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.
Patriotism, the 7th precept of DeMolay, takes a significant place in the hearts of every member. Some DeMolays serve their country by joining the military, while others bring awareness to the local community. Templar Chapter noticed that the local area needed a reminder of how important Patriotism should be to all of us. The Chapter created the "Show the Colors" project, which reached to seven counties surrounding the the Chapter's location. With the support of the mayors of those counties, Templar Chapter reached out to several civilians and businesses of the community to make sure they had America flags to be displayed. If they did not, flag sets could be purchased.
Below, you will find the full article from the February 1966 edition of the DeMolay Cordon, highlighting Templar Chapters efforts to increase Patriotism in the community.
One of the cardinal principles that we teach in DeMolay is love of country, which can be summed up into one word that was deemed a cardinal virtue of DeMolay; patriotism. The love and respect we are taught to have for our country goes beyond the field of battle, which several members of DeMolay have been proud to be part of for many years. That same love of country goes deeper into the thoughts of our belief's and our actions in our daily lives.
Yesterday was a day that still stands the test of time as a historical day. September 11th, 2001, the day the World Trade Centers in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, were demolished by terroristic attacks on our nation, will always be remembered as a turning point in American History. Just like the question "Where were you when President Kennedy was assassinated?," we will always think to ourselves "What were we doing on 9/11/01?" To answer that question, I was a sophomore in High School. We were sent to home room right before being sent home for the day. In my home room, which was also the choir room, classmates were standing on chairs to watch the TV screen. I knew something bad was happening, but I couldn't tell what it was since I could not see the screen for myself. They sent us home, and I was yelled at by my mother for stopping for pizza. Needless to say, when I watched the events on TV, I could understand why. I knew that this moment would be a day that we would never forgot, and 15 years later, that theory still stands.
Our nation has had a lot of "ups" and "downs" over the years. Some would even say that we are in some of those "downs" now. The thing I will leave you with is for us to remember all that we have overcome in our nations history. Every problem that we have been faced with as a nation, has come with a solution. September 11th, 2001 was a devastating time in our nations history that some would think we would not come back from, but we did.
The following post is part of a series entitled the “Be Different Spotlight.” This post will display a chapter’s effort to grasp the concept of the theme for this year. Each chapter was challenged by the State Master Councilor, Adam Pritchard, to “Be Different.” Challenge Accepted! This is the story of how Friendship-Bray Chapter embraced that challenge... On Tuesday, December 8th, 2015 members
and advisors of Friendship-Bray Chapter visited Baldi Middle School in the Fox
Chase section of Philadelphia. The event, which was organized by FBC advisor and
Fox Chase Elementary School Principal “Dad” Rob Caroselli, was a first look at
DeMolay for many young men in Northeast Philadelphia and the surrounding
communities. Young men and parents were invited to a question
and answer session about what the organization has to offer. While the young
men were excited to hear about events like Operation N.A.S.H.V.I.L.L.E. Training Weekend and Laser Tag, the
parents were thrilled to hear that DeMolay and its advisors strive to help
make its members better sons and good upstanding citizens. The Chapter was prepared
with brochures provided by PA DeMolay and personalized for our specific Chapter
and events. Four of the seven young men present received
their obligations January 3rd and will receive their complete
degrees at Patriots Class on February 13th. Two other young men who
have attended a few of the recent Chapter activates will also receive their
degrees at Patriots Class. The new members have already talked about
bringing their friends into the Chapter after the amazing time they had at Operation N.A.S.H.V.I.L.L.E. Training Weekend. We expect the size of FBC to double in the coming
months. Friendship-Bray continues to stand out and BE DIFFERENT. On March 6th at the stated meeting
of Friendship-Bray Chapter, the members will kick off DeMolay Month by hosting
dozens of visiting Masons including several District Deputy Grand Masters. This
exposure and excitement will undoubtedly continue the resurgence of the once
again Mighty FBC! Here we grow again!
This blog post was written by Friendship-Bray's Chapter Advisor, "Dad" Dennis Hunter.. Thank you "Dad" Hunter for your contribution.
Friendship-Bray Chapter has completed the challenge to “Be Different.” What has your chapter done in order to change things up a bit? Send in program details or write a post for your chapter and send it to me at JAPullin@pademolay.net.
On this special Veterans Day version of the blog, I'd like to just take the time to thank our Veterans who have served our country. Many of our DeMolay members and advisors, past and present, have served our country. Their efforts should not go unnoticed. Patriotism is one of the seven core lessons we learn in DeMolay. We all have a special place in our hearts for our country, but some take it a step further and serve in some branch of military. Members of the military sacrifice their lives everyday to make sure our families are safe here in America. They believe in our country and its principles. They continue to fight for their country because they know it's worth fighting for. We salute you for your dedication. Do you have something in your life that is worth fighting for? I know for me, to answer that question, family is a big thing I would fight for. My mom, step dad, cousins, friends, they're very important to me. DeMolay to me is family, which is also worth fighting for. I believe in this organization and everything it teaches, so I would continue to work to improve it and make it better. Take the time today to recognize those around you who have served in the military. I have a few friends overseas right now who I wish I could thank in person. Past or present, they all deserve a simple thank you for their service. On behalf of PA DeMolay, thank you for serving! Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin
The Monday after Convention is one of my busiest days of the year. Not only do I plan and organize the event, but I also have to update all of the online information with the results. Between the elections, awards, and the fun times that were had, it's a lot of information to compile. Add to that the approaching Key Man Conference, and I have a busy couple of weeks.
So, instead of a long winded post, I thought I'd give you something useful from the Art of Maniless. Recently, they published a great graphic of how to fold a United States flag. Anyone who has been to Key Man will tell you that this is a good skill to have. Check it out and practice your folding before the event sneaks up on you!
Today, June 14, is recognized as Flag Day by the government of the United States of America. Most people have no idea what Flag Day is or why it matters. I mean, c'mon... we have the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and other patriotic holidays. Why should we stop and celebrate Flag Day?
Commemorating the June 14, 1777, adoption of the flag of the United States, Flag Day became a holiday when President Woodrow Wilson declared it as such in 1916. It wasn't until 1949 that it was made national by an act of Congress. Interestingly enough, the only state to celebrate Flag Day as an official holiday is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The largest Flag Day celebration occurs in Troy, NY, and is capped off with a parade that regularly draws 50,000 spectators.
Pennsylvania has played a major part in the observance of Flag Day since it's very beginning. Mr. William T. Kerr founded the American Flag Day Association of Western Pennsylvania in 1888 and would remain its Chairman for more than 50 years. When President Truman signed the congressional act making Flag Day a holiday, Mr. Kerr was one of the people asked to witness the historic event.
Another, albeit legendary, tie of Flag Day to Pennsylvania occurred in 1908 when Theodore Roosevelt was dining near Philadelphia. A man at a neighboring table appeared to be blowing his nose with the flag. Upon seeing this, Roosevelt flew into a fit of anger and began to hit the man with a stick. Upon realizing it was just a star speckled handkerchief, and not the flag of our country, he hit the man once more for "riling him (Roosevelt) up with national pride."
Fraternal organizations have also played a major role in Flag Day. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which is somewhat similar to Freemasonry but entirely unrelated, petitioned President Wilson to proclaim such a holiday. They had been celebrating the holiday on June 14 since 1907 and wanted it to become a more recognized observance. President Wilson cited their involvement as a major factor in making his decision to publicly proclaim June 14 as the official Flag Day of the United States. To this day, all Elks Lodges are required to have an official observance of Flag Day.
So, just what are you supposed to do on Flag Day? Each year the President makes a proclamation declaring the week of June 14 as Flag Week. Americans are encouraged to fly the flag during this time period. Parades are also another popular way to celebrate. In Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia holds a ceremony at the house of Betsy Ross, the creator of the first American flag.
It is too late for 2012, but what is your Chapter going to do for Flag Day next year?
I was having trouble coming up with a post for today, so I headed over to the Massachusetts DeMolay Blog to see what they had been up to. One of the recent articles discussed the history of their state flag. I realized that I've never really tackled this topic, so I went out and pulled up some information to share on our Flag of the Commonwealth.
The first Pennsylvania State Flag to display the Pennsylvania Coat of Arms was authorized by the General Assembly in 1799. The state Coat of Arms was embroidered on a blue field on both sides of the flag.
The State Coat of Arms, containing the emblems of the official state seal, was that of Provincial Pennsylvania's Penn family. It first appeared on paper money issued by the state in 1777 and two years later was adopted for display on the state flag.
During the Civil War, many Pennsylvania regiments carried a modified version of the Stars and Stripes. Substituted for the field of stars on Old Glory was the Pennsylvania Coat of Arms.
On June 13, 1907, the Pennsylvania General Assembly standardized the design of the flag and required that the field of blue be the same color as the blue of the Flag of the United States. The law requires that the flag
"...shall be of blue, the same color as the blue field in the flag of the United States, and of the following dimensions and design; to wit, the length, or height, of the staff to be nine feet, including brass spear-head and ferrule, the fly of the said flag to be six feet and two inches, and to be four feet and six inches on the staff; in the center of the flag there shall be embroidered in silk the same on both sides of the flag the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in proportionate size; the edge to be trimmed with knotted fringe of yellow silk, two and one-half inches wide; a cord, with tassels, to be attached to the staff at the spear-head, to be eight feet and six inches long, and composed of white and blue strands."
That's all well and good, but what's this about the State Coat of Arms? Pennsylvania's coat of arms is not used in the official capacity of the state seal, but it's a familiar symbol of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and appears on countless documents and publications. The coat of arms also includes the state motto: "Virtue, Liberty, and Independence."
Based on a 1778 design by Caleb Lownes of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania coat of arms features a shield crested by an American bald eagle, flanked by horses, and adorned with symbols of Pennsylvania's strengths - a ship carrying state commerce to all parts of the world; a clay-red plough (a symbol of the Pennsylvania's rich natural resources); and three golden sheaves of wheat, representing fertile fields and Pennsylvania's wealth of human thought and action. An olive branch and cornstalk cross limbs beneath - symbols of peace and prosperity. The state motto ("Virtue Liberty and Independendence") appears festooned below.
Next time you see our state flag, take a look at it, and realize the history involved in its design.
It's about this time of year that many young men around the country hear their parents bemoaning the fact that they have to do their taxes. Similarly, many of those same guys are filing their own taxes for the first time after having gotten a job in 2011. Tax season has come to be the bane of many an American's existence.
However, for most of the younger guys out there, taxes really aren't that hard. Taking a little of responsibility now will pay off big later (in the form of a return and the ability to do your taxes without an accountant.) The folks over at the Art of Manliness have prepared a great article entitled "A Young Man's Guide to Doing His Taxes" about this very subject and I encourage you to read it.
I'm reminded of the seventh Preceptor - Patriotism. There is a time to be a hero of war as well as a patriot of peace. Doing your duty as a citizen of our country is the first step on that path.
We recently received information from Lorraine Chapter, located in Butler, PA, about their upcoming Patriots observance. In an effort to get out the word, we thought we'd share it with all of you. Below is the information received from "Mom" Rauschenberger.
What: Lorraine Chapter
Patriot's Day Observance, All are welcome to
attend
When: Sunday, February
19th, 2012
Where: Flight 93 National
Memorial in Shanksville,
PA
Time: Begin at 3pm
with memorial service, followed by touring the memorial with dinner to follow
at
nearby restaurant, Ruby Tuesday located in Somerset, PA
Dress: Suit and tie for
men, street length dresses or pant suits for
ladies.
Cost: Free admission
to the National Memorial; Dinner is at your own
expense.
RSVP: "Dad" or "Mom"
Rauschenberger by Wednesday, February 15th
at JCRausch@aol.com so we can make proper
restaurant reservations.
The group will begin with
prayer followed by a ceremony, written by Bro. Alex Rauschenberger, Deputy State Master Councilor, comparing
the heroic actions of Jacques DeMolay with those of the passengers of United
Flight 93 and how both saved hundreds or thousands of lives by sacrificing their
own. A wreath will be laid at the memorial in honor of the lives given in
sacrifice.
Following the 15-30
minute ceremony, there will be ample time to tour the National Memorial grounds
before we head into Somerset to enjoy a dinner at Ruby Tuesday
Restaurant located at 1019 North
Center Avenue, Somerset, PA, (pay for your own
meal).
The Butler group is planning
on leaving at 1pm. That should put them in Shanksville around 2:30. Since they are
not familiar with the memorial set up, it will give them plenty of time to talk
to the park workers to see where they want them according to the park permit
obtained for the event. There will around 40 chairs available on a first come first serve basis - everyone will just need to gather close and the young men will
need to project, especially if the weather is not good. Also available are three wheelchairs.
This post is part of series of entries written by the Elected State Officers of PA DeMolay. Each of them have been assigned topics to discuss and offer their opinions on. Today's post is offered by Bro. Neal Skibicki, State Treasurer. Enjoy!
Since its beginning, the Order of DeMolay was noted for its support of patriotic ideals and virtues. This is mostly likely attributed to the diligence and effort of the members of the Order in practicing the seventh cardinal virtue - Patriotism. While every DeMolay should embody this virtue, some have gone above and beyond the call of duty in representing our great nation.
Most of us are familiar with a few famous DeMolays such as Terry Bradshaw and Walt Disney, but there are even more of us who have given so much to our country. For example, Bro. Robert B. Anderson (Former Secretary of the Treasury, Former Secretary of the Navy), Bro. Paul E. Tsongas (Former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and 1992 Democratic Presidential Candidate), Bro. Mike Enzi (US Senator from Wyoming), Bro. and Captain Lance P. Sijan (Vietnam Prisoner of War and Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient), Bro. and General John P. McConnell (Fighter Pilot and Former United States Air Force Chief of Staff), Bro. James H. Douglas (Governor of Vermont), Bro. Charles Robb (Former Governor of Virginia, and also a Former US Senator from Virginia), and even Bro. and President Bill Clinton. Although they may hold high positions in our government or military forces, you can call each and every one of these men your brother, and know that many of them would not have "reached for the stars" as they did if they had not been members of DeMolay.
Bro. Carl Albert, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, said, "In reflecting on my forty-nine years of public service, I find that the precepts of the Order of DeMolay have been invaluable to me. This was particularly true the two times I was just a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States and faced very difficult decisions. My public life, as well as my private life, has been guided by the DeMolay vow – to love and serve God, my country, and my fellow man". Take those words to heart and always remember each and every one of our famous patriot brothers in history was just like you when they were growing up, a member of this great fraternity DeMolay.
Bring your Patriotic pride to your Chapter's Patriots Day Observance and our annual Patriots Class in Reading, PA, where we will be honoring another great Patriot, and proud supporter of DeMolay, Illustrious "Dad" Russel W. Baker, 33°, and Deputy for Pennsylvania of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction!
The article below as submitted by Bro. Michael Donahue of Susquehanna Chapter.
(This article is written in memory of all those who are currently or have served proudly in our countries military, and in honor of those who died in defense of the USA.)
During graduation at my school we honor the students that will be attending a college, trade school, joining the work force, and joining the military. Out of the roughly 270 kids in my class only seven are enlisting. My class was the first class in a long time to have less than ten students. This shocked me since patriotism is one of the Precepts that I feel strongly about. It is also close to my heart as out three of those seven young people were my best friends. Two chose to enlist in the US Army and the other in the US Air Force. A fourth was my cousin, who chose the US Marine Corps, and another was my friends girlfriend, who joined the PA National Guard. Patriotism is also close to my heart because my grandfather served in World War 2, and I had three cousins fight in Vietnam and one of which never returned home.
It seems to me that outside of Demolay, patriotism is not as strong as it was in the past. I know more members in Demolay that have given military service than outside of the fraternity. Now, am I saying to run to your nearest recruiting office and join the military? Of course not. Joining is one of the biggest and toughest decisions somebody can make. Even I struggle with this problem! I am currently signed up for classes with the US Air Force ROTC detachment 752 out of Wilkes University, with hopes of becoming an officer in fouryears. Susquehanna Chapter is proud to have Shawn Bookwalter, PMC and his brother who are members of the Army ROTC detachment at Wilkes. Their youngest brother just shipped out for basic training on June 21, and another member who is stationed in Italy with the US Navy. How is it that out of a chapter with a little over thirty members we have nearly the same numbers of service members than my class of 270? Some join for different reasons; love of country, sounds fun, see the world, or money for college. Mine was a mixture of three things - a childhood dream, love of country, and feeling like it was a way for me to remain faithful to the Order and its Precepts, specifically the seventh candle, Patriotism .
How did Memorial Day get started, and why is it on May 30? Here are some facts about the national day of remembrance for America’s fallen heroes.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day.
More than two dozen cities lay claim to being the site of the first Memorial Day commemoration.
Gen. John Logan officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868.
The first national commemoration took place on May 30, 1868, as flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, NY, as the “birthplace” of Memorial Day, citing a ceremony held on May 5, 1866 to honor Civil War dead.
It is believed that the date was chosen because by May 30, flowers would be in bloom all over the country.
Inspired by the poem “In Flanders Field” Moina Michael wrote a poem of her own, and came up with the idea of wearing red poppies in honor of Memorial Day.
Some Southern states have special observances specifically in honor of fallen Confederate soldiers, including Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act to encourage people to give back to the country, as well as promote commemorations of Memorial Day.
The National Moment of Remembrance Act urges all Americans to pause, wherever they may be, at 3 p.m. local time on May 30 for a moment of silence in honor of the country’s fallen heroes.
Last week I found myself in front of a television that was playing the local news. You may ask "Why is that so important?" Well, long story short, I don't have cable. In fact, I only get one channel, which I've never watched. You read that correctly - I don't watch much television. Now, I have a fairly prodigious DVD collection, but I probably watch less than 10 hours a week of television at a max (including DVD's.) Most weeks I'd say that I watch around 5, tops. So, the fact that I was watching TV was a little out of the ordinary.
The program I was watching was the eleven o'clock news. Without getting on to a soap box, I will say that I abhor what the news has become. It's 17 minutes of a crime report, 4 minutes of weather, and 2 minutes of other stuff. Newspapers aren't much better either. However, this news program wasn't what really irked me that night. It was the commercials, or, more precisely, the campaign advertisements. One of the benefits of not watching TV is that you don't have to put up with these terrible ads. I believe that I can recreate those ads, in my own words, for you right now:
Ad 1:
Candidate number 1 is a terrible person. He votes the way other people do and doesn't listen to you. Also, he beats puppies (jokingly, of course.)In real life it looks something like this.
Ad 2:
Candidate number 2 has no character. He spends money without thinking and doesn't listen to you. Also, he beats kittens. (again, a joke.) In real life it looks something like this.
These sorts of ads played out during every commericial break. Eventually I just turned the TV off (I was in a public waiting room mind you.) To say I was annoyed would be putting a nice polish on the situation. I was very glad that I don't watch more TV than I do, that's for sure.
However, this doesn't mean I won't vote. If I don't vote, I don't get a voice. I may not like either candidate, or what they stand for, but if I don't vote then I don't matter. One of the biggest political challenges for my / our generation is the concept that since we don't vote, we don't care, and if we don't care, we don't matter. I call foul on that concept. We matter. We pay taxes just like the next guy. It may not be as much or as often, but we pay all the same. Therefore, we get a say. However, if we don't vote, then we can't complain.
DeMolay teaches patriotism on all levels. From times of war to times of peace, being a patriot is an important ideal for us as DeMolays. Part of being a patriot is participating in and caring about your country's electoral process. If you haven't registered to vote in this election, then you're too late, but if you have, I encourage you to go out to your polling place and vote. Not just for DeMolay, or your country, but for you, so that your voice can be heard. This election is one where single votes can matter. While it's not as flashy as a presidential election, it certainly is more important to us as Pennsylvanians. We are electing a Senator, several Congressmen, and a Governor. Now, more than ever, your vote is important. Don't just go out and vote for generic Republican A or model Democrat B! Research your candidates and vote for the one that does a better job of reflecting your views. You're not going to agree with them on everything, but the more big issues you can agree with them on, the better.
Another important point to make here is that I am not advocating a disucssion of politics in your Chapter or in your Lodge. I'm advocating a discussion of the process and it's importance. Politics has no place in the Fraternity, but patriotism in the form of democratic participation does. It's why our country gave you a choice - use it!
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.
