By Ill. John Barnett, 33°
The Juneau Valley served as host for the Scottish Rite Orient of Alaska’s biennial Honors Ceremony, held Nov. 3-4, 2017.
More than 50 people attended some or all of the events, including Ill. Norm Gutcher, 33°, the current Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Alaska; Ill. David Worel, 33°, Deputy of the Supreme Council for the Orient of Alaska; four Past Grand Masters; three Past Potentates of Al Aska Shrine; and numerous Masonic leaders from throughout Alaska.
Four members of the Juneau Valley — Ill. Russ Shivers, 33° of Juneau; Ill. Tom Brown, 33° of Sitka; Ill. Ron Ackerman, 33° of Skagway; and Ill. Gerry Hughes, 33° of Ketchikan — were coroneted as 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Masons. Two others from the Juneau Valley — Bro. Allen Bell, 32°, KCCH of Juneau; and Bro. Je DeFreest, 32°, KCCH of Ket- chikan — were invested as Knight Commanders of the Court of Honor
DeMolay also held its Honors Ceremony during the weekend. Gutcher; Bro. Larry Fanning, 32°, KCCH; and Ill. John Barnett, 33° received admission into DeMolay International’s distinguished Legion of Honor.
Prior to the Nov. 4 closing banquet, the Valley dedicated the new Scottish Rite Temple, with Worel and Fanning conducting the ceremony.