This month on Father’s Day, Forest Lodge 166 F&AM will be dedicating its monthly Sunday breakfast to a special cause.

On Feb. 17, 2017, Army National Guard Capt. Peter Schank from Buffalo, a member of Harmonie Masonic Lodge 699, succumbed to the pain of PTSD, and took his own life. On average, approximately 20 veterans per day suffer the same fate, having survived the field of battle, but bringing some of the worst of it home with them.

On Memorial Day, 2018, the members of Harmonie Lodge and the Erie Masonic District unveiled a proposed monument that is in the works, dedicated to our service men and women who have lost the battle long after it was over. This monument is hoped to be completed and placed at the Erie County Naval and Military Park by the end of the year. The monument is being funded by contributions from the Masonic community, along with business and private donations.

Forest Lodge will be donating the net proceeds from the breakfast, along with proceeds from a 50-50 raffle, and basket raffles, towards the monument project, which has been titled, “The Battle Within.” The completed monument will stand approximately 8 feet tall, and depicts a soldier carrying two soldiers, one is visible, and one is an empty silhouette, representing the hole that is left inside us when we lose someone.

The breakfast will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. This all-you-can-eat breakfast will consist of eggs made to order, pancakes or French toast, sausages, fruit cocktail, toast, juice, milk, coffee and tea. Adults and teenagers 13 and up $7.50, children 6-12 $3, and those 5 and under are free. Public is welcome and cordially invited to attend, as is anyone with interests in, or has questions about Free Masonry. Forest Lodge is located at 321 East Main St., Fredonia.