Monte Bello Lodge #10
Meeting Notes
July 8, 2019
Return to Monte Bello Meetings
There were 13 members present for the meeting on July 8, 2019, including our Brother Ken Patterson who had broken his back in two places earlier this year. The Brothers were all glad to see him and welcomed him back with heartfelt feelings on his return.
After a brief business meeting, Ed Cheney did the program and talked about his life growing up in the Shoals area, his military career along with his adult life in the Shoals. Ed was born in Colbert County, and after his first birthday, his family moved to the Florence area where his dad worked for the city. Ed attended the Mars Hill School, as well as other schools in Florence, Killen and finished his school days at Central HS. While in school Ed worked for a grocery store, and afterward Guthrie Sausage Plant. Ed said his dream was to become a Marine and at the age of 19, he signed up for active duty. After doing boot camp in San Diego, he was shipped out to Vietnam where after 5 months he was injured after a fellow Marine in his squad stepped on a land mine. The Marine who stopped on the mine had taken point, and Ed was handling the squad radio right behind the point guard.
After the explosion, Ed was trying to get up and help his fellow Marine’s when he realized he had lost his leg. After another Marine showed up to help Ed, he realized his arm was just dangling and barely attached. After being loaded onto a Medevac helicopter, Ed remembers waking up in a hospital in Guam where surgery had to be performed to save his life including the removal of his arm and more of his leg due to gangrene. Ed never passed out from the injury but only after being given pill killers by a Medic. It took Ed eight months to recover and come home. After his injury but before being discharged he came home to a birthday party where he met his wife to be. Even though they had attended the same school, they did not know each other. It must have been love at first sight because his wife to be wanted to make sure he was invited back to the next party where she was in attendance. They got married and had one son who is now 46. They also have one grandson, who is 21. After retiring from the military, Ed worked for a time driving dealer cars from place to place. Over time it was determined that Ed had PTSD. He though he was healed when he visited Vietnam years later with other vets. Ed Cheney had a relapse of PTSD which affected his life drastically. Through God’s help and good grace, Ed worked through it, and he and his wife traveled throughout the United States for several years. Over time Ed’s wife grew tired of the travel, and he begins attending Gospel Singing which he has been doing for the last 12 years. Ed and his wife also traveled with the UNA football going as far away as Anchorage Alaska.
Sadly Ed’s wife passed away earlier this year. Ed has a great attitude in spite of all he has endured and keeps everyone around him upbeat. The lodge commended Ed for his sacrifices on behalf of our country and all of us who enjoy the freedom we have.
Following Ed’s program, two items were discussed. The final decision was made for which Lodge Seal is to be used on lodge materials including shirts and hats for members. The seal chosen is:
Also discussed was the development of the Grand Lodge Website and the Local Lodge Website. The Brothers who agreed to work on this project include Dan Richardson, Hermon Graham, Jim Harris, Harry Williams, and Steve Edwards. Brother Steve agreed to contact the Florence Library and make arrangements with the Genealogy/History department for the group to begin work on the project on Monday, July 15, 2019.
Before the meeting concluded, Brother Hermon reminded everyone about the upcoming regional meeting on August 17th, 2019 at the Walker County Lodge in Townley, Alabama. He stressed the importance of as many members as possible attending. He also reminded everyone of the next Grand Lodge meeting and encouraged everyone to go ahead and add this June 2020 meeting to their calendar.
Brother Marvin Whisenant will be doing the next program at our meeting on Monday, July 22, 2019. He played Collegian football at UNA in the 1950s while it was still the Florence College of Education. His story will be most interesting with his background in this area, along with his association with our Lodge and his many experiences. At our first meeting in August, Brother Dan Howard will be doing our program. It too will be most interesting.
