Mothers: The
heroes of life
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Mother’s Day — both solemn and joyous.
The Putnam Elks Lodge 574 annually honors mothers on Mother’s Day with a free breakfast. On each table were two signs that offered flowers. One described the significance of red flowers – in honor of the mother who still lives. The other describes the white flower in honor of the memory of the mother who has “crossed her tired hands and who rests in the shadow of eternal sleep.” The flyer continued: “As you leave today, if your mother is no longer with us, please take a white carnation.” Or “As you leave today, if your mother is still with us, please take a red carnation.”
Exalted Ruler Marcel Morissette said the ritual is done each year. It’s a very long tradition for the Elks.
Part of the ceremony: “No human being. No assemblage of human beings could do justice to such a subject. We might fill this room with the rarest of flowers. A celestial choir may sing the sweetest songs. Silver tongues could hold you spellbound and still, our effort would be an integral tribute to such an occasion.” The “feeble words remind us of a duty that we owe — a duty that we can never fully repay.” Heartfelt words: "Where is there another one who will make the sacrifices, suffer the pain and continue to face the storms of life that the child may be protected?”.
Taking part in the solemn ceremony were: Exalted ruler Marcel Morissette, Secretary Lisa Morissette, Leading Knight David Lavoie, Brian Sirois, Courtney Lajoie, Janet Schmidt and Esquire William Schmidt.
.