For Immediate Release
Sullivan County, New York
Dated: November 11, 2002

Legislature chairlady Leni Binder (left) and Veterans’ Committee chair Chris Cunningham (right) accept a check from Masonic district deputy grand master William Rogerson. Between Ms. Binder and Mr. Cunningham are Robert Balzer of the Grand Lodge of New York, F. & A. M., Sullivan District veterans’ chairman Eric Nystrom, and Mr. Rogerson.

Freemasons pay tribute to Sullivan County’s veterans

LIBERTY – Honoring veterans topped the agenda of Sullivan County’s Freemasons on Saturday, November 9th. Two days before Veteran’s Day, about 60 Free and Accepted Masons, family members, and county officials stood on a hilltop at the Sullivan County Veteran’s Cemetery to honor the dead who served the United States.

Eric Nystrom of Jeffersonville, the veteran’s chairman for the Sullivan Masonic District, who holds the parallel post of director of the Sullivan County Office of Veterans’ Affairs, organized the November 9th event in his county-wide Masonic capacity.

The cemetery event marked the unveiling of two granite benches and some much-needed landscaping and blacktopping, funded by a $2,500 gift by Sullivan County’s five Masonic lodges. A check for the improvements was presented by Masonic district deputy grand master William Rogerson to county legislative chairlady Leni Binder and Veterans’ Committee chair Chris Cunningham.

Sullivan County Court judge Burton Ledina was master of ceremonies, and gave brief remarks. A Mason himself, Judge Ledina is a past district deputy grand master for the Sullivan District. The keynote speech was delivered by past junior grand warden Robert Balzer of the Grand Lodge of New York, F. & A. M. He was accompanied by Grand Lodge color bearers.

Mr. Balzer spoke of the sacrifices that veterans have made. He also noted the influence that Freemasonry has had in wartime. “Perhaps one of the most amazing examples of the strength of Masonic brotherhood, particularly to non-Masons, is the role it has played during wartime. Throughout our nation's history, Freemasonry has been a significant influence among officers and enlisted men alike. During the Revolutionary War, when warfare was waged according to a set of rules, most Masonic lodges were military lodges and met wherever and whenever convenient. Often Masons from both sides of the conflict met together in lodge and then returned to their respective armies the next day.

“Another example can be seen in a statue at the Gettysburg battlefield entitled ‘Friend to Friend’ that depicts a fallen Confederate officer being aided and comforted by a Union officer and brother Mason who, after the war, personally traveled to the Confederate officer's home to deliver his belongings to his widow and relate the circumstances of the last moments of his life. It commemorates that kind of brotherhood that proved stronger than the Union and Confederate causes.”

The roads into the cemetery were lined by American and military service flags donated by the Delaware-Sullivan District of the Order of the Eastern Star. The flags were presented at an October 17th meeting of the Sullivan County Legislature.

For more information, see the website of the Sullivan Masonic District at sullivandistrict.tripod.com or the NYS Masonic War Veterans at masonic-warvets.org.