RIP Former President Ford

[Becks]

2350 EST

Just came on the news that Former President Gerald Ford passed away tonight.
1913-2006
Rest in peace sir.

Edit: Link added below.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061227/ap_on_re_us/obit_ford

[sandman]

Thank you for the notice.

[DrJbdm]

He was a good man, he served his country well. Rest in Peace Sir.

[Major_Chuck]

President Ford was probably the last true moderate President we've had in recent history.  Perhaps it is the fact he did not seek the Presidency but strived for the Speakership of the House which made him more 'like us'.

I'm up here in D.C. in my National Guard capacity working in preperation for the Official State Funeral of President Ford.  This to me is an honor, no matter how small my contribution.

Chuck
Specialist
Virginia Army National Guard

[MattPHS2002]

Major Cranford sir,

good luck.

[flyguy06]

He was a Moderate Republican which is what I like about him. I was only a child when he was President so I dont remember that much about him other than he used to do those PSA's for the Boy Scouts

[AlphaSigOU]

Rest in peace, Brother Ford. (President Ford was the last living Masonic president; Reagan was an honorary Scottish Rite Mason (he never went through the Blue Lodge degrees) Clinton was a DeMolay but after the Lewinsky scandal reportedly he was stripped of his DeMolay Chevalier degree. Jimmy Carter is an alum of Canoe U and neither Papa Bush nor Shrub are Masons - but they're well known members of Skull and Bones.)

<-- Triune Lodge #15, San Antonio, Texas (mother lodge)
      East Fork Lodge #650, Wylie, Texas (plural member)
      Will Rogers Lodge #53, Claremore, Oklahoma (dual and perpetual member)

[BlackKnight]

I see that the thread on the execution of Saddam Hussein now has three times as many replies as this one dedicated to President Ford.   I'm not sure what that says about us, but I find it an interesting (and somewhat predictable) statistic. 


P.S.- In case someone is checking my math, at the time I posted the above the Saddam Hussein thread had 18 replies.  Now it only has 7, the others evidently were moved or deleted.

[1st Lt Provost]

To add to what AlphaSigOU said:

Rest in peace, Brother Ford. (President Ford was the last living Masonic president; Reagan was an honorary Scottish Rite Mason (he never went through the Blue Lodge degrees) Clinton was a DeMolay but after the Lewinsky scandal reportedly he was stripped of his DeMolay Chevalier degree. Jimmy Carter is an alum of Canoe U and neither Papa Bush nor Shrub are Masons - but they're well known members of Skull and Bones.)

At work today the funeral procession was on I think in the Rotunda.  I was trying to see if he was having a presidential(military) or Masonic funeral, it looks to me as the first.  President Ford was loved because as others have said, his moderacy.  He also was our last President to me a member of the most ancient and honorable fraternity, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.  What he learned within his lodge, valley, and council I personally believe to have been major factors in his term as President.  I hope to one day have another President who follows in our Founding Fathers' footsteps in being a member of the Craft, and contributing to the welfare of society, even the Government of this divinely inspired nation.

May the cement of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth penetrate our hearts as we mourn President Ford's death, and Mr. President, Godspeed as you take our tenets to the Celestial Lodge.

Bro. Joseph S. Gorgoglione
Eastern Star Lodge #44
Grand Lodge of Connecticut, A.F.&A.M.

[1st Lt Provost]

Thought I'd add this:

Brother Gerald R. Ford   

   

The following is the text of a message of condolence on the passing of our Brother Mason, Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States of America and a member of Malta Lodge No 465, Grand Rapids, Michigan.   This statement was issued December 27, 2006 by the Grand Masters of New York and Michigan and the Executive Secretary of the Masonic Service Association of North America.

"Gerald R. Ford embodied the tenets of Freemasonry. He upheld the values of personal integrity and of being true to his word, and in a time of great crisis, Brother Ford, a true patriot, also sought to heal our
ailing Nation.  As our President, he represented our fraternity well.
On behalf of the Grand Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of the States of Michigan and New York, the Masonic Service Association of North America, and Masons  everywhere, we offer our sincere condolences to Betty Ford and her family on the passing of Brother Gerald Ford, a
humble man who calmly guided our country out of one of its darkest hours."

Neal I. Bidnick
Grand Master
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York

Walter F. Wheeler
Grand Master
Grand Lodge of Michigan, Free and Accepted Masons

Richard E. Fletcher
Executive Secretary
Masonic Service Association of North America


Grand Master M. Hollsinger of Michigan presents President Gerald Ford with Michigan's 50 year award. "Masonry was an important part of my father's life, and it has been an important part of mine," Ford said.

Masonic Biography
Initiated: September 30, 1949, Malta Lodge No. 465, Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with his half-brothers Thomas Gardner Ford (1918-1995), Richard Addison Ford (1924-) and James Francis Ford (1927- ).

The Fellowcraft and Master Mason Degrees were Conferred by Columbia Lodge No. 3, Washington, D.C., on April 20 and May 18, 1951, as a courtesy to Malta Lodge.

Brother Ford was made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, and Honorary Member, Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Northern Jurisdiction at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, on September 26, 1962, for which he served as Exemplar (Representative) for his Class.

Brother and President Ford was unanimously elected an Active Member of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay and its Honorary Grand Master, at its Annual Session held at Orlando, Florida, April 6-9, 1975; Brother Ford held this post until January 1977, at which time he became a Past Honorary Grand Master, receiving his Collar and Jewel on October 24, 1978 in Topeka, Kansas, from the Hon. Thomas C. Raum, Jr., Grand Master, Order of DeMolay.



Brother Ford's first services to Freemasonry came when he was selected for the Eastern Team on the Shriner's East West Crippled Children game at San Francisco on January 1, 1935.   He was a member of the University of Michigan's undefeated national championship football team in 1934, and played in the Shriner's East-West Crippled Children's benefit classic in San Francisco.

Brother Ford joined Saladin Shrine Temple, A.A.O.N.M.A.S. in 1959 and was a member of Court No. 11, Royal Order of Jesters.



 

[MattPHS2002]

Although I wasn't born when he was President, the fact that he is an Eagle Scout and a Shriner tells me all I need to know.

[Monty]

Yup, a brother Eagle Scout has left us...  I was MUCH too little to remember him, but I remember Carter by face.  (I was traumatized when he was put out by Reagan....my childhood way of telling the two presidents apart?  There was the "white hair" president and the "black hair" president.)  Don't forget...there was a time of black and white TV, cadets.   

(Sidenote: There are a few other notable Eagle Scouts, too.  The former DoD secretary and the current one, being two in the national limelight as well.)

The thing I'll always remember about Ford in his many interviews and clips I saw was that he always struck me as more of the "regular guy" president.  Of course there SURELY must have been *some* politics behind the scenes, but from what he displayed, I always got the sense that he was not wound up as tight as the other Presidents we've had (regardless of political affiliation or whatever.)

I think most of all, however, was my surprise at how Betty Ford's aged.  Wow...she really is showing her age now.  Hard to look last night at that little lady and think back to all the press she had and the struggles she overcame....

[Lancer]

I see that the thread on the execution of Saddam Hussein now has three times as many replies as this one dedicated to President Ford.   I'm not sure what that says about us, but I find it an interesting (and somewhat predictable) statistic. 


P.S.- In case someone is checking my math, at the time I posted the above the Saddam Hussein thread had 18 replies.  Now it only has 7, the others evidently were moved or deleted.

Speaking to the topic of a lack of respect for a former commander in chief.

At the Capitol, VIP Roll Call Has Many No-Shows
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/30/AR2006123001166.html

Shameful.

[flyguy06]

I see that the thread on the execution of Saddam Hussein now has three times as many replies as this one dedicated to President Ford.   I'm not sure what that says about us, but I find it an interesting (and somewhat predictable) statistic. 


P.S.- In case someone is checking my math, at the time I posted the above the Saddam Hussein thread had 18 replies.  Now it only has 7, the others evidently were moved or deleted.

Speaking to the topic of a lack of respect for a former commander in chief.

At the Capitol, VIP Roll Call Has Many No-Shows
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/30/AR2006123001166.html

Shameful.

That is messed up.

[AlphaSigOU]

At work today the funeral procession was on I think in the Rotunda.  I was trying to see if he was having a presidential(military) or Masonic funeral, it looks to me as the first.

It's quite possible the Masonic memorial service was done during the private family service or could be done as part of the burial service, on Tuesday, it depends on the wishes of President Ford and his family. I did see a video clip this morning showing a Brother wearing full regalia (apron and collar) paying his respects to Brother Ford at the Rotunda.

[1st Lt Provost]

Here is the link to some pictures and videos of Brother Ford's Masonic Brothers giving interviews, speeches and visiting the Rotunda in full Masonic Regalia.

http://www.acacia16.org/Honoring_Brother_Gerald_R_Ford.htm

Bro. Joseph S. Gorgoglione
Eastern Star Lodge #44
Grand Lodge of Connecticut, A.F.&A.M.

[flyguy06]

That was some cool video guys.

[davedove]

I see that the thread on the execution of Saddam Hussein now has three times as many replies as this one dedicated to President Ford.   I'm not sure what that says about us, but I find it an interesting (and somewhat predictable) statistic. 


P.S.- In case someone is checking my math, at the time I posted the above the Saddam Hussein thread had 18 replies.  Now it only has 7, the others evidently were moved or deleted.

Speaking to the topic of a lack of respect for a former commander in chief.

At the Capitol, VIP Roll Call Has Many No-Shows
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/30/AR2006123001166.html

Shameful.

The reporter in this case has his facts mixed up.  The date he chose was NOT the state funeral.  That occurred on Jan. 2, and it did have the dignitaries there - the current and ALL the living former Presidents (we're down to three now), many other current and former administration officials, senators, congressmen, foreign dignitaries, etc.

[Lancer]

Although the video quality is not the greatest, this is the final ceremony from today. 20:18 into the video begins the Air Force flyover of 21 F-15's.

http://www.wzzm13.com/video/player.aspx?aid=13693&sid=67931&bw=hi&cat=14

My office parking lot, which is just south and west of the museum gave the perfect vantage point to watch, rather breathtaking, especially when the last jet kicked in it's afterburners and drove vertical into the sky.

RIP, President Ford.