Worthy Sir Knights of Assembly 2282,
It is with great pride and sincere appreciation that I congratulate
you on being selected as the recipient of the
To Be a Patriot Award
for fraternal year 2025–2026 for your outstanding program,
“Boots for Vets.”
This recognition is a tremendous accomplishment and is a reflection
of the dedication, creativity, and commitment demonstrated by the
Sir Knights of Assembly 2282.
The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree is known as the patriotic
degree of our Order, and the To Be a Patriot program exists to
recognize those Assemblies that demonstrate their love of country
through meaningful patriotic activities and service. The Supreme
Council describes the program as an opportunity to recognize
programs that combine our Catholic heritage with our love of country.
“Boots for Vets” embodies that mission.
Our veterans answered the call to serve our nation. They raised their
right hands, took an oath, and willingly accepted the responsibility
and sacrifice that came with defending the freedoms we enjoy today.
Through your program, the Sir Knights of Assembly 2282 have found a
meaningful way to honor that service and demonstrate that their
sacrifices have not been forgotten.
The To Be a Patriot program looks at more than simply the size or
visibility of a project. It considers whether a program truly
exemplifies patriotism, the participation of Assembly members, the
benefit to the broader community, the originality of the activity,
and its overall effectiveness.
By those measures, Boots for Vets clearly distinguished itself.
Your program demonstrates that patriotism is more than displaying the
flag or standing for the National Anthem. Patriotism is an action.
It is remembering those who served. It is recognizing their
sacrifices. And it is finding ways to stand beside our veterans long
after their military service has ended. That is precisely the kind of
patriotism that the Fourth Degree should represent.
I also want to recognize every Sir Knight, family member, volunteer,
and supporter who contributed to making Boots for Vets successful.
Awards such as this one may carry the name of an Assembly, but they
are ultimately earned through the collective efforts of many people
who are willing to give their time, talent, and resources in service
to others. Assembly 2282 should be proud of what you have accomplished.
You have not simply completed a successful program.
You have demonstrated the very best of what it means to be a
Sir Knight —
men of faith, men of service, and men who love their country.
On behalf of the Fourth Degree and the Knights of Columbus, thank you
for answering the call to serve our veterans and for providing an
example for other Assemblies to follow. I look forward to having the
opportunity to present the award to your Assembly in the near future.
In the meantime, I am sending copies of the Supreme Knight’s
Award Session in which your program was honored.
Congratulations again to the Sir Knights of
Assembly 2282 on this well-deserved
To Be a Patriot Award
for Boots for Vets.
May God continue to bless your Assembly, your families, our veterans,
and this great country that we are privileged to call home.
✝
Chris Losack
Master of the Fourth Degree
North Carolina District
DeSoto Province