05/25/2026
On this Memorial Day, we gather not simply to mark a date on the calendar, but to honor a sacred obligation that reaches the heart of who we are as Masons. From the moment we first crossed the threshold of the Lodge, we were taught to remember. To honor those who labored before us. To acknowledge the sacrifices made so that we might stand here today. Remembrance is not an ornament of our fraternity, it is one of its pillars.
And so, on this solemn day, our thoughts turn to the quiet fields where white stones stand in perfect rows, and flags whisper in the breeze. We remember the brave, Brothers and citizens alike, who gave the last full measure of devotion. They surrendered their tomorrows so that we might have our todays. Their names, though some known only to God, are forever etched upon the trestleboard of our national memory.
But Brethren, remembrance does not end at the graveside. There is another group of heroes among us, those who returned. Many of our living Brethren, and countless veterans in our communities, survived the battle but carried the battlefield home with them. They bear a weight often unseen: the grief of fallen comrades, the memories that linger long after the uniform is folded away, and the quiet burden of survival itself. That weight can test the human spirit long after the guns have gone silent.
Our duty to these survivors is just as sacred as our duty to the fallen. The relief we promise as Masons is emotional, spiritual, and fraternal. Let our Lodges be sanctuaries of peace, places where a Brother finds a listening ear, a steady hand, and the assurance that he does not walk alone. Let our commitment to Brotherly Love be a living act of service.
This Memorial Day, as we whisper a prayer of gratitude for those who laid down their lives, let us also look to the living. Reach out to a veteran Brother. Extend the hand of fellowship. Remind him that his Brothers stand beside him, today and always.
Fraternally,
MWGM Shawn R. Carrick
Grand Lodge of Minnesota
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