Brothers,

When I graduated from high school in 1968, our country was in turmoil. Many of you or your parents lived through those times and perhaps even fought in Korea or Vietnam – or both!  Sadly, our soldiers returning from Southeast Asia were at best ignored and at worst met with violence in their own country.

Even our wonderful fraternity, known for its benevolence, failed to adequately recognize our service men and women on their return. Today, Operation Welcome Home, headed by Brother Mike Jackson, dedicates itself to providing recognition to returning service personnel. With their permission, we have adopted that theme as an expression of respect for our Masonic Brothers who served in Korea and Vietnam.

As your Grand Master, it is my intent to create The Korean Masonic Memorial and The Vietnam Masonic Memorial at the Springfield Masonic Community in remembrance of the sacrifice made by these veterans. My goal is to dedicate these memorials on June 6, 2010 on Ohio Masonic Home Day.

I am asking every Mason – veteran and non-veteran alike – and all Lodges to contribute to the construction of these memorials to honor those Masons who served.

• If you contribute $100 or more, you will receive a beautiful medallion, featuring the Grand Lodge of Ohio Seal, the Korean War Ribbon and the Vietnam War Ribbon. Your name will be engraved on the medallion as a donor to this wonderful cause.
• If you contribute $50 or more, you will receive an exclusive Masonic wallet, with a medallion affixed to its cover, identifying you as a donor.
• Donate $150 and receive both items, which are pictured on the enclosed donation form.

If you cannot afford to make a donation of these amounts, please understand that any amount you are comfortable donating will help to make a difference. Checks should be made payable to “GL of Ohio Veteran Memorials Fund.”  Please click here for a voucher to send in with your donation.

There is strength in numbers. We have proven time and again that together we can achieve great things to benefit our communities. Thank you my Brother for your kind and generous support.

Sincerely and fraternally,
Terry W. Posey
Grand Master

P.S. No Grand Lodge funds or Ohio Masonic Home funds will be used for this project. If more monies are donated than are needed, they will be contributed to the Ohio Masonic Home Benevolent Endowment Fund.