MOUNT VERNON — Over 300 guests were present for the grand opening ceremony of the Ohio Eastern Star Home Glenn A. Gallagher Centre on Sunday. The occasion began with a ribbon cutting, followed by a special blessing by Grand Chaplain Janet Sheehan and a special selection, “Bless this Place,” sung by Jodi Sproul.
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The Gallagher center project was made possible by a donation from OES member Iris Gallagher in memory of her husband, Glenn A. Gallagher, as well as countless contributions from local and state, benefactors and supporters.
“I love this center from top to bottom,” said Paul Gallagher, son of Glenn and Iris Gallagher. “My mother was the one who really pushed this. She has been gone for five years and she was the one that kept saying you’ve got to see this through.”
Gallagher said he knows his mother would have been very proud of the new facility.
“My dad would have been shocked that a building was named after him, but after he thought about it for a while, he would have been very proud of it,” said Gallagher. “[My father] was worthy grand patron for the state of Ohio in 1968 and that’s why my mother wanted this building in memory of him. ... I’m so happy and thrilled to see this completed. And this is such a beautiful day to have a dedication.”
Many guests complimented on the new center, which includes a 350-seating capacity multipurpose room, a rehabilitation and therapy center, classrooms and meeting space, lodge and chapter community room of the Mount Vernon Masonic bodies, a small dinning room, serving area, lobby, restroom and a resident-connecting corridor.
kenesha.beheler@mountvernonnews.com
