MY MASONIC JOURNEY
Why I Became a Mason
When I returned from Vietnam, both of my parents had passed. I was on my own.
My grandfather lived too far away to step in day-to-day, but he gave me something far more valuable. He said:
“You’re too young to carry that responsibility by yourself. Anytime you have a problem—family, business, or personal—call me. I’ll give you the principles you need to make the right decision, but I won’t give you the answer.”
For more than 25 years, that’s exactly what he did.
The day before he passed, he made one final request:
He asked if I would become a Mason.
He told me the principles he had shared with me all those years came from Masonry and the Bible. I didn’t hesitate—I said yes.
Years later, before I married my wife, I told her I didn’t know how, but I intended to honor that commitment. After we were married, I brought it up again. She simply said, “Call my dad—he’s been a Mason for over 40 years.”
That call set everything in motion.
Becoming a Mason wasn’t about joining an organization.
It was about honoring a promise, living by principles, and continuing a legacy that shaped my life.
