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Dear Brethren,
I would like to apologize for not writing much during
the deployment..
My team conducted tactical movements all over Iraq.
Down-time was often hard to come by, along with internet
access.
Recently the Commanding General 2nd Marine Logistics
Group spoke to us about the contributions that his
Seabees have made toward a free Iraq. Our job it
seems is over here.
Brethren, I can not say enough how proud I am to have
played a small part in these events, but I can say that
had I not been made a Mason, and had it not been for the
teachings of my Masonic Brethren, I don’t know if I
would have possessed the conviction and determination to
re-enlist at the age of 34 and serve on two combat tours
of duty in Iraq.
I wish I had written more, but I often thought of my
Brother Masons, and the Craft we all love, while
travelling through this
strange desert-land. Those Service Men who I know to
be Shrine Masons and Knights Templar have often remarked
upon this..
I would like to ask our Illustrious Potentate, Brother
Randy Coe to thank for us, all of the Shrine Masons who
sent care packages and aprons.. My Masonic
Brethren-in-Arms were so pleased to receive their white
aprons in the desert, and the snacks were enjoyed by
all. I felt so proud to be a Kosair Shriner. Thank you
Brother Randy, and thanks to all.
Once state-side I am being extended on active duty for a
few more months to train troops in military convoy
tactics and security. The Naval Construction Regiment is
currently in Afghanistan. I will be home soon on leave,
from the week of October the 12th through about the end
of the month. I would like to make a presentation at
this time. Particularly I have a couple items to present
to Kosair and would be honored if the Potentate or a
representative could be present.
I don’t have a Masonic calendar here with me, but I
would love to do this at Fortitude Lodge. The Brethren
of Fortitude saw me off on my travels and the Lodge is
close by to my family's home. Also my Mother Lodge meets
on Saturdays and I don’t think I will be able to get
away from my family on the weekend. If one of my
Brethren could speak with the Master of Fortitude and
email me, letting me know if this is convenient and copy
as many of my friends and brothers as possible I would
greatly appreciate it. There are lots of emails I don’t
have so Brethren please pass the word that I am well and
will be home soon.
Thank you I miss you all, and you know who you are, I
am,
Fraternally Thine,
Richard W. Viglione PO1 USN
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December 2009
Dearest
Brethren and Friends
I began
drafting this letter of thanks on Thanksgiving Day,
sitting on the Gulf of Mexico I had been thinking for
some time that this holiday would be the perfect day to
express my sincere gratitude for my Masonic Brothers and
Sisters. There has been a lot of hustle and bustle since
I returned from Iraq, and with the change in duty
stations, and relocation to the Gulf, I just haven’t had
the opportunity to adequately express my gratitude in a
timely manner. I do apologize sincerely for this. Almost
immediately after reporting I began the military
Instructor School and recently completed the course
receiving my certificate. I still have to teach
approximately 130 hours in class-room, lab and field,
before I can receive a board to be certified a senior
Military Training Specialist. Just as in Iraq my Masonic
family is never far from my thoughts.
Believe me all, you can not know how good it made me
feel to receive such a welcome home. My short leave
before returning to duty was hectic, but my visit to the
Lodge, made my whole Iraq Tour feel so worthwhile and
appreciated. I just can not thank you all enough for
your support. Your dedication to the Masonic Principles
that we all love and practice, fills me with such well
being, happiness and hope, that I just don’t have the
words to express it. (But y'all know me and I’m gonna
try…so here goes)
Freemasonry isn’t just something that fills our time. To
us, it isn’t a mere form of recreation or a social pass
time. For many of us, certainly not only we soldiers,
have precious little free time as we endeavor to advance
our station in life and to insure our family’s safety
and future prosperity. Men of intelligence and ability
recognize what calls for their attention and labor. Such
men, men who recognize what is important in life, are
precisely in the position that Freemasonry was designed
to speak to. No, Freemasonry is not a mere social pass
time, it imposes duties and inculcates principles that
are not a distraction from the cares of life, but rather
put men in the possession of a source of empowerment to
carry them through the storm. Our communities in America
today need such a Masonic Order, one that men
participate in not because they should, but because they
feel a strong desire and need to do so. Everyone who
knows me my Brethren, knows that this is how I feel
about the Lodge, and the goal of all of my efforts is to
strengthen and sustain the Masonic Lodge. But I have to
apologize again for making you all sit through my
long-winded telling of my thoughts while away in Iraq .
Some times it just takes me a while to express the many
positive ways in which Freemasonry has continued to
shape my life and guide me through the turmoil of life,
even through war, a war that it seems to many of us who
have served, that the American public is scarcely aware
of. I hope I wasn’t too mushy and I thank you again for
listening.
Life has gotten in the way of a lot of my personal goals
and many of my dreams, but Freemasonry is never far from
my thoughts. I regret that I can not participate in the
work of the Order as much as I strongly desire. Many of
the young Masons that I know and have befriended over
the years feel the same, as they attempt to advance
their careers, the prosperity of their families, and to
raise children. We have often talked late into the night
about some of our plans to advance the cause of Masonry,
such as the Knights of St. Andrew program, and some of
the Shrine Units and Clubs that are well placed to
interface with the public on behalf of the Order. I have
tried to educate myself and mentor younger Masons that
we may be better prepared to serve as Masonic Officers
and to carry the Order’s mission forward in the years to
come. The work of becoming proficient ritualists and
knowledgeable students is never ending, and it seems
that we were never able to achieve the level of success
or even progress that we desired, but rest assured I
speak often with my Masonic Brethren and they all know
that when I return to Kentucky I will return to Her
Masonry with a renewed vigor. No endeavor has been
abandoned by us, and I look forward to resuming my
activity with my Brethren as soon as possible.
It is my belief that through slow and steady persistence
great achievements can be made. We just have to stick
with it, and I know that my Brethren are carrying on
with the work in my absence. I just miss it! I
particularly make this promise to my Illustrious
Brethren of the Scottish Rite John Moyers and Roger
Barnette, and to our Illustrious Potentate of Shrinedom
Randy Coe. I cannot thank you enough Brethren for the
confidence you have shown in me over the years, and I
look forward to the opportunity to repay all of your
kindness. As the representatives of the academic side of
our Fraternity which is our ‘University of Freemasonry’
and our beloved Rite, I assure you that I often speak
with my ‘Scottish’ Brethren. My good friends and
Brothers have for years discussed another attempt to
revitalize the Knights of Saint Andrew program, which we
never had the opportunity to get off the ground. We have
discussed many plans for proposal to prospective
Scottish Knights, such as correspondence courses,
round-table discussions and dinners, a Masonic Book
Club, a Symbolic Lodge Degree Team and study group, and
fund raisers with our Shrine Clubs for our Foundations
and for the Arts in our local community’s primary
schools.
As far as the Louisville Scottish Rite Library is
concerned; Brother Matt Anderson has expressed an
interest in receiving my notes on over 10 years of
research in the Louisville Masonic Library. There is
definitely a need to create a data base. We have
treasures that need to be preserved, and a large number
of out of print articles that would be greatly
appreciated by our State Universities , academic
societies and historical research societies. Working
toward my BA in History, I have already written several
400 level research papers on the impact of Freemasonry
on our Common Wealth. I am also working on research
papers on the iconography of the U.S. Navy’s
Fighter-Builders, and on the most esteemed Navy Seabee,
Freemason and Medal of Honor recipient, Brother Petty
Officer Marvin G. Shields.
But plans or programs of themselves will never
revitalize anything. Only sustained education can
encourage responsible leadership. There has been a lot
of doubt as to if any of our plans shall ever come to
fruition, but the student of history sees in the great
achievements of the Masons of the American Civil War a
splendid example of how the Brethren persevered in their
activities, which were interrupted for years on end with
tragedy and horror. The uncertain times in which we live
can not compare with those which our Masonic forbears
endured, and it was by a studious attachment to the true
principles of Masonry that they were able to do so.
As a Shrine Mason and a Freemason of the Scottish Rite
it is now my turn, and my duty, to help see to the needs
of the Troops, especially to our Masonic and Shrine
Brothers. I pray that they’re families and Lodges bless
them the way I have been blessed.
To the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Craftsmen of
Fortitude Lodge, surely one of the finest of Masons'
Lodges; I am envious of what you all have in Kentucky
Masonry, and you are truly my adopted Masonic family. I
thank God for you and yours. To all of my Brethren of
the Ancient Craft and our sisters of the Eastern Star; I
will never forget that night, it was the greatest in my
Masonic career. I have so much in life to be thankful
for, and a lot of it is due to Freemasonry. As I
mentioned, I made it through my tour of duty, often
dreaming about Freemasonry, and I intend to follow my
dreams. I will never cease being thankful for Masonry
and for Masons.
Thank you,
Fraternally Thine,
Richard Wayne Viglione PO1 USN |
