.”

My favorite part of the day was yet to come. Arnold led us around the corner and through two doors into his personal office. He asked us to gather around and we sat and spoke with him for quite some time. The DeMolays in the room were allowed to ask questions and Arnold answered each and every one with a smile, a story, and in many cases, a joke or two. On the table between the chairs in his office were medals embedded in a green felt table with a glass covering. The medals had the names of golf courses ranging from Palm Beach to Augusta. One of the DeMolays in the room asked Mr. Palmer what the significance of the medals in the table is. Mr. Palmer explained that he has a medal on that table for every course he won an event at. Rather quickly another DeMolay asked him what the empty spots on the table are for. Arnold began to smile and without missing a beat replied that the empty spots are for the events he will win in the future. He then showed us his model plane room. Arnold was an avid aviator, and he told us about his experience flying each and every one of the planes in the room. When the time had come to depart he shook each of our hands and asked us our names. It seemed so personal and simple for a man who may very well be the most famous person I will ever meet in my lifetime. It was a day I will truly never forget for as long as I live.

Arnold Palmer passed away on September 25, 2016. It was exactly one year and one day after I had the privilege of meeting him. His achievements and contribution to the golf community, masonic youth groups, and our nation will have a lasting impact for many years to come.

 

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Centennial Memory #8: Legion of Honor Ceremonies

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

The Legion of Honor is given by DeMolay International for dedicated service to DeMolay or society in general. The Active Legion of Honor, represented by the red cordon, is given to Senior DeMolays over 25 years of age. The Honorary Legion of Honor, represented by the white cordon, is given to a Master Masons over 30 years of age. Both are distinguished honors that symbolize dedication and service. An annual observance takes place near the date of March 18, remembering our vows and dedication to the organization. 

Conferrals are typically done twice a year, one taking place in the east, the other in the west. Locations have varied over the years, with Elizabethtown, Reading, Greensburg and Pittsburgh being popular locations. Below you will find class photos from several of our ceremonies.     

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

PA DeMolay Honors 2018

Once a year, we are given the chance to recognize the people who work hard for our great youth  organization, both our youth and adult leaders. This year at the annual DeMolay International Sessions held in Alexandria, Virginia, several deserving members and Advisors were designated to be named a Chevalier, a Cross of Honor, or a Legion of Honor recipient.

The Chevalier is the highest honor that an Active DeMolay can receive. Although a Senior DeMolay can also receive the Chevalier, all of the recipients for Pennsylvania are in fact Active members, or were at the time of submission. The 2018 Chevalier recipients are:

Alejandro Rodriguez - Allentown

Dimas Rodriguez - Allentown

Aidan Patterson - Carlisle

Andrew Santilli - Chester Pike

Sean Summerfield - Chester Pike

Kody Anderson - Elizabethtown

Brandon Whited - Northeast

A.J. Lee - Susquehanna

Mitchell Holmes - Templar

Dylan Kirk - Westmoreland

David Smith - Westmoreland

The Cross of Honor is an honor that is specifically given for outstanding service as an Advisor of a DeMolay Chapter. All of the recipients are currently serving for a Chapter, and we thank them for their hard work. The 2018 Cross of Honor recipients are:

James Kline - Carlisle

Michelle Martin - Carlisle

Brett Otto - Carlisle

Beth Haney - Chester Pike

Theresa Crawford - Elizabethtown

Kristine Spence - Elizabethtown

Scott Gilligan - Northeast 

Alexander Swift - Northeast

W. Thomas Moyer - Pilgrim

Michael Bell - Reading

Matthew Blaisdell - Riverside

Angie Chappell - Riverside

Mark Johnston - Templar

Robyn Smith - Westmoreland

The Legion of Honor is the highest honor conferred by DeMolay International. The Active Legion of Honor is given to a Senior DeMolay for continued service to DeMolay or outstanding overall leadership. The Honorary Legion of Honor is given to a Mason for meritorious service on behalf of the Order. The 2018 Active and Honorary Legion of Honor recipients are:

Active

Arthur Bartholomew - Chester Pike

Ronald Carson - Elizabethtown

Friendship-Bray - Jeffrey Green

Robert Smith - George Washington

John Dominicis - Personal Nomination

H. William Moyer - Reading

David Matheny - Westmoreland

Honorary

John Cook - Carlisle

Dennis Stuckey - Elizabethtown

Leonard Juliani - Northeast

Irwin Kohler - Personal Nomination

George March - Personal Nomination

David Auchey - Pilgrim

Bruce Neubauer - Westmoreland

Congratulations to all of this year's recipients! 

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

I Promise, Covenant, and Vow

The Order of DeMolay was founded on the basis of the heroic fidelity of Jacques DeMolay. As we all know the story. DeMolay was the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. He and his principles officers were arrested for various charges, including heresy towards the church. The officers were forced to give up the names of the members that escaped arrest and to hand over their wealth. Jacques DeMolay refused to betray his comrades, no matter the punishment. Despite the torture, DeMolay held true to his word. He was burned at the stake on March 18th, 1314.

As Legionnaires, we took an oath to hold this date close to our hearts. We are expected to observe March 18th of every year as a memorial to Jacques DeMolay with our fellow comrades that have received the Legion of Honor with us. This is the first year that I am observing the Legion of Honor Observance, as I recently received my Legion last July. I'm no stranger to annual observances however, as I helped with the founding of our Chevalier Court in Philadelphia. The best part of my observance this year, is that I will be celebrating it at Patton Campus in Elizabethtown with the young men that make this organization as great as it is today. I will also celebrate this observance locally with William J. McCulley Preceptory next week at their annual observance. 

Thank you Jacques DeMolay, for allowing us to emulate your heroic example. Thank you Frank S. Land, for founding this great youth organization and naming it after such a heroic martyr. To all of my fellow Legionnaires all over the world, I hope you have a great Legion of Honor Observance. 

Until next time -"Dad" Joe Pullin            

Arnold Palmer: Pro Golfer and DeMolay Legionnaire

With tie recent passing of DeMolay Legion of Honor recipient Arnold Palmer, PA DeMolay's Deputy State Master Councilor, Brother Jacob Beers wrote this blog post. Thank you Brother Beers for sharing your meaningful and heartfelt story. 

Sunday night, I was coming off of a very good weekend of DeMolay. Saturday marked another great Autumn Day for the Masonic Village of Elizabethtown where I was able to talk to a few prospective members for Central PA Chapters and spend time with friends across the Masonic Youth Groups. Later in the day, the ESOs and I worked on final planning for Jacquestoberfest and worked on other State issues. Sunday, we invested 16 new Legionnaires into the Legion of Honor with an amazing ceremony back at the Masonic Village of Elizabethtown.

However, not all of the weekend was as perfect as it would seem to have been. At 8:58 PM, I received this update from CBS Sports:

“BREAKING: Arnold Palmer, golf trailblazer known as ‘The King’, dies at age 87; had 62 PGA Tour wins”

I was immediately saddened. Just one year ago, I had the chance to meet the golfing legend. Not only did I meet him, but I had the chance to be a part of his Legion of Honor Investiture Team performing the 2nd Preceptor part, truly an honor within itself. Looking back on it now, I don't think I appreciated that moment enough. I don't think I really noticed until now that a man who seemingly had everything - trophies, medals, championships, Presidential recognition - could be so proud, so honored, to be given this recognition from an organization such as ours. This was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life, or at least it is now when my hindsight is 20/20.

The DeMolays that were there were able to talk with him in his office for a while after the ceremony had finished. I can remember one of the members from Westmoreland Chapter asking of a table full of embedded medals of Palmer’s many tournament wins something like, “what are these empty spaces for?” To which he brilliantly replied, “those are for my next wins.” The man was so confident and such a joy to be around that I wish I could have stayed longer and asked him more, but the only question I got in was this: “What made you want to open a golf course in China?” His reply was something along the lines of this (I'm paraphrasing): “Golf is something I've loved ever since I played it as a boy. They [China] didn't have golf over there and I wanted to spread what I love to them so they could enjoy it, too.” Whether that's exactly what he said or not, the point is clear: Arnold Palmer wanted to spread what he loved to people that didn't have it so they could love it themselves.

I didn't write this, initially, with the idea of plugging DeMolay into it, but I feel as though I can't not do it. If we all, as DeMolays, spread what we love (hopefully, DeMolay falls into that category) to people that don't already know how great this group is, maybe we, too, can spread passion for DeMolay as Palmer spread passion for golf throughout his life. Though Palmer himself was never a DeMolay, I feel connected to him. Of all the Legion of Honor Conferrals I've been a part of, it is his that I felt was one of the most meaningful. Like I said earlier, a man that had everything was so proud to be honored by some little youth organization called DeMolay. 

Arnold Palmer was one of the greatest men I have had the honor of dedicating anew to the faith of our fathers, as the Ritual prescribes. I can only hope that this distinction from a group of young men whom he had never met, but whose ideals were those that would provide the foundation of a successful future for themselves and their country, was as great of an honor to receive as it was to bestow on The King himself.

What's In A Name: Paul Miller Moore Preceptory

Across the DeMolay world, there are a few Chapters, Chevalier Courts and Legion of Honor Preceptories in which we wonder one thing; Where did that name come from? This segment will help give some history behind some of those names. We start with Paul Miller Moore Legion of Honor Preceptory. 

Paul Miller Moore, originally from New Concord, Ohio, moved to Aliquippa, Pa in 1906, which was then known as Woodlawn. He was the first labor foreman in the construction of J & L Steel, P. M. Moore started the P M Moore Company in 1912, constructing many of the neighborhood houses for the steel workers. These homes, which were completed at a one per day rate, included a living room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms, a bathroom and indoor plumbing.

Moore was one of the organizers of the Woodlawn Trust Company. He served as President until the company merged with Mellon Bank and Trust. He was also one of the organizers of Woodlawn Building and Loan and served as its Director. He was a member of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, serving as the President of the Board of Trustees for twenty years. He helped found the Aliquippa Rotary Club, the Aliquippa Concert Band and was one of the organizers of the Boy Scouting movement and local chairman. Moore was presented the 1957 "Man of the Year" award by the people of Aliquippa.

Moore was a Warrant Officer for the Woodlawn Masonic Lodge, which at the time met as an organization known as the Woodlawn Fraternity Club. After sending a petition to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, they were granted a Charter on March 15, 1913, being constituted as Woodlawn Lodge No. 672. Moore became the second Worshipful Master of the lodge in 1914 and paid off the lodge mortgage debt in 1962.

Paul Miller Moore was also a member and Past Commander of the Knights Templar, Beaver Valley Commandery No. 84. He later became the Grand Commander of Pennsylvania in 1939 and then served as the Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States of America from 1961 to 1963.

Moore died in 1964 on Good Friday Evening. At the time of passing, he was in Washington to attend the Knights Templar Easter Sunrise Services at Arlington Cemetary. As the Commandery is a big supporter of the Masonic youth groups, especially in the Pittsburgh area, it comes as no surprise to why the Legion of Honor members of Butler named their Preceptory after Paul Miller Moore.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Legion of Honor = Responsible Leadership!

Legionnaires United to Educate Key Men

by David W. Berry, Executive Secretary

For the 8th year, Pennsylvania DeMolay has reached out to the Pennsylvania members of the DeMolay Legion of Honor, asking them to donate to the Pennsylvania DeMolay Key Man Scholarship Fund.  This will allow PA DeMolay to offer partial scholarships to the outstanding leadership training conference known for helping leaders develop and grow.

Key Man University will be held August 2-8 at the Masonic Conference Center- Patton Campus in Elizabethtown.  It will be attended primarily by DeMolays from Pennsylvania with visiting DeMolays from up to a dozen other states and Canadian Provinces.  It is an international leadership training conference that is recognized for its outstanding curriculum and enthusiastic volunteer staff.  2015 marks the 30th year for the Key Man Conference.

The cost for a Pennsylvania DeMolay to attend is $225.00. In order to offer additonal scholarships to deserving young men who are members of the DeMolay Chapters in Pennsyvania, PA DeMolay annually puts out a call to all of the Active and Honorary Legion of Honor recipients, asking them to donate to this outstanding cause. These Legionnaires always open their hearts and their wallets to support the cause in a big way.  Within 5 days of mailing out the 2015 funding request, twelve Legionnaires have already contributed a total of $1,000.00 to the cause.  They are the stalwart leaders in our past who are still leading us, today.


Last year, the Legionnaires - and, through their efforts, a number of Lodges and Masonic-related organizations - contributed a total of  $5,875.00, which helped 39 DeMolays attend the 2014 conference.  Depending on the amount of the donations received, scholarships are traditionally offered in amounts of $75.00 to $175.00, determined by the need of the DeMolay who attends the conference.

Pennsylvania DeMolay gives a heartfelt thanks and hearty pat on the back for our Legionnaires who are so generous in their support of our DeMolays through their donations to the Key Man Scholarship Fund.

A Different Kind of Legion of Honor

DeMolay International met over this past weekend, with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with the annual meeting of a national organization. One piece of business that the organization must transact each year is the approval of nominations for DeMolay honors. This includes the Chevalier, Cross of Honor, and the Legion of Honor. PA DeMolay was pleased to have all of our Honors approved and a complete list will appear on the PA DeMolay website in the next day or so. However, the timing was fortuitous, as we recently came into possession of an interesting piece of regalia.

The Legion of Honor is most recognizable for its Red and White Cordons, from which is suspended the jewel of a Legionnaire. Anyone who has been around DeMolay, for even a brief period of time, will probably have seen these honors being worn by deserving men. But, there was a time, when innovations in regalia weren't all that uncommon. Enter the Legion of Honor breast jewel.

This jewel, purchased at auction, has a pin back, for affixing to a jacket or other garment. The Ribbon is white, being suspended from a top bar that says "Honorary." The Legion of Honor medallion that hangs from it is significantly smaller than the one comes on the cordons; it measures only two inches from top to bottom. The medal itself also says "Honorary DeMolay Legion of Honor," telling us that the drop was designed specifically for this award. These jewels are somewhat rare, with only a handful being held in collections across the Country (and in Brazil.) We're not entirely sure why these jewels were made or who distributed them (we presume that DeMolay International did) but it is an interesting addition to our collections.

While we are the subject of jewels and honors, we took some time to produce some high quality, high resolution images of some other DeMolay Honors and Awards, which you'll find below. You are welcome to use them in your publications and for promotional purposes. As always, you can click the image for a larger version.

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Who should we be honoring?

With DeMolay International Session in full swing in Louisville, KY, lots of buzz is going around on the future of our organization. One of the most controversial topics on the agenda for this year is opening up the Legion of Honor to non-Masons / non-Senior DeMolays who volunteer with our organization. Over on Facebook, the Proud DeMolay profile has had a long discussion with over 40 comments on the subject. I have been one the people commenting back and forth. In an effort to solidify my opinion on the subject, I offer to you this blog post. As an aside, this is in no way the opinion of PA DeMolay, its Executive Officer, members, or volunteers. This is just my personal opinion - although I suspect many will agree.

I am absolutely in favor of creating a new classification of the Legion of Honor called the Civic Legion of Honor. This honor would be bestowed on non-Masons / non-Senior DeMolays for outstanding service to the order. It would have a different color cordon, but would in every way resemble the other two types of the Legion of Honor. It would also carry the same weight and same nomination process.

Why am I in favor of this? Primarily for two reasons.

1. The Legion of Honor has already been given to a non-Mason. Back in the 1930's, "Dad" Land presented the Legion of Honor to Herbert Hoover, who served as President of the United States. Hoover was a proponent of the DeMolay program, even having members meet with him for photos on the White House lawn. Hoover has public squares, schools, towns, and even a dam named after him. While he is a much maligned President, he was still a fantastic public servant. However, there is no reputable record of Hoover being a Mason. Many websites claim he was, but if you look at the actual research it has never been proven. "Dad" Land thought it was important to honor this non-Mason for his work, so why can't we honor those individuals who are making the difference in our programs? (Click the image at right to see a larger image. This advertisement was run in the 2011 DI Session book by PA DeMolay.)

2. I take a very Libertarian view of this issue. It's almost a "State's Rights" issue. Every Jurisdiction in DeMolay International must deal with a different Grand Lodge and must operate its program in a way that expands and grows the organization in that area. Some Jurisdictions don't need or want a Civic Legion of Honor and that's okay! Just like the Knighthood program, it could be used as an Executive Officer desires. However, there are areas that need this award. By denying it to those who could use it to expand their program, we are only hurting the organization. In an era of government oversight and regulation, many are crying for less involvement in their personal affairs. This is the same kind of issue - instead of punishing those Jurisdictions who want the honor or telling them what to do, why not give them the opportunity to succeed? In the mean time, you can do what is best for your Jurisdiction.

Now, notice what I didn't say in my arguments - I wasn't saying "Women should get the Legion of Honor." That argument is really what's at the heart of this issue for some people and is what causes such division among those who are able to vote. I chose to ignore that piece of the equation because, quite frankly, it's the smallest part of the problem. If you take out the concern that causes the visceral reaction, you quickly realize that the issues is about more than which "Mom" can get the recognition. Rather, it's about enabling your Brothers to grow the organization and giving them the tools to do so.

Why hinder a brother when you can help him? If you don't want to use the Civic Legion of Honor in your area, then don't. But, please, don't impair my ability to spread the word of DeMolay because of regional differences of opinion. I won't try to push you into using the program; all I ask is that you give me the chance to help DeMolay. Is that so much to ask?

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

A Taste of Humble Pie

Last evening I was watching one of my favorite TV programs on DVD. The Tudors, from the Showtime network, is a drama detailing the rise and fall of King Henry VIII of England along with his wives. The show is far from DeMolay appropriate, rating NC-17, but it does have some amazing characters and writing. I've just started in to Season 3, so, I'm pretty far into the series. In the first episode of the season I was struck by an amazingly astute observation by one of the characters. It appeared to relate directly to DeMolay and Masonry!

In this particular scene, a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church is talking to a priest. The priest, who is British born, is needed to write a pamphlet on behalf of the Church denouncing Henry VIII's rule and supporting a recent uprising. The young priest accepts and tries to go on his way to begin working on the pamphlet. The Cardinal stops him and says there is more to talk about. The Cardinal then tells the young man he is also going to be dispatched to France and Spain to act as a papal Legate (or ambassador) in an effort to try to sway the politics in England. Hesitantly, the priest agrees to this as well. The Cardinal then says he has one more matter to discuss. The Cardinal snaps his fingers and an attendant comes over with a biretta (a hat worn by Cardinals) and informs the young priest that he is to be made a Cardinal in exchange for his service. The priest is stunned! He says "I cannot accept this." The Cardinal looks at him, puzzled, and says "Why my son?" The priest responds "Because, I am not worthy." The Cardinal smiles and says "Young man, you have just committed the sin of pride. You are not being humble by denying this promotion. Rather, you are being prideful in thinking that your opinion of yourself is truer and better than that of the Holy Father and the Pope, who has extended this opportunity to you. A display of humility in this way is not humble, it's only self serving to make you feel better about yourself." (Editor's Note - I have paraphrased the actual language as I couldn't find the script or a suitable copy of the video to link to.)

Wow. I have never thought of it that way!

Many times in DeMolay and Masonry we are required to make the  "Humble Speech." Now, sometimes this speech is truly humble and other times it's only a show. Let me explain. When we are given an award or recognition in our lives the first response is usually something about not deserving the award, being totally surprised by it, or that you were only doing what anyone would do. In some cases that truly is how people feel, but more often than not, I'm willing to bet, that those speeches are just public shows of humility from the recipients of the honor. Those recipients are thinking to themselves "I'm glad I got this. I really deserved it. My hard work paid off." However, no one wants to hear a person say "You're darn right you should give this to me, because I earned it!" Rather, we go through the motions of a fake humility speech and accept the award with as much as grace as we can muster. That's what society has taught us to do.

Similarly, every once in a while a person will be nominated for an honor and receive notification as such. The person will then say "I don't deserve this honor and I can't accept it." Or, perhaps they didn't like a recent decision or something else being done by the organization giving the honor and use it as a bargaining chip to make themselves look like a martyr - something like "Well, since you didn't give John this honor last year, I can't accept it now." The only person this  behavior helps is the person who is denying the honor. It makes them feel better and makes them feel like they have leverage in the situation because they can point and say "Look, they tried to honor me, but I stood up for what I thought was right and denied it. Look at me, I'm a martyr for the cause!" While that may sway some people, it usually only serves to damage the relationship between the recipient and the organization. Also, it usually puts the organization in a bind because now they have to answer the tough question of why an individual hasn't been recognized for his achievements, or why the person wouldn't accept the award, thus damaging the group the person has worked so long to improve. Now, who does that really help? The answer is no one.

My Brothers, never commit the sin of prideful humility. When given an award or honor accept it, thank the person or organization offering it, and pledge to work hard and continue to validate their opinion of you. That's how we can all grow and better ourselves, our Lodges, our Chapters, and our lives.

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Tall What of Where?

This past weekend was a busy one for PA DeMolay. Between Autumn Day on Saturday and the Eastern Legion of Honor Conferral on Sunday, everyone was working hard. Both days ended on positive notes for PA DeMolay and we are very thankful for all those who helped make everything go off without a hitch. We are also very thankful for the outpouring of Masonic support we received throughout the weekend. In return, PA DeMolay was able to honor some outstanding Masons with the Legion of Honor on Sunday, but one in particular stands out.

"Dad" Harvey Willard, a Past Master Councilor of Norristown Chapter, received his Active Legion of Honor at the conferral. "Dad" Willard is probably better known for his involvement in the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, where he is currently serving as the Junior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar for the Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America. That sure is a lot titles, but what does it mean?

"Dad" Willard will be serving as Supreme Tall Cedar (national president) in just a couple of years. He is a long time supporter of the DeMolay program in Pennsylvania and is championing our cause amongst the rest of the Tall Cedars Forests (that's what they call their Chapters.) Most importantly, "Dad" Willard has taken up the flag of the PMC-MSA, which is sponsored by the Tall Cedars. He has personally gone out and presented the award to the young men who have earned it and has continued to show his favor of the DeMolay program in all of his activities. He has vowed that DeMolay will have a big place in his programs the year he is Supreme Tall Cedar.

By now you are probably asking yourself "Just who are these Tall Cedars?" The Tall Cedars of Lebanon is a social Masonic body who claim the motto "Fun, Frolic, and Fellowship." The group is open to any Master Mason, but the Tall Cedars are most prominent in the North Eastern United States. The main charity they support is the Muscular Dystrohpy Association through which they participate in the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon. You might have even seen them in your neighborhood selling roses in support of the same cause. To date they have donated over seventeen million dollars to the MDA for research in curing this terrible affliction. Now, these same men are taking up the cause of DeMolay and we couldn't be happier! They are truly a charitable and benevolent branch of the fraternity.

We would like to once again thank and congratulate Bro. Willard for his support of DeMolay and his attainment of the Legion of Honor!

So, next time you see a Tall Cedar, thank them for their service to DeMolay and to the world, for they have truly made a difference.

Frat!~"Dad" Seth Anthony