Tag Archives: VA Volunteer Services

Sharing the Vision

04 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Caldwell NC July 4th Parade, Chapel Hill Knights of Columbus Assembly, Exemplification, Heroes Homecoming, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, Programs

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The Knights of the Fourth Degree are all members of a local council.  Their assembly is not senior to the council, but an adjunct to the council.  An assembly promotes all things patriotic in the council, church, and community.  We are the Patriotic Degree of our Order.  Learn more

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Knights at Holy Cross Church Mass

This is our mission and it has been our mission for over a hundred years.  We are “Religiously Devoted, Patriotically Proud.”

Our assemblies are in every state of the union and overseas in areas where our military serve or have served.

Assembly members are often also members of other patriotic and fraternal military service groups. Examples are: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled Veterans of America, American Legion, Fleet Reserve and others.  They know the importance of good citizenship, service to our country, and demonstration of our patriotism as Catholic Gentlemen.  

This past year has been a busy one for many of them.  Here are some of their accomplishments:

  • Raised well over $4,500 on Veterans Day 2012 for hospitalized amputees at Camp Lejeune and Ft. Bragg..
  • Visited and entertained hospitalized veterans in hospice and pallative care at the Durham VA Medical Center.
  • Worked with UNC Chapel Hill to collect food for homeless veterans.
  • Provided information to veterans and their families on VA medical care.
  • Provided assistance to veterans with VA disability claims.
  • Provided funeral honors for deceased knights and area priests.
  • Provide honor guards to St. Thomas More Church, as requested.
  • Serve as Honor Guard for Bishop Burbridge’s ceremonials
  • Raised thousands of dollars passing out VFW Buddy Poppies to assist hospitalized veterans and fund in-hospital social events; restore a Carrboro veteran’s home and replace his roof, and assisted returning veterans in need.
  • Assisted an injured and convalescing 92 year-old veteran with home repair needs and arranged for no-cost metal stairwell railings for his home exterior walkways.
  • Led community parades in Rougemont, Timberlake, and Providence, North Carolina.
  • Led the Caldwell, NC, July 4th Parade in full regalia for the last seven years.
  • Raised funds for and obtained the Baptist Health Ministry mobile health and dental care centers for our local Spanish-speaking families.
  • Personally funded programs, events, and services to ensure those in need were served.
  • Promoted Good Citizenship in our Catholic and community schools.
  • Provided household goods, food, services and transportation to brother knights and members of our church and community in need.
  • Provided pig picking equipment, service, and personal time for church events, picnics, and fundraising.
  • Served on church committees and led elements of our new church building campaigns, including design, construction and dedication.
  • Served as leaders in local civic, professional, and military service organizations.
  • Cleaned Highways in Orange County

This list goes on, and on, and on.  In fact, their humility is such that many of their deeds go unrecorded.  What they do is not about them.  It has to do with service to others.

Eighty plus men form our Divine Mercy Assembly.  They are the leaders in our church.  All will be life-long members of our Order.  They are the very heart of the Knights of Columbus.

There are 20 million new Catholics in America.  I would like to think that our Knights of the Fourth Degree motivated quite a few converts through their selfless acts of faith.

How about you?   Why not consider joining these men?  There is no better expression of service than to be a role model for your children and family.  We’ll give you the opportunity to do great things for others.

For information, contact Joe Acciarito our Faithful Navigator.  Email Joe

Serving Our VA Hospital Vets

15 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in Durham VAMC, Veterans Day

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As we celebrate Veterans Day this year, we are asked to recommit ourselves to the Principal of “Patriotism“, the Principal of the Fourth Degree. The Order needs you, Sir Knights, and our Veterans need you!

Here’s a message from Thomas DuPree, North Carolina District VAVS Representative VA. “When our country needed them our veterans answered the call to serve. Now Members of the Knights of Columbus are being called to serve our veterans through our program: Serving Those Who Served.

Our goal is to have an active corp of Knights serving as Volunteers at EVERY Veteran’s Administration medical facility in the nation. We do this thru the VAVS Program- Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service. The VAVS is one of the largest volunteer programs in the Federal government.

There were 139,383 volunteers on the rolls during FY 2012, with 83,648 active VAVS volunteers contributing a total of 12,207,443 hours. The FY 2012 total VAVS hours equate to 5,869 full-time employee equivalent positions. The current monetary value of the 12,207,443 hours from all VAVS volunteers is over $266 million based on the 2011 Independent Sector’s formula of $21.79 per hour. VAVS volunteers and their organizations contributed over $87 million in gifts and donations in FY 2012 for a total value of $354.6 million in volunteer giving.

It is impossible to calculate the amount of caring and sharing that these VAVS volunteers provide to Veteran patients. VAVS volunteers are a priceless asset to the Nation’s Veterans and to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

QUESTION? Have you done your part in serving our Veterans? The possibilities are limited ONLY by the imagination and the needs of the veterans. PLEASE contact me for opportunities! Email me or call me at 919-577-6901.”