William Penn Life, 1983 (18. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1983-04-01 / 2. szám

Fraternal Week — June 8-14 President Ronald Reagan and Speaker of the House Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. have commended the fraternal movement in the United States in connection with the national observance of Fraternal Week, June 8-14. In his tribute to fraternalists Presi­dent Reagan said that “no organiza­tional superstructure, not even govern­ment, can serve people as humanely or as effectively as they can serve each other through mutual help.” He noted that the hundreds of fraternal associa­tions in the United States “have an outstanding history of service—not only to their own members but to the public as well.” The president pointed out that dur­ing the last recorded year the 99 frater­nal groups affiliated with the National Fraternal Congress of America distributed funds and goods in excess of $160 million and at the same time donated more than 25 million hours of volunteer service. “This is a remarkable record, one certainly worthy of emulation,” he added. President Reagan also noted that the final day of Fraternal Week, June 14, is observed as Flag Day. He stated this is appropriate because the fraternal movement traditionally “has shown a strong commitment to patriotism.” “Love of country, love of God, love of family, and love of neighbor form the solid foundation upon which fraternalism rests,” the president said. “Nancy joins me in extending every wish for a most successful and mean­ingful observance of Fraternal Week.” Speaker O’Neill’s tribute to the fraternal societies emphasized that “it has been their spirit of helping one another, of strong family life and of special compassion of those in need which has contributed greatly to the vigor of America.” “In paying tribute to these virtues which will be given special emphasis during national Fraternal Week,” the speaker said, “we actually hold up to all citizens the traditional and fun­damental values which must continue if this country is to continue on the road of greatness.” The observance of Fraternal Week and the celebration of Flag Day receive special support from 99 fraternal benefit societies affiliated with the Na­tional Fraternal Congress of America, including the William Penn Associa­tion. Some 10 million members of these societies will celebrate the birthday of the flag and encourage others to join in the event. Current international prob­lems and crises demonstrate anew the need for loyalty and patriotism as paramount values in a free society. Fraternal groups throughout the United States will sponsor patriotic ceremonies honoring the flag. They also will call public attention to the im­portance of fraternalism and the many civic and community services it offers. The latest annual survey conducted by the fraternal societies in the U.S. reveals that their members contributed more than $44 million in money and goods for various benevolent and charitable causes in 1981 and donated more than 25 million hours of volunteer service in their various com­munities. Their total contributions to a variety of good causes were in excess of $160 million and included almost $6 million for health and recreation, about $9.25 million for education and some $7.5 million for religious pur­poses. Many governors, mayors and heads of other municipalities have issued proclamations calling on citizens to honor National Flag Day and Fraternal Week. The meaning and origin of Flag Day is described succinctly in a historical marker before an old stone schoolhouse in Fredonia, Wis. It reads: BIRTHPLACE OF FLAG DAY Here at Stony Hill School, Ber­nard J. Cigrand, 19-year-old teacher and his students held the first recognized observance of “Flag Birth Day" on June 14, 1885, with a flag ten inches high, carrying 38 stars, standing in a bottle on the teacher's desk. After 31 years of crusading by Dr. Cigrand, President Woodrow Wilson on June 14, 1916, pro­claimed the national observance of Flag Day. In the first Flag Day message in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson said: "This flag which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a na­tion. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours. ” For many years members of the Na­tional Fraternal Congress of America and of the National Fraternal Flag Day Foundation have continued to foster the cause taken up by Dr. Cigrand and to respond to the challenge of Presi­dent Wilson. Each year a seven-day period, ending on Flag Day, has been observed as “Fraternal Week.” The National Fraternal Flag Day Foundation has made a national shrine of the Stony Hill Schoolhouse. Foun­dation members conduct a flag-raising ceremony each year in the schoolyard to help make the American Flag and the lessons it represents more mean­ingful to all Americans. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON I appreciate the opportunity to ex­tend greetings and congratulations as the ninety-nine organizations affiliated with the National Fraternal Congress of America observe their annual Fraternal Week. It is a great privilege for me to pay tribute to the fraternal movement in the United States. I firmly believe that no organizational structure, not even government, can serve people as humanely or as effectively as they can serve each other through mutual assistance. The hundreds of fraternal groups in this nation have an outstand­ing history of service—not only to their own members but to the public as well. During the last year, the ninety-nine organizations affiliated with the Na­tional Fraternal Congress of America have distributed funds and goods valued in excess of $160 million and, at the same time, donated more than 25 million hours of volunteer service. This is a remarkable record, one certainly worthy of emulation. The final day of Fraternal Week is Flag Day. This is no coincidence. Our nation's fraternal movement tradi­tionally has shown a strong commit­ment to patriotism. Love of country, love of God, love of family, and love of neighbor form the solid foundation on which fraternalism rests. Nancy joins me in extending every wish for a most successful and mean­ingful observance of Fraternal Week. Ronald Reagan A HOME IS NOT A HOUSE “You have two small children who need more growing space,” observed a neighbor when she visited the cou­ple in their much too small apart­ment. “Why don’t you move out of your apartment and get a home?” “We’ve got the home,” smiled the mother. “We just don’t have a house to put it in.” 16

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