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Medals and Awards
Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service
ON AUGUST 25, Commander Peter J. Samiec, 33°, was pleased to present the following Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medals for Distinguished Service at the Annual Meeting in Louisville during his Commander’s Dinner: Jeffrey L. Bryden, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite - Valley of Milwaukee; Alan R. Heath, 33°, MSA, Valley of Rockland - Scottish Rite Masons of Maine and Valley of Portland Scottish Rite; Douglas N. Kaylor, 33°, Valley of Dayton.
Youth Advisors of the Year
THE YOUTH ADVISOR OF THE YEAR award honors the contributions of those who commit themselves to supporting the development of our Masonic youth. All adult advisors in the Order of DeMolay, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and The International Order of Job’s Daughters, and The Organization of Triangles (New York only) are eligible to be nominated to receive this distinction.
Two Youth Advisors of the Year were recognized at Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction’s AnnualMeeting in Lexington, Kentucky. The 2022 Youth Advisor of the Year recipient was David W. Berry, 33°, a plural member of the Valleys of Harrisburg and Lancaster.
The 2023 Youth Advisor of the Year went to Lois Taylor of Nashua, New Hampshire, for her contributions to both New Hampshire Rainbow and DeMolay for more than a decade.
Congratulations and thank you one and all for your service to Supreme Council!
Medal of Honor
ON AUGUST 30, during General Session, Sovereign Grand Commander Samiec presented the Medal of Honor to Douglas R. Policastro, 33°, and Richard W. Elliot, 33°. The Medal of Honor may be conferred by the Supreme Council or by the Sovereign Grand Commander upon any person, whether or not a member of our jurisdiction or a member of any body of the Rite, in recognition of distinguished service to Freemasonry, country, or humanity.
James N. Edwards, 33°, Awarded the SGC Medal for Distinguished Service
Ill. James N. Edwards, 33°, was surprised to have been presented the Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service at Maine’s Council of Deliberation (COD) meeting on June 2, 2023. Bro. Edwards, 33°, most recently served as COD treasurer and is a plural member of the Valleys of Augusta and Portland.
Brother Edwards is a past Sovereign Prince and serves on the Finance Committee for the Valley of Portland. “His professional background in banking has been invaluable to the Scottish Rite,” said Ill. Bro. Jeffry A. Simonton, Deputy for Maine.
“His many years of guidance as chair of the finance committee has led to great gains in our investments, which has directly resulted in our ability to execute on several of the programs we offer, to the betterment of Scottish Rite in Maine,” Ill. Bro. Simonton added.
