05/07/2026
Updates from the newspaper:
April Showers brings… Redcoats!
As we finally shake off the frigid winter, we’ll soon be taking to the parade routes once again in our usual “loud and proud” style!
Before that however, we took the opportunity to clear the dust from the veterans and train the new members in our number one priority: safety! Believe it or not, yes, these muskets are real, and yes, they are treated with the same level of safety as modern firearms… sometimes even more stringent levels; as the Captain will tell you, “black powder is a whole other animal…” A big thank you to Pvt. Bob Collins and our friends at the Massachusetts Rifle Association for hosting our annual musket safety training session! After an in depth classroom session lead by the Captain, we moved to one of the outdoor ranges where each member completed training by firing a musket under individual commands from Sgt. Sparkie. Then, in the name of historical education, members toured the history of US military arms by having the opportunity to live fire a 1903 Springfield, M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and AR-15. We even made some special targets just for the occasion…
At the reenlistment banquet, the Captain capped off our charitable giving from the previous year ($2000 to patient life at the Boston Hospital and almost $8000 raised through the haunted walk) by presenting a check for $3000 to the Transportation Fund.
We were pleased to accept the invitation of Capt. Ceaser of the Cycles to appear as an honor guard with our friends in the Arab Patrol for Todd Angilly’s performance of the National Anthem at the motorcycle expo.
A stalwart group kicked off the parade season in Methuen and reported the warm reception they received from the crowds who were all excited to see the Shriners.
Thanks again to Pvt. Collins for always keeping his ear to the ground, we took the unique opportunity to attend the commissioning of the USS Massachusetts SSN-798, the US Navy’s newest submarine! Much planning and back and forth went into the event with plans continually changing, but when the day arrived, we were honored to serve as “side boys” along with our new friends in the Massachusetts Continental Navy Fife & Drum Corps for all the dignitaries arriving to the stage which included the Governor, a 4 Star Admiral, and 2 Medal of Honor recipients. Despite the cold, biting wind, and early morning (we had to be there at 0630 and the Captain had to be there the previous morning as well for a walk through!) we were please to represent the Shrine and Massachusetts Freemasonry as participants in the ceremony as well as taking photo ops with many friends and members of the public!
The way ahead looks to be another busy year; immediately ahead of us are Bedford and Lexington to commemorate Patriots Day, then before we know it we’ll be fully entrenched in the summer 250th madness….
