Since I took on this Sunday blog for Gotham Networking, this represents the first time I get to draft something on Veteran’s Day. It always falls on November 11. As we know from the news, today marks a century – 100 years – passed since the Armistice that officially brought an end to the First World War. Four years ago I participated in a ceremony at Central Park to rededicate a monument.

The fraternal order Knights of Pythias installed the monument as part of “The 307th Infantry Memorial,” a grove of trees in remembrance of men of the 307th Infantry (77th Army Division) who gave their lives during WWI. The monument originally included a boulder housing a large plaque with the names of the soldiers, a large boulder inscribed, "To the Dead of the 307th Infantry A.E.F., 500 Officers and Men 1917-1918," and 15 small plaques (one for each of the companies) mounted on stone markers at the base of the trees.

Members of the 307th participated in the battle later dubbed the "Lost Battalion." On October 2, 1918, units of New York's 77th "Liberty" Division advanced into the Argonne Forest in France. There surrounded by German troops, they managed to hold outunder intense enemy fire until reinforcements arrived six days later very limited food, shelter and access to water.

The Pythian monument, dedicated October 23, 1921, commemorates ten members who killed in the war. The Mayor John Hylan and ex-Governor Charles S. Whitman were the principal speakers at the memorial service and tree planting ceremony. The ten trees planted memory memorialized the ten Pythians who died in service during the war:

Sidney U. Schwartz, Triangle Lodge 153

Morris Dickstein, Cosmopolitan Lodge 202

Louis I. Hirshfield, Cosmopolitan Lodge 202

Solomon D. Katz, Cosmopolitan Lodge 202

David Reisman, Nonpareil Lodge 214

Jerome Heine, Pinta Lodge 331

David M. Klein, Columbus Lodge 332

Jesse Steinthal, Sioux Lodge 357

Alexander Goldberg, Claremore Lodge 451

Emanuel Brode, Fancourt Lodge 452

Find the monument on the eastern (5th Ave.) side of the park near the band shell at about 63rd Street. Access is from the 59th or 65th Street entrance.

As a member active in FDR Lodge 613, I connected the New York Grand Lodge to NYC officials with whom Grand Lodge coordinated the more recent ceremony. The November 8, 2014 service coincided with the 150^thAnniversary of the first ever fraternal order chartered by anact of Congress (following the approval of President Lincoln).

Pythians follow three distinguishing principles: Friendship, Charity and Benevolence. Domains of the Order exist in most states and Canadian provinces, and subordinate lodges are located in many cities and towns across the United States, Canada and Europe. New York’s Grand Lodge supports charitable, benevolent, fraternal and social activities for its subordinate lodges, their members and the communities each services.

The real common thread throughout the Knights of Pythias involves our commitment to help people; when asked what we do, we answer quite simply: We volunteer! We help people!

A simple message that honors those who served and made a difference for all of us.