NJ Masons Dedicate CG Memorial Cornerstone

COLD SPRING – The cornerstone of the Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial was dedicated by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey under the leadership of Grand Master Dieter B. Hees April 7. 
A two-part ceremony was held that day.
The first was at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, the service’s sole enlisted recruit training facility, where the memorial will be erected. It will contain names of over 1,500 Coast Guard members who lost their lives in missions of the service since 1915.
The second, public portion, was held at Cape Island Lodge No. 30, the local Masonic lodge, on Seashore Road, Cold Spring.
Dedication of the cornerstone, a granite block, used the same elements, corn, wine, and oil, as those used by President George Washington, a Mason, when he dedicated the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol.
Hees was assisted by senior members of the Grand Lodge, R.W. Roger Quintana, R.W. Greg Scott, and R.W. Robert Monacelli.
Affixed to the cornerstone will be a bronze plaque with the symbols of Freemasonry, a compass, square, and letter G, for God.
The Grand Lodge of New Jersey was one of 11 Platinum donors to the Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial Fund, meaning it gave $10,000 or more toward the project. The estimated cost of the memorial was $450,000 and was fully funded by donors, including some from Cape May County, according to its website.
Joining masonic officials from throughout New Jersey were First Legislative District legislators Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak, both Masons; Van Drew a member of Cannon Lodge in South Seaville, Andrzejczak, a member of Cape Island Lodge.
They made a presentation to Hees on behalf of the state Legislature.
Adding to the military theme of the event was the placement of a wreath from Wreaths Across America by R.W. David Melville Russen Jr. and Gary J. Olsen.
A group of Masonic Civil War reenactors fired two cannons followed by “Taps” performed by an Army musician after placement of the large wreath. That tribute was decorated with small flags of all branches of the military.
Artist and Mason Travis Simpkins from Boston, Mass. who created the charcoal-and-chalk image of the memorial and Masonic emblems, presented a copy to Hees.
Simpkins noted that the chalk and charcoal he used have special meaning for Masons for their symbolism.
President Thomas Dougherty of the memorial foundation said it was fitting that the monument will be situated at the Coast Guard enlisted recruit training center since it will carry the names of enlisted members who gave their lives in the nation’s service.
Those of warrant officers, who came from enlisted ranks and below who died in the performance of the service’s mission will have their names included. Names of commissioned officers who similarly perished are memorialized at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
The memorial will have three granite walls with the 1,500-plus names on them. In the center will be a pyramid with a bronze eternal flame. A brass ship’s bell will be placed in a granite structure in the front of the memorial for use during ceremonies.
In-ground lighting will illuminate the memorial. Granite benches will be placed for those who wish to reflect on those lives.
The names will be those from 1915 and later since that was the year Congress formalized the Coast Guard from the Revenue Cutter Service and U.S. Life Saving Service.
The website noted that the memorial had to be privately funded since the Coast Guard is not authorized to build memorials without specific statutory authorization.
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.