Bethlehem Masonic Lodge celebrates first responders in Valencia County

BELEN — The Bethlehem Masonic Lodge No. 56, in Belen, decided to raise funds to celebrate our local first responders.

Under the leadership of our Worshipful Master, Worshipful Brother Larry Lindberg, and the chairman for the raffle, Brother Candido Mohedano, the lodge started the raffle last summer, offering chances to win one of three major meat packages from Sam’s Butcher Block in Bosque Farms. The lodge sold chances all around the area, resulting in raising enough funds to provide a first-class dinner, framed certificates of appreciation and gift cards for the first responders selected by their peers in Rio Communities and Belen, New Mexico State Police and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office.

Those recognized were Belen police officer Elizabeth Keller, Rio Communities police officer Jose Rodriguez, Belen Fire Department EMT Juan Villa, Belen Assistant Chief EMS Ariel Esquibel and Rio Communities firefighter Kendal Good.

The lodge invited each unit to identify a standout performer selected by their peers to attend the dinner at the Masonic Lodge at the beginning of December, where they honored the recipients and their colleagues, just in time for Christmas.

The three winners of the raffle were all local residents, and none were members of the Masonic family. Everyone had a great time, thanks to the support of our Order of the Eastern Star members and our Worthy Matron, Sister Kathryn Jost.

The lodge plans to continue this tradition next year expanding the program to include our first responders in Los Lunas, Peralta and Bosque Farms.