September 2019 September 2019 Not Just A Man. A Mason. Below: Laying wreaths at the monument for Officers of the Brigadier General Don Pratt, the Assistant Table of Contents Grand Lodge of Connecticut Division Commander who was killed when his CT Brother Commemmorates D-Day 75th .................3 A.F. & A.M. 2018- 2019 glider landed too fast and hit a hedgerow (this was portrayed in Saving Private Ryan). Grand Master’s Message ................................................5 Grand Historian’s Corner..............................................6 Goodbye Dear Friend and Brother ...............................7 Bro. Melvin E. Johnson Deputy Grand Master’s Message ...................................8 Most Worshipful Grand Master Bro. Stephen W. Petri Eastern Star Recognized ................................................8 RW Deputy Grand Master Ashlar Village Residents’ Schilarship .............................9 Bro. William E. Bohman RW Grand Senior Warden Pyramid Shriners ..........................................................9 Bro. Bruce R. Bellmore Call to Semi-annual Communication .........................10 RW Grand Junior Warden Notice of Masonicare Corp. Annual Meeting .............11 Bro. Newton Buckner, III RW Grand Treasurer Welcome New Brothers ..............................................12 Bro. Grant S. Gould Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 ............................... 13, 15, 16, 18-19 RW Grand Secretary From the Desk of Jon-Paul Venoit ..............................14 Bro. Joseph J. Porco RW Grand Senior Deacon Valley of Hartford, AASR ...........................................17 Bro. Edward C. Page Called by the Grand Architect ...................................20 RW Grand Junior Deacon Bro. Les B. King Districts 6, 7, 8 ...............................................21, 23, 32 RW Grand Marshal Valley of New Haven Picnic & Scholarships ...............22 Bro. Rinaldo F. Magliano RW Grand Senior Steward Brandt & Gallager Nursing Scholarships ....................24 Bro. Shane Dufresne Masonicare Beer & Wine Tasting Event .....................24 RW Grand Junior Steward CT Freemasons Foundation .......................................25 Bro. Joseph R. Krusienski RW Grand Chaplain Compass Lodge Sponsers Summer Concert ...............26 Bro. Carl H. Anderson Craft at Refreshment / Craft at Labor .................. 27-28 RW Grand Almoner The Importance of Leadership ................................... 29 Bro. Carl H. Anderson RW Grand Organist Follow the Light ....................................................... 30 Bro. Richard C. Memmott, Jr. Booster Lists .............................................................. 31 RW Grand Tiler Eric W. Manner Master Ritualist Award .................... 33 Bro. Robert J. Kovi Associate Grand Tiler The Masonic Education Committee .......................... 33 Bro. Frank R. Mangiero Valley of New Haven, AASR, Oktoberfest ................. 34 Associate Grand Tiler Bro. Brian E. Beals Area 51 Run............................................................... 35 Deputy Grand Treasurer In-State Nutmegger Gatherings ................................. 36 Bro. James M. Anderson Deputy Grand Secretary Letters, articles and advertisements WB F. Matthew Heinrich, Jr. may be sent to the Editor Frank Way at Assistant to the Grand Master [email protected] and are due on the 10th of the month prior to the next issue. 2 Connecticut Freemasons • September 2019 Connecticut Brother Commemorates D-Day 75th Volume 15 - Number 3 by Francis G. Way in Normandy Publisher Brother Kenneth D. Roach of Washington Lodge No. 70 was THE GRAND LODGE only 19 years old in 1968 when he served his first combat tour OF CONNECTICUT A.F. & A.M. in Vietnam, as a helicopter pilot with B Co., 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. Flying missions in the Publications Committee UH-1 “Huey,” WO1 Roach had barely turned 20 years old, Theodore J. Nelson, Chairman when over the space of four months, in four separate actions, Francis G. Way, Editor he was award the Air Medal with “V” Device twice, the Jeff S. Bartlett Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Silver Star, for rescuing Bud Buckner wounded personnel, who, in some cases, were trapped and Robert Dorr surrounded. He served a second tour in Vietnam in 1971-72 Rev. Carl H. Anderson, Masonicare with the 101st. Adam Raider, Masonicare Ken also served in the Connecticut Army National Guard for Creative/Layout 20 years, flying the CH-47D “Chinook.” He retired in 2008 as Pat Kalinauskas Contributors a Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5), with over 8,000 flight hours Tom Accousti and 41 years of military service. John Amarilios Jeffrey A. Blayman As a life member of the 101st Airborne Division Association, David R. Blythe, Sr. serving as its President in 2001-2002, Brother Ken recently Michael Calderone participated in the ceremonies of the 75th Anniversary of Donald M. Casey, Jr. D-Day in Normandy, where the division added to its legacy Richard F. Denno of honor and service. As chairman of the association’s Pratt David Eisenman Committee, he laid wreathes at the two monuments for which Sandie Greene William L. Greene the committee is responsible. Pat Iannuzzi The two monuments in Heisville, France, were purchased Nicholas H. Ives Melvin E. Johnson by the association. One of the monuments commemorates Steve Lewis Brigadier General Don Pratt, the Assistant Division Ron Magliano Commander who was killed when his glider landed too fast Zachary Marotte and hit a hedgerow, (This was portrayed in Saving Private Roy Nealon Ryan.) The second monument commemorates the first surgical Theodore J. Nelson Jeff Ogilvie hospital set up by the division. Stephen W. Petri Brother Ken is a Past Most Wise Master of the Cyrus Sandy Potter Goodell Chapter of Rose Croix in the Valley of Hartford Nathan Schoonover Russell Scull AASR, and he is currently the Generalissimo of Washington Emma Tuthill Commandery No. 1 Knights Templar. Jon-Paul Venoit Charles W. Yohe The Connecticut Freemasons recently caught up with Brother Ken and had the chance to chat with him about Normandy. CF: Having served in the 101st Airborne Division in Grand Lodge of Vietnam, attending the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, where Connecticut A.F. & A.M. the division fought so heroically, must have been very special. What was it like walking that hallowed ground and attending 69 Masonic Avenue • Wallingford, CT 06492 the ceremonies? Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 1:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday KR: Traveling throughout the Area of Operations of the 203-679-5903 • 800-529-4161 (in-state only) 101st Airborne Division and participating in Memorial Fax: 203-679-5996 Ceremonies as Chairman of our Pratt Memorial Committee email: [email protected] web: www.ctfreemasons.net Story continued on page 4 More photos on page 2. Connecticut Freemasons • September 2019 3 Connecticut Brother Commemorates D-Day 75th Continued from page 3 is a very humbling experience. To walk where these heroes fought is CF: The 101st Airborne is well known in general, and perhaps even truly a pilgrimage. I have been blessed to have committee members more so from the Stephen Ambrose book Band of Brothers. How does (one from Belgium and another from Holland) with tremendous that feeling of brotherhood compare to your Masonic experience and knowledge of all aspects of the fight. I have walked the ground of the brothers you’ve made in the Fraternity? LT Dick Winters’ famous attack on the German artillery battery KR: The feeling of brotherhood is strikingly similar. Meeting a for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the veteran you served with or having a brother introduce himself to you, famous bayonet charge of LTC Robert Cole along Purple Heart it will always bring a sparkle to the eye and a spring to your step. Lane into the French town of Carentan, for which he was awarded It always seems no matter how long the separation, or introducing the Medal of Honor. I have walked the yourselves for the first time, it’s as if you were path E Company, 506th PIR fought their never apart. way into Carentan. I have stood where LT Winters was wounded in the town square “Unless CF: Are any of your 101st Airborne brothers’ of Carentan. I have walked the ground Masonic brothers as well? where LT Bernard Bucior, (from Hartford, you have KR: There are several which is always a double CT) was wounded in the firefight at “Smits’ fought treat when meeting at our frequent reunions. Pond”; to this day his disappearance CF: walking back to the Beach for evacuation for it, What advice would you give to a young is still the “Enduring Mystery of D-Day,” man or woman today who aspires to become a according to noted military historian SLA freedom military aviator? Marshall. All these experiences have given KR: If your eyes are always focused skyward, me a deep appreciation for the courage, has a taste college graduation is a must. But to the extent perseverance, tenacity, and comradeship of the protected possible, try to obtain a private pilot license. The the Screaming Eagles. knowledge gained of aerodynamics, the three CF: What was the most memorable part will never know.” dimensional airspace you will fly in, and the self- of the trip, and how did that compare to, confidence will pay huge dividends. say, your regular attendance at the 101st CF: Finally, what message do you think that Airborne reunions? D-Day should send to everyone today? KR: On both recent trips to Normandy, what remains with me are KR: The veterans of D-Day did