Order is
under the Spiritual Protection of His Holiness Aleksey II, The Most Holy
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
Under the
Imperial Protection of the House of the Romanov, In the Person of His Highness
Prince Michael of Russia
The
Grand Priory donates to victims
of 9/11 tragedy
Greetings
from your Grand Prior Dear
Sisters and Brothers in St. John,
The
Order is continuing its development and charitable work.
Please accept
our apologies for our long silence because a great many events - some good,
some not so good - happened with such speed that there was no time to report
them to you.
When
9/11 happened, everything else was eclipsed by the magnitude of the horror.
Some of our members, friends and family members lost dear ones. A week
later, the Grand Prior, still understandably upset, missed a step and slid
down two flights of stairs cracking ribs and landing in the hospital. Mercifully,
he has recovered.
As our
hearts cried out for the victims and their families of the September 1
11h tragedy, we started to collect funds for them by asking members to
contribute to the Order. 100% of these funds would go to their intended
destination. We are especially grateful to Dr. George Carroll, Prior of
Florida, who gave a barbecue and collected approximately $5,000.00; to
Dame Commander Virginia Smith of the Newport, Rhode Island branch; and
to Dr. Hugh Robertson, Prior of Louisiana - Mississippi, to Knight Dominic
Certo, who provided food to the rescue workers and to the doctors and members
who helped in so many ways.
March
11, 2002 Order of St. John Delegation to Fire Engine 28 Ladder 11, East
2nd Street, NY
Left to
right: James Hamilton, Capt. George Carlin, Gretchen Hamilton, Fireman
Danny Mauer, Countess Tatiana Bobrinskoy, Paul Cardile, Chief Savestano,
Julius Cardile
Photo by
Gretchen Hamilton
Of course
some members had already given to the big charities, whose monies, we note,
have not always trickled down to the victims' families. We wanted to give
our funds directly to the fire stations, which our Grand Chaplain, Reverend
Christopher Calin knew. This was more difficult that we anticipated because
of the complex situation of the New York Fire Department. We were ready
to give, but they were not ready to receive. On January 20, 2002, at a
concert of Orthodox liturgical music given at our Cathedral in the presence
of His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius, we met some of the firemen. Naturally,
it was inappropriate to transfer the funds then and there. But, our Dame
Gretchen Hamilton corralled the leaders of the two fire departments we
wished to aid, and the meetings were set for the six-month anniversary
of the terrorist attack, 3/11/02.
As described
by Dame Gretchen, the Grand Priory presented $6,000.00 to Engine Company
28, Ladder 11, which lost six men and $7,500.00 to Engine Company 11, Ladder
9, which lost ten men. The New York Priory gave a check for $2,500.00 to
that same company. In addition the Grand Priory presented a check for $1,000.00
to a struggling family in Fairfield Connecticut. At present we are contacting
another fire company to which we hope to donate the balance of the funds
available.
The
Order must continue to encourage these families, to show that we care.
The victims' families' loss is forever. We would like to commit ourselves
for a longer-term gift of love. This is both our wish and our duty. While
at this time Americans are thinking about them, as time passes these thoughts
may dim. We ask our members to consider "adopting" a family by sending
cards and gifts for children on Christmas, Easter and special days. As
we do not wish to interfere with their private lives, we have requested
the fire companies to give us names and dates only - no addresses - and
we will send our thoughts and love to the fire stations for them to forward.
Should
the recipients wish to communicate with us - good. If not, we shall continue
to show that we care. This charitable endeavor may extend beyond OSJ members.
We encourage our members to ask neighbors and friends to join us in this
laudable effort by filling in the form below. We are also looking for other
victims' families who need help.
Reflections
on 3/11/02 By Gretchen W. Hamilton
On
Monday, March 11, 2002 a small delegation from the Order of St. John made
a pilgrimage to New York City to present the monies raised by members for
the families of two New York Fire Companies, victims of the tragic events
of September 11, 2001. Countess Nicholas Bobrinskoy, GDSJ, Grand Chancellor
of the Order, headed the delegation of Hon. Julius Cardile, Prior of New
York, and New York Priory members of the council, Dr. Paul Cardile, Professor
James T. Hamilton and Mrs. Gretchen Hamilton.
Our
first step was Engine Company 28, Ladder 11, on East Second Street near
the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection, not far from
ground zero. The men had invited us to join them for lunch, which turned
out to be a wonderful experience. It gave us a chance to really get acquainted
with them, as we talked one-on-one prior to eating. Then, over a lunch
of pasta, chicken and sausage, we exchanged ideas around their large dining
table. We spent several hours with them because they were called out three
times for emergencies. After lunch Countess Bobrinskoy presented a check
for $6,000.00:
one thousarid doflars for each family
of the six men lost. The bereaved families were coming into the city for
a special church service and dinner with the men that evening so the checks
would be presented at that time on the six-month anniversary of the event.
The
firemen drove us in their van to Engine Company 11, Ladder 9 down in the
Bowery. That company lost a total of 10 firefighters on 9/11. We talked
briefly with the men and then presented them with the checks from the Grand
Priory and the New York Priory for a total of $10,000.00. In turn they
presented us with tee shirts designed with a touching logo of remembrance.
A red rose for each of the ten heroes was superimposed on the fireman's
Maltese Cross with the name of each man lost.
I noted
a strange coincidence that the two ladder companies involved in 9/11 were
Ladders 9 and 11. The long afternoon with them was a very moving experience
for all of us. We only wish that all of you could have been there with
us to witness the dignity and dedication these men possess.
Greetings
from your Grand Prior
