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President Fliehman rang the Rotary bell to begin this week’s meeting. This day was our clubs 91st annual Loftus Day, where we honor our past Rotarians who are no longer with us. It is a unique and important part or our club’s history and culture. Rich Schaberg as Chairman of the Loftus Day Committee gave our invocation and the club sang God Bless America. Barb Whitney moved the microphone around the room for guest and visiting Rotarians, including Debbie Harrison, Michael G. Harrison’s spouse. President Fliehman then started the Lansing Center portion of our program by announcing John Grettenberger, Sr. would be eulogizing Michael G. Harrison and Irv Nichols would be eulogizing “Don Hines”, after a moment of confusion by the club, President Fliehman corrected his error and announced Irv Nichols would instead eulogize Ed McRee in place of Don Hines. I am certain that Don is relieved to know his unexpected absence from today’s meeting is in fact only a temporary absence. Welcome back Don, see you soon! John Grettenberger, Sr. focused on Michael Harrison as his close friend, neighborhood walking partner and confidant over many years of living next door to each other. John remarked that Michael always lived as a man who followed the rules and treated everyone he encountered with fairness and respect. Michael was a man who accepted both the good and bad that life has to offer. He accepted his Alzheimer’s diagnosis and moved forward in order to enjoy what life had to offer rather than complain about his circumstances. John noted that Michael did not embrace technology and never owned a cell phone or had cable TV in his den, this was a blessing for John, because Michael and Debbie would spend time at John’s home when Michael wanted to watch a football or basketball game. John requested that the club stand to acknowledge Debbie all she has done with and for Michael during his life, including being his caregiver over the three years Michael battled Alzheimer’s. Debbie thanked the club and noted that over the years Michael relished his time at Rotary, especially our weekly music. Next, Irv Nichols spoke about Ed McRee, who arrived in the Lansing area in 1957 about the same time Irv moved to the area. Irv noted that Ed was known by his first name by everyone who worked at Ingham Medical Center where he served as President of the organization. Also of note, it was Ed who as President our club in 1998, commenced the weekly special music at our meetings and which we are still enjoying to this day and hopefully forever as part of our club’s weekly meetings. After a moment of silence for Michael and Ed, President Fliehman closed the meeting and sent us out to spend a few moments placing flowers and remembering our past Rotarians at their resting places in our community.  Thank you Pat Munshaw for the picture "Loftus Day at Deepdale Cemetery" |
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