Brother Jay Strange receives his Certificate of Recognition from MWB Michael D. Smith.
Brother Jay Strange is a life member of Inman Masonic Lodge with over 45 years of service. Few members of our fraternity reach this milestone, but Brother Strange’s story of service goes even deeper. Brother Strange, a soldier in the Army, was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii. He and a few friends decided to go into town on Sunday morning for breakfast. At around 7:48 that morning of December 7th, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor. As they were enjoying their meal, Brother Strange and his friends realized what was happening and raced back toward the barracks. Schofield Barracks sat next to Wheeler Field, at the time the largest air base on Oahu, making it also a target for the Japanese on that fateful day. Once they returned to base, Brother Strange and his comrades assisted in its defense, where they came under fire from Japanese aircraft. Brother Strange went on after the attack to serve our country in World War II. For Brother Strange’s service to our country and to Masonry, Most Worshipful Brother Michael D. Smith, Grandmaster of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina, presented Brother Strange with a Grand Lodge Certificate of Recognition on May 19, 2017 at Inman Masonic Lodge. Other members of the Grand Line present during the presentation were Most Worshipful Brother Jay Adam Pearson, Past Grand Master of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina, Right Worshipful Brother Paul McWilliams, the 20th District Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother Tommy Watson, Grand Marshal, Worshipful Brother Fred Phillips, Junior Grand Deacon, and others. Brother Strange proudly received his Certificate for becoming “a member of that Greatest Generation of Americans to whom the people and future generations of the World will forever be indebted and grateful” with his wife, two children, and members of their respective families in attendance.