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CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2020 43
Surreal Time n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
Lodge 7 members feel America’s greatness during Trump’s RNC speech at the White House
This view of history presented an American flags posted everywhere full frontal of the White House balcony over- looking the South Lawn and that imperial staircase Donald and Melania would soon descend for the culmination of the Republican National Convention. Seated among the 2,000 or so select VIPs invited to witness the next Make America Great crescendo, members of Chicago Lodge 7 braced for an emotional liftoff.
As the president and first lady began their approach, the moment triggered visions of Washington and Lincoln, Ron- ald Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt gracing these very grounds. Lodge 7 President John Catanzara fixated on the balcony windows where so many who have affected humanity and made America great shared a view of the world.
“Surreal seems like such a trite adjective to use,” explained Catanzara, who was part of the Lodge 7 contingent invited to join the National FOP delegation at the White House for this historic night. “So many thoughts and emotions to pinpoint a sentence or two. It was humbling to be included in that environment to begin with, and walking around the grounds was inspiring and a little emotional.”
“Dreamlike” defines the experience Catanzara, Lodge 7 Trustee David DiSanti, member Ammie Kessem, the staunch Republican who serves as 41st ward committeeman, and Lieutenant Tom Cronin shared representing the Lodge at
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Lodge 7 President John Catanzara (right) shows his support for the president alongside Trustee David DiSanti at the White House on the final night of the Republican National Convention.