The composer of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” The man who planned Abraham Lincoln’s funeral and finished the Capitol Dome. A principal chief of the Choctaw Nation. All three rest at Historic Congressional Cemetery on Capitol Hill, and all three were Freemasons.
More than 1,400 Freemasons are memorialized at Congressional Cemetery. Their headstones carry symbols most visitors walk past without noticing, but have deep meaning to Masons.
On Saturday, December 5, from 10:00 AM to noon, the D.C. Freemasons and Historic Congressional Cemetery invite the public to celebrate Freemason history and legacy. The event will include:
- A program with speakers and the rarely seen Masonic funeral rite, one of the few Masonic secret rites ever performed in public. Attendees will see an emulation of the graveside service many of the men buried here received.
- New signage. Markers explaining the symbols and stories in the Masonic Section will be unveiled.
- A walking tour of the graves of notable Masons, including:
- John Philip Sousa, the “March King,” composer of “Semper Fidelis” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” and a member of Hiram Lodge No. 10
- Benjamin Brown French, who served under 12 presidential administrations, was chief marshal at Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration, planned Lincoln’s funeral and oversaw completion of the Capitol Dome
- Peter P. Pitchlynn, principal chief of the Choctaw Nation, who received his Masonic degrees alongside Sam Houston
The event is free and open to the public. It’s a rare chance to see a Masonic tradition up close and to learn the stories behind one of Capitol Hill’s most historic burial grounds.
When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10:00 AM to noon (starts promptly)
Where: Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St SE, Washington, DC 20003
RSVP: https://events.naval-lodge.org/event.php?ID=10710
Background and bios: https://freemasons.congressionalcemetery.org
