Again this year, the Horicon Lodge gave all of the local widows a potted geranium purchased from the local FFA group at the high School. There was no hesitancy of members picking out names and flowers to be delivered. Every local widow (32 in all) received one of these geranium plants. One of our members and wife traveled 30 miles to deliver one and ended up sitting and talking for an hour.
One of our senior members made an announcement that he could not deliver this year because of a pending knee operation, but, he wanted his 3 widows back once he had mended.
We had three new widows added to our list and I was a little hesitant about one of those that I had picked. Her family had not requested a Masonic Farewell, as it appeared that the fraternity had forgotten about her husband once he went to the nursing home. I called ahead and the widow said that she would be at home and I delivered to her the geranium and explained our (the Lodge) wanting to look out for her as part of our obligation to our brothers in the Lodge. She was very impressed as to what we were doing and said that she would like to come to our next fellowship dinner and the Memorial Service scheduled to follow. She asked me as to whom she should send a thank you to and I told her that her smile was thank you enough, at which time she gave me a kiss on the cheek.
When I relayed this at the next meeting, several other Masons shared their stories. One geranium was delivered to a resident of a nursing home. She was thankful and asked for a little time to talk about the old days. Another member was invited in for some homemade apple pie. The stories went on. The common thread was the appreciation of the widows for the Lodge remembering them.
I know that the members at Horicon Lodge have been blessed for their acts of kindness.
Lyle Headon
