Moose bestow highest honor on local member

International Falls resident William Durant, a member of International Falls Moose Lodge No. 1259, Loyal Order of the Moose, was one of 146 members of the fraternity summoned to receive the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the fraternity, the Pilgrim Degree of Merit. The ceremony was conducted in the House of God May 24 at Mooseheart, Ill.
The degree, currently held by less than one half of one percent of the approximately 800,000 men of the Loyal Order of Moose throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Bermuda, is the fraternity’s ultimate reward for exceptional devotion to the principles and ideals of caring for children and seniors, and is generally earned only by members who have given years of “above-the-call-of-duty” service to the Loyal Order of Moose and its principle philanthropic endeavors of Mooseheart, a city for children in need, located 40 miles west of Chicago, and Moosehaven, a retirement community for senior members, located on the banks of the St. John river in Orange Park, Fla.
Founded in 1918, the Pilgrim Degree is the highest degree of the Loyal Order of Moose. Members receiving this degree are entitled to wear a much-coveted gold blazer, which will be presented to the honoree during a social ceremony attended by other Pilgrims, members of the higher degrees of both the Loyal Order of Moose and the Women of the Moose, family, friends, community leaders and other members of the Order.
Durant will receive his blazer at the International Falls Moose Lodge 1259 at 4 p.m. Sept. 6. Also present will be leaders of the MN Association to offer their congratulations to Brother Durant.
The Moose is an international organization of men and women dedicated to caring for children and seniors, bringing communities closer together, and celebrating life. Jointly, these members tirelessly volunteer their time and talent to assist people in need and make communities better places to live and raise families.
The organization operates nearly 1,800 Moose Centers throughout North America, Great Britain and Bermuda, providing members with wholesome family, social, and sports activities.
To learn more about what Moose members are doing in the community, visit www.mooseintl.org or call 630-966-2229.