Lodge presents 25 and 50 year awards

District Deputy, Past Grand Masters, Grand Master and elected and appointed officers of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, June 15, 1999, Westmoreland Lodge No. 518 held it's annual Strawberry Night. This annual event was highlighted by the presentation of Twenty-Five and Fifty Year Service Awards. The evening began with the dedication of the flagpole at the entrance to the Greensburg Masonic Center in memoriam to Bro. William B. Smith. After the dedication ceremony outside, the lodge was opened inside at 7:30PM. (More details on the dedication can be found in the related story on this page.)

Bro. Anthony Daversa, Worshipful Master, welcomed many guests which numbered greater than 220. The guests included the Right Worshipful Grand Master, James L. Ernette, and the entire core of Grand Lodge elected and appointed officers. Many district deputies were present including Bro. Richard J. Stemmler, D.D.G.M., 30^th Masonic District. Bro. Stemmler brought with him many members of various other lodges in the Thirtieth Masonic District.

After welcoming the guests and conducting some brief business, Bro. Daversa, W.M., surrendered his station to the Right Worshipful Grand Master. Bro. Ernette, R.W.G.M., a Past Master of Westmoreland Lodge, who welcomed everyone and made a few brief remarks. Bro. Ernette then surrendered his station to Bro. Robert L. Dluge, Jr., R.W.D.G.M. and the rest of the Grand Lodge officers took their stations and places in the lodge. Bro. Dluge then presented the Twenty-Five Year Service Awards to Bro. Donald E. Howard and Bro. James L. Ernette, P.M. Bro. Dluge called upon Bro. Rodney E. Boyce, J.W., to present the Twenty-Five Year Service Award to his father, Bro. G. Ervin Boyce, P.M.

Bro. Ernette, once again, assumed his office in the East and presented the Fifty Year Service Awards to Bro. Charles H. Johnston, Jr., P.M., Bro.Edward S. Topper and Bro. Carl W. Johnson. All of the honorees had an opportunity to express their gratitude and reflect on their experiences in Freemasonry. After these remarks, Bro. Ernette introduced the many members of the Grand Lodge party, which included Past Grand Master's Williamson and Fowler.

After the introductions, Bro. Ernette presented Bro. Daversa with a Grand Masters Medallion for the archives of Westmoreland Lodge. He also presented tokens of his appreciation to each of the officers of Westmoreland Lodge, as well as, a replica of the Grand Masters Medallion to every mason present.

During the meeting the members of Westmoreland Lodge were asked to cast a ballot on their choice for the 1999 charity effort. (The results can be found in the related story on this page.)

While the meeting was ongoing, the ladies were presented with a program of religious characters in the Social Room. All then joined together for strawberries, shortcake and ice cream. Members of Westmoreland Chapter, Order of DeMolay, helped to serve and clean up afterwards. Everyone had the opportunity to visit and socialize with the members of both Westmoreland Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

Grand Master, District Deputy and Worshipful Master with Fifty Year Service Award recipients. L to R: Bro. Richard J. Stemmler, D.D.G.M., Bro. Edward S. Topper, Bro. James L. Ernette, R.W.G.M., Bro. Charles H. Johnston, Jr., P.M., Bro. Carl W. Johnson, and Bro. Anthony Daversa, W.M.

District Deputy and Worshipful Master with Twenty-Five Year Service Award recipients. L to R: Bro. Richard J. Stemmler, D.D.G.M., Bro. G. Ervin Boyce, P.M., Bro. James L. Ernette, R.W.G.M., P.M., Bro. Donald E. Howard, and Bro. Anthony Daversa, W.M.

Congratulations to the following honorees:

More photos of strawberry night...