10/26/2026
Peter was a little emotional yesterday so I wanted to share his words with you.
I want to take a few minutes to share why I joined the Moose in the first place. The main reason was my 13-month-old grandson, Haiden. Bob and Candy kept telling me about Mooseheart and how the Moose would step in to raise and educate him if I ever needed that support. Knowing Mooseheart was there for him—and later, for his siblings as well—has always given me incredible peace of mind.
That reality truly hit home the first time I visited Mooseheart to attend a Pilgrim Ceremony for a friend. As soon as we drove through the gates, I was struck by what I saw. From attending graduation to visiting Baby Village—where I literally had to drag my wife out kicking and screaming—to seeing the New England House, every moment was special. Watching the Fellows enter the House of God and walk out as Pilgrims is something I will never forget.
That visit was just the beginning of my Moose adventure. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some truly amazing men. Bob, Gene, Larry, John, Randy, and Craig each taught me so much about myself and this organization. Whenever I said, 'I don’t want to do that' or 'I can’t do that,' one of them was always right there to tell me I could—and that I needed to step up.
Then came my friends from Moose Legion 92—you know, the ones Bob, Larry, and John basically forced me to make! Donny, David, Fred, Dolf and Stephen taught me how to have fun while making a huge difference in the lives of so many. Never did I imagine what kind of trouble these guys would get me into, nor how much we would accomplish together for our Northeast Lodges, Mooseheart, and Moosehaven.
As I spent more time traveling outside my home lodge—attending Moose Legion Conferrals, NEMA Conferences, and Moose International Conventions—I met more and more dedicated members. One of those key figures was Jake Jacobs, who taught me what it truly means to be a Moose Legionnaire and how vital each of our roles are. Mind you, he and Fred also managed to get my wife drunk one night in Ellsworth when we traveled to swear in new Moose Legionnaires—a rare feat that I won't soon forget! NEMA Conferences is where I also met Bill Chase…he has become a great friend and mentor.
Sadly, Dolf passed away while he was mentoring me to become the next Moose Legion Ambassador for the Northeast. When I was asked to step into his shoes, I questioned whether I could really do it. But in my heart, I could hear Dolf saying, 'Of course you can—you’ve got this,' just like he did when I became President of Moose Legion 92. Through that loss, I gained another incredible mentor in Vic. Vic has been right there showing me the way, encouraging me when I doubt myself, and reminding me to have fun while doing something good for someone every day.
Now, I certainly can’t forget the amazing women who have backed me every step of the way: my wife, Pru , Candy, Patti, and Pat. My wife has truly been the secret to my success. We’ve fought—I mean knock-down, drag-out, kicking-and-screaming fights!—but no matter what, she has always told me, 'I know you can do this. Don’t say you can’t. Let me help you—you deserve this.' On top of that, my daughters, Christine and Anna, and my wild grandchildren have all been right there supporting me through it all.
Without every single person I’ve named today—and so many more of you whom I can’t name or we’d be here until next week—I wouldn’t have been called to the House of God last May. I wouldn’t have taken my now 16-year-old grandson to see Mooseheart and heard him say, 'Wow, Grampa... you joined the Moose in case I needed a place to be taken care of, and the place you chose is amazing.' And I would not have entered the House of God as a Fellow and walked out as a Pilgrim.
Every one of you has played a part, big or small, in helping me earn my Pilgrim Degree of Merit, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
It is so important that we remember why we are members of the Moose: for our families, our community, the children at Mooseheart, and our seniors at Moosehaven. Our load is not light, but when we work together and keep it fun, we make a difference in so many lives—including our own.
Please keep that in mind, and thank you all so much for supporting me and being here to celebrate today.
