Thursday September 2, 2010

Last night marked one of the proudest of me being on the Board of Directors when we conducted the first Unit Veterans Celebration in almost 10 years. When you join a Unit of Moslem Shriners (i.e. Motor Corps, Americans, Highlanders, etc) and dedicate 15 years of active service, your Unit can bestow upon you the honor of being a Unit Veteran.

When I first joined the Shrine, 10 years ago, I was told of the very active Unit Veterans group that would come together annually for events. Like a lot of things, due to lack of leadership, participation, older membership, this event ceased to exist. It was my intention when I was elected to try to revive this celebration. I started last year by going to every unit and asking for a roster of their members, which the main database did not contain. I asked for the units to designate the veterans. At the beginning of this year the Chairman of the Unit Veterans Party spent many, many days compiling the lists. The culmination was last night's event. 135 Unit Veterans, many who have never been to the Shrine Center, showed up to an incredible meal beginning with tiger shrimp, hummous, and coconut chicken skewers, then the entree of lamb chops and salmon. I had no room for the warm apple dumplings for dessert (I am salivating thinking of this monster meal).

The program began by introducing the Directors of each Unit who then presented each Veteran of their respective unit with a specially designed jewel, that was created for Moslem by our Chief Photographer, boy does he have talent. Each Unit was then gathered into the foyer for group shots that hopefully will be published in the near future.

Let me tell you I had a ball and felt so good on my way home.

That will do it for my Shrine time until Monday. I have family in town from California that I will be spending the next day with, then a little R&R until Monday. We will be parading at the Romeo Peach Festival on Labor Day, one of the largest parades of the season.

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!