08/05/2026
Minutemen updates!
Here's our article from the latest issue of the Aleppo Shriners News:
Celebrating 250 years with a BANG!
Well, we celebrate most things with a bang anyway; it’s what we do! It continues to be a busy parade season for us with continued opportunities and unique experiences (we are a unique unit after all…)
The spring/summer season really kicked off with a perennial favorite, the Bedford Pole Capping. This uniquely colonial event brings together many of the local militia units so it’s always good to see old friends and make new ones! The weather was beautiful and mercifully they cut down the number of political speeches… actually, the one politician who spoke gave a very appropriate speech focusing on how those involved in the Revolution were ordinary people who had been placed into extraordinary situations and who chose the betterment of the whole above themselves. A lesson we can all continue to learn from.
The following weekend was Lexington, another silent year marching a parade that could be a third as long and with an empty reviewing stand; thanks for the hospitality Lexington… A couple weeks later we marched in Newton which was a bit warm, but we found a special new recruit, I think his name is Pat… A special shoutout to Pvt. Dave Nica who stepped up and filled in as a musketman for the first time; we always include all members in our training and drill so that we can move assignments around as needed; even the Captain was firing a musket in Newton!
On short notice, Sgt. Sparkie, Pvt. Collins, and Ill. Pvt. Havener stepped up and presented the colors at the North End Athletic Association’s Little League Opening Day; all accounts spoke of a warm reception. A detachment of 8 Minutemen attended the dedication of the new Liberty Tree in Billerica which was co-sponsored by Thomas Talbot Lodge. The Captain directed the saluting volley fire which also included 2 muskets from the SAR and 2 muskets from the Billerica Minutemen.
I think we’re still drying out from the deluge that was the Wilmington Memorial Day parade, so let’s not dwell on that memory….
The AHAC June Day is always a special event for the unit to attend, especially as a number of Minutemen are also members of the AHAC. Pvt. Collins was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of the AHAC, and Pvt. Nica was sworn in as a new member along with friends of the unit Bro. Jake Ferry and Wor. Rob Chan.
The Ceremonial saw a good showing of Minutemen in uniform to help welcome the new Nobles. The following Friday, the smoke hung low in the humid air as a detachment of musketmen provided end zone fire for the Aleppo High School All Star Football Game.
Only two days later, the Minutemen gathered with the Arab Patrol for our annual flag retirement ceremony. Due to a number of factors, we had gathered just over 750 flags to retire this year! Thank you to all who came and participated in this solemn ceremony. Pvt. Collins had the honor of reading the Declaration of Independence at Somerville’s official commemoration; Bob was representing the AHAC but invited Sgt. Sparkie and Sgt. Sisler to accompany him as an honor guard.
And that brings us to this past weekend: HOT HOT HOT is what comes to mind… but no weather could have dampened our spirits in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country! Friday evening was spent marching in Gloucester where the usually large crowds were even larger and in even higher spirits than their typical patriotic fervor! Back up early the morning of the 4th for our return to Needham, where we have been spending our 4ths for at least 35 years! Always good to catch up with our friends (yes, friends) in His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot. The sun was beating, but our muskets rang out in unison and kept us moving!
We will close with this: The words that marked the birth of our nation 250 years ago still ring true today: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."
We, the Aleppo Shriners Minutemen, continue to honor the legacy of our forefathers, especially those who were our Masonic brethren, and echo their solemn prayer:
"GOD SAVE OUR AMERICAN STATES!"
Thanks for making our unit so great!
Mike Havener
David S. Gasson
Rob Havener
Al Lamson
Bill Wayne
Carlos Ramos Rivera
Dave Haviland
Dave Nica
Ed Gaffny
Paul Winam
Jonathan Buck
John Wilder
Lester Alley Davis
Matthew Wissell
Richard Perry
Rich Doherty
Robert Collins
Jr Ralston
Russ Harrell
Shawn Robichaud
David Sisler
Cuz Sylvester
Tom Lopolito
Vilmar Werle
Jeff Zesch
Shaun Flanagan
Peter Mooradian
