I learned many things about Grandpa Wayne during his interview.
Grandpa Wayne joined Masonry in 1973 when he was 30 years old. His motive in joining Masonry was that his father was a Mason when they lived in the Panama Canal zone and one of his uncles, who lived in Milwaukee, was also a Mason.

At the time Grandpa Wayne was stationed on the USS Belknap, he had to find a Lodge to join by finding some Masons. One lesson he has learned through Masonry is ​best stated by Albert Pike’s book, Morals and Dogma of the Ineffable Degrees, where he stated “A Freemason, therefore, should be a man of honor and of conscience, preferring his duty to everything beside, even to his life; independent in his opinions, and of good morals; submissive to the laws, devoted to humanity, to his country, to his family; kind and indulgent to his brethren, friend of all virtuous men, and ready to assist his fellows by all means in his power.”

Grandpa Wayne became involved with Rainbow in 1984 when someone wanted to start an Assembly on the south side of Hampton Roads. The Master of Corinthian Lodge agreed to sponsor the Assembly and in 1985 Norfolk Assembly LT got started.

Outside of Masonry, Grandpa Wayne enjoys woodworking, Rainbow paraphernalia, and cross-stitching.

With Rainbow Love and Service,
Pia

My report about Grandpa Boyd Wilson taught me more about the amazing man we see at every event supporting us.  We talked about how being a Mason has changed his life.  He said that it has made him a better man and lets him learn about the meaning of life.  

I asked him about his interests outside of Masonry.  I found out that he likes to golf and go fishing all the time.  He likes to be outdoors instead of inside all day.  Also, I asked why he wanted to join Masonry.  Grandpa Boyd said that he had the chance in 1954 to become a Mason, but he didn’t.  However, he talked to some of the other Masons and asked them some questions about it.  Those Masons weren’t able to answer his questions, but in 1955, he joined and was able to get answers to his questions.  After that, I asked if he had learned any important lessons through Masonry.  Grandpa Boyd said that he has learned to be a better man, to do good deeds, and help out with charities.  I asked why Masonry is important to him.  His response was that it is the organization and teachings that he loves.  He also said that it has changed his life as a man and that he is better than ever.

The next question I asked was to tell me about his favorite life memory.  Grandpa Boyd said that it was growing up with loving and caring parents and marrying his wife. They have been together for 54 years.  I asked what he did for a living before he retired.  He said that he worked as a painter before he retired.  The last question I asked was what advice he would give to a young man about Masonry.  His response was that it is one of the greatest organizations that any man could join and that they should consider joining because it will help them to understand how to be a better man throughout life.  

These are the interesting things that I found out about Grandpa Boyd and I hope that it will help you to see him in a different perspective.

With Rainbow Love and Service,
Kaitlyn

Norfolk Assembly #15 is doing a spotlight on the dads who are involved and support our Assembly on a regular basis to learn more about them.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dad Joel Bundy and I learned many interesting details about him and his life. Dad Joel works as an executive at Sentara Hospital. He decided to become involved in Masonry because he always loved mysteries and thought that in Masonry he would get to learn about the mysteries of life. He was fourty seven when he first became a Mason. He told me that when he first became the Worshipful Master of the Lodge, he felt a complete mix of emotions. He felt excitement because he was becoming the Worshipful Master and nervous because of all of the ritual work he would have to learn and do. I asked him, “What made you want to come and help the Rainbow Girls?” He said that it was because he has four daughters of his own and whenever he comes to our meetings, he is reminded of them. I asked him about his favorite memory with us and he said that it was when he first witnessed our closing prayer when we kneel around the altar, and as we rise the higher level people help everyone rise and reach the top. I asked him what his favorite vacation was and he said that it was when he went swimming with the dolphins in Florida with his girls.

Dad Joel enjoys playing jazz music on his trumpet and reading all things Shakespeare. The final question I asked him was, “What advice would you give to us about life?”. He told me to always pay attention to the little things in life, live in the moment, and never take anything for granted. He told me this because when he was younger, he had almost died and he realized that he was taking life for granted and he didn’t want us to do that.

I have learned so much about Dad Joel through this experience and I hope that all of you have learned something about him as well.

In Rainbow Love and Service,
Phoenix