Worshipful Master, Wardens, and members of Malta Lodge #17 AF&AM of Wyoming. This morning while watching the news, a short commentary about the cutting of the Christmas Tree for Rockefeller Plaza in New York, the news commentator was describing the tree, where it had been cut, who owned the land, and when it had been planted. The cameraman then shot a picture of the lady who owned the land, standing by a headstone in an old family burial plot. The headstone is what got my attention. It read "Revolutionary War" which becomes star number one. In Malta Lodge, there is a white flag with a red border, with the square and compasses in the center, drawn in individual stars (with one extra in the upper left-hand corner). This flag is displayed over the Senior Warden's station. I hold a deep respect for this emblem because each star represents a member of Malta Lodge who served in the Armed Forces during World War II. It is well displayed Masonically in the west, with the setting sun, one star each, no names, no medals, no glory. To me those Brothers received the greatest honor that can be given. I also have a warm spot in my heart for the Brothers who are represented by these stars, and for the way that I have become tied to this banner by the Mystic Tie of Freemasonry. Another star, in the same conflict, was the one that the mothers of the nation displayed in the window of her home to show that her son or daughter was in the military service of our country. I remember how proud my mother was when she told me in a letter that she had put the 4th star in her window. In the time of a conflict there are all kinds of stars. The one’s who furnish the food, the ships, planes, the arms and supplies. In these conflicts, there is no end to the stars we should honor, three more in the west for, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. The one star left, should be in a special remembrance, of all the mothers who gave birth to a son or daughter, raised them to young adulthood, and had that child give their life in defense of our country to preserve our freedom, our country, and their integrity. For those mothers, a gold star, and may God Bless you, our country, and all the people who have paid the ultimate price for the preservation of our Constitution. W. M., Brothers, I thank you. Ralph Hastings, Grand Orator, AF&AM of Wyo.