Veterans Affairs Chairman

January 2025

NEW! IN-VET1 Warriors & Chaplains HERE | IN-VET2 Military Bio Template HERE  DOG TAG FORM

Brother Knights,

Trust you all enjoyed the Christmas season, wishing you all a healthy and spiritually motivating New Year.

In December’s Newsletter our Veteran Affairs Working Group highlighted recent presentations of Mass Kits and Father Kapaun Books to Indiana Military Chaplains. In this newsletter I have included the full list (see below) of Chaplains we have completed presentations and those still on our “to-do list”. We are always in search of Chaplains we may not be aware of and based in Indiana, so if you have knowledge of those active and not listed, please contact the undersigned.

Our Dog Tag Project continues to capture interest and has generated in excess of $3,000.00 in funds to support our programs. Attached is the order form to bring to your next Council or Assembly meeting. The Dog Tags are great way to bring visibility within your parish and community for the work we do and the Order!

Speaking of programs, please don’t hesitate to submit a motion at your next meeting as we begin the new year for Warriors to Lourdes/Military Chaplains/Seminarian Scholarship fund. We continue to honor those who served and serve throughout the year.

 4 CHAPLAINS:   Have you ever talked about the “4 Chaplains” during a Council Meeting in January or February??

As is well known by many Knights, February 3 is “Four Chaplains Day” in the USA. This day commemorates the events of February 3, 1943, when the troop ship USAT Dorchester was torpedoed by a German U-Boat and sank in the North Atlantic. On board were 4 Military Chaplains of different Faiths, and about 900 others (military soldiers/ civilian crew) as a part of convoy of three ships heading to Greenland.   These four Chaplains made the ultimate sacrifice to help save the lives of many of their fellow soldiers in need (only 230 survived the sinking) – truly one of World War II’s most enduring stories of Faith & Heroism.  Father (1LT) John P. Washington was the Catholic Priest/ Military Chaplain on board – ordained as a Priest in 1935 in New Jersey, and joining the Army in May 1942.  There have been many, many tributes to these 4 Military Chaplains in the years since they perished heroically with the USAT Dorchester – including this 1948 US postage stamp.   Planning ahead- February is good month to include the “4 Chaplains” in your meeting.

Thank you for your continued support, we sincerely thank all our Veterans for your sacrifices and service in keeping our Country safe and free!

Vivat Jesus,

Gerald "Jerry" Bromley
Indiana State Council - Knights of Columbus
Indiana Veterans Affair Chairman
veteransaffairs@indianakofc.org
Vivat Jesus