Speakers for Kiwanis on Tuesday, May 20, were Troy Rogers and Gary Foster from the Masonic Lodge. 

Troy Rogers gave a little history of the Lodge. It is the oldest continuous organization in Winn Parish having begun in 1857. One familiar name to the group was Eugene Love who was a Mason and wrote several books about Masonry. 

Miranda Atkins read a poem titled “I Remember” written by Susan Winters whose son is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Then Gary Foster explained “The Vacant Chair.” In the Lodge you progress through the chairs until you are Mason of the Lodge. In researching Memorial Day and the Masons, he came across a closed ceremony in another state where they brought in an empty chair, said a few words and left. He decided to elaborate on this idea and added music bringing in the empty chair to “Amazing Grace.” 

Then they added reenactment soldiers. Then they added the apron which is the highest honor a mason can have. The soldiers from the past reenactment is symbolic. This program is to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives and the ones left behind. He told stories of people who have been touched by the program because it gave them closure and they felt like their loved ones were honored. 

The Memorial Day Vacant Chair program is open to the public. Last year around 120 persons attended.

The program is on Monday, May 26, Memorial Day at the Lodge at 106 North Beville Street in Winnfield. They serve a meal at 6 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.