In a heartwarming and unexpected turn of events at the Warren County Supervisors Meeting on October 18, 2022, the local Masonic Lodge bestowed its prestigious Community Builders Award upon Lieutenant Robert “Robbie” Anthony Seal. The ceremony unfolded during the Public Comment Period at the Warren County Government Center, leaving an indelible mark on the community.
Worshipful Master Will Bryan, accompanied by six fellow Masons, approached the podium, where Lieutenant Robbie Seal stood guard at the entrance. The room buzzed with anticipation as Will Bryan invited Robbie to join him, surprising the dedicated public servant who had dedicated 38 years to the community.
Reading from the award, signed by the Grand Master of Virginia, Will Bryan conveyed the heartfelt sentiments of the Masonic Lodge: “The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Virginia Community Builders Award Presented to Lieutenant Robert Anthony Seal In Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Community.” The award recognized Robbie’s significant efforts in making the community a better place to live.
A firm handshake and applause followed, setting the stage for Sheriff Mark Butler to step forward and request Robbie to share a few words. Robbie, initially humbled and visibly moved, expressed his gratitude but found himself speechless. After over three decades of public service, he acknowledged the countless individuals who contributed to the community’s betterment, emphasizing that the award belonged to many.
In a surprising twist, Robbie redirected the spotlight to Sheriff Mark Butler, crediting him for having a shared vision and using the powerful two-letter word, “We.” Robbie’s humility and dedication to service resonated with the audience, leaving an indelible mark on the evening.
Despite cutting his speech short to resume his post at the door, Robbie took a moment to thank the Masons, recognizing their own significant contributions to the community. Worshipful Master Will Bryan later expressed his appreciation for Robbie on Facebook, a sentiment echoed by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, who congratulated Lieutenant Robbie Seal on his remarkable 38-year journey of giving back to the community.
In my masonic career we have had some great moments and we can add surprising Lt. Robbie Seal with this year’s community builders award for all he does for our community. So if you see Lt. Seal please congratulate him on such a well deserved honor.
Worshipful Will Bryan, Facebook October 18, 2022
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office would like to congratulate Lt. Robbie Seal for receiving the Community Builders Award from the Unity Masonic Lodge No. 146 at the Board of Supervisors meeting tonight. This is a well deserved award for an individual that has spent over 38 years giving back the community.
Warren County Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Facebook October 18, 2022
In honoring Lieutenant Robbie Seal, the Masonic Lodge not only celebrated an individual but also highlighted the power of collective efforts and the profound impact of selfless service on a community. The award served as a reminder that building a better place to live requires the dedication and collaboration of many, a sentiment that Robbie Seal has exemplified throughout his admirable career.
In its entirety, here is Robbies speech after the madam Chair acknowledged that he didn’t get a heart attack with the surprise as he took to the podium.
That is an understatement. I am totally speechless, and that is a statement in and of itself. Never in my wildest dream… to me I am uncomfortable rite now. I’d rather be at my post rite there at that doorway where I can greet people walking in, obviously let them know about the process about what our board of supervisors does at their meetings. Wow. I am humbled, I am totally humbled by this unexpected award.
For all the years I have been doing this, working on 38 years in public service, and its still not old. That says something about my passion to continue to serve in this community. I have to say this – This may have my name on it, but it has hundreds of peoples names on it that are well deserving and should be along with my name as well for what I’ve done in 38 years of working with people to make our community a better place.
If anybody deserves this award tonight, its the man that brought me aboard with a vision to make our community a whole, to build partnerships. To use a simple word that really touched home with me and taking me from the Front Royal police department as their committee police officer to be a community guy for the whole county, this great sales pitch. But he used two… a little word, that means everything, and its the word “We”.
And I’m talking about our own sheriff, Sheriff Butler. Coming into office with a vision, much like my vision, on how to make this community a better place and building these partnerships with our government leaders, with our businesses, with our organizations, and with the citizens as a whole to work on a common goal of what we want to do to make our lives better – the quality of our lives that much better.
I’m going to cut it short because we have a meeting. I got to get back to my post. To our masonic lodge, thank you gentlemen so much for this. Again, unexpected. I know you do so much for the community as well. I’m very humbled by this. Thank you everybody for this.
Lieutenant Robert “Robbie” Anthony Seal, Warren County Board of Supervisors Meeting, October 18, 2022 during the Public Comment Period.
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Virginia Community Builders Award Presented to Lieutenant Robert Anthony Seal In Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Community, This Award is Given and Heartfelt Gratitude is Expressed For Significant Efforts Toward making the Community A Better Place in Which to Live.
Presented by: Unity Lodge No. 146 signed by Worshipful Master Will Bryan, August 24, 2022 and signed by the Grand Secretary and Grand Master.
Unity Lodge No. 146 
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