The Patriot A Michael J. Sabella Assembly Newsletter Volume 14 / Issue 1 / Month - Aug, 2016 www. Kofcknights.org/?A=2417 Faithful Navigators Message: The Knights of Columbus is a group of Catholic gentlemen who, along with their families, friends and fellow parishioners, strive to put into action our faith as we practice the principles of Charity, Unity, Frater-nity and Patriotism. We seek to support and enhance our families, our parish and our community through these efforts. We of the order of the Fourth degree by our District Master have adopted this theme: “Being a 4th Degree Sir Knight is not about the Title, it is about the Honor”. Pray for your persecuted Christian Brothers and Sisters. Also see ‘News and Announcements’ on our website on Persecution.

The Assumption of our Blessed Mary St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of Chalcedon (451), made known to the Emperor Marcian and Pulcheria, who wished to possess the body of the Mother of God, that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened, upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven . Today, the belief in the corporeal assumption of Mary is universal in the East and in the West; according to Benedict XIV (De Festis B.V.M., I, viii, 18) it is a probable opinion, which to deny were impious and blasphemous. Some Catholic parishes do not celebrate the Assumption, because it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, however, St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville did celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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Index

Navigator Message 1 Events/Meetings 2 War Heroes 3, 4 Navigator Closing 5 Minutes of Meeting 5

Assembly 2417

Serving Sir Knights From Councils

7406, 10389, 12654

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AUGUST EVENTS & MEETINGS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

St. Therese Catholic Church-Mooresville 4th Degree Meeting When: August 15, 2016

Time: 6:15 pm To be held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin will be the meeting. Next meeting in September will be at

St. Mark Catholic Church On September 24.2016 ======================================================================= ======================================================================

St. Mark Catholic Church-Huntersville Assumption of our Blessed Virgin Mary

When: August 15, 2016 Mass Time: 7:00 pm

Assemble Time: 6:15 pm Sir Knights are requested to be in Regalia for the Color Guard Procession

All Color Guard Commanders, Faithful Navigators and Past Faithful Navigators are expected to attend.

All Sir Knights who are not in the Color Guard Procession, are requested to be in Tuxedo and Social Baldric w/Name Badge.

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In Attendance 12 Sir Knights were in Regalia

2 Purple-Color Guard Commanders 2 White– Past & Present Faithful Navigators

8 Red.. Color Guard Sir Knights 4 Sir Knights were in Tuxedo and Social Baldric

The event was absolutely marvelous It is by far, one of the best Regalia events we have been asked to attend

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The President of the United States

in the name of The Congress

takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

to

Bacon, Nicky Daniel “Nick”

Nicky Daniel "Nick" Bacon (November 25, 1945 – July 17, 2010) was a United States Army first sergeant from the Ameri-can Division who served during the Vietnam War. For his actions in combat in Tam Ky, Vietnam, Bacon was awarded America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Early life

Bacon was born in Caraway, Arkansas, on November 25, 1945, one of nine children. His parents, Johno and Beta Imogene "Jean" (Meadows) Bacon, were sharecroppers on a cotton farm. His siblings were sisters Jenny, Brenda, Judy, Hope, and Wanda and brothers Doyle, Johno Jr., and Andy. In 1951, a poor farming economy prompted the family to move to Glendale, Arizona, where Johno Bacon's parents lived. Nicky Bacon grew up driving tractors and picking cotton on the ranch where his father worked. He dropped out of Peoria High School to work full-time to support the family when his father contracted polio, although he later earned a GED. "I hated picking cotton and that other stuff," he later said. "I've done my share of it. And I'll guarantee you one thing: I've never, ever went back to it once I was old enough to hold a man's job.

Military service

In 1963, at age 17, Bacon forged his mother's signature to enlist in the Arizona National Guard. The next year, he joined the US Army, and after basic training at Fort Ord in California, he was stationed in Worms, Germany. Of his military service Bacon later said, "I was never prouder, I was never in better shape, I was never more sure that I stood for something in my life than I was when I wore the uniform." He served his first tour of Vietnam in 1966 during which he was wounded three times. On his first mission in Vietnam, the helicopter he was riding in collided with another, killing everyone except Bacon and one other soldier.

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Bacon volunteered to serve a second combat tour in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He reached the rank of staff sergeant while serving with Company B, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade of the American Division. On August 26, 1968, while leading a squad in Bravo Company's 1st Platoon, in an operation west of Tam Kỳ, Bacon and his unit came under fire from enemy positions. While Bacon destroyed these positions with hand grenades, his platoon leader was wounded in open ground. Assuming command, Bacon led the platoon in destroying still more enemy emplacements. When the 3rd Platoon lost its leader, Bacon took command of that platoon as well and led both platoons against the remaining enemy positions. During the evacuation of the wounded, Bacon climbed the side of a nearby tank to gain a vantage point and direct fire into enemy positions, despite his exposure to enemy fire. "I got my boot heel shot off, I got holes in my canteens, I got my rifle grip shot up," he recalled in "Beyond Glory," a 2003 book by Larry Smith of history interviews with Medal of Honor recipi-ents. "I got shrapnel holes in my camouflage covers, and bullets in my pot. A bullet creased the edge of it, tore the lining off." He was personally credited with killing at least 4 enemy soldiers and destroying an anti-tank gun. For his actions in this battle, Bacon received the Medal of Honor. The medal was formally presented to him by Presi-dent Richard Nixon during a 1969 White House ceremony. For his service in Vietnam and throughout his career, he also received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Heartmedals (one awarded later in 2008 due to an administrative oversight) and numerous other awards and decorations. "Did I enjoy combat? Yeah. I enjoyed the game," Bacon said in the "Beyond Glory" interview. "I was good at it." Bacon requested a third tour of duty in Vietnam but was denied. He instead served as a recruiter at Fort Hood, Texas, was sta-tioned in Giessen, Germany, and worked in the training command at Fort McClellan, Alabama, before retiring in June 1984 as a first sergeant. He chose to retire from the military when he received orders to go to Korea. He was newly married to his second wife and had a young son. "When I was young, it was fun traveling and having new adventures," he told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 1997. "But I didn't want to start over again with raising a family back home and being halfway around the world my-self. As you get older, you would like to think of yourself as tough and that you could still strap it all on and head for the boonies, but you can't do that . . . Wars are fought by young men."

Later Years Bacon died on the morning of July 17, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. He was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from the state of Arkansas. His widow Tamera remembered him above all as a man of faith. "In life Nick was faced with a lot of battles," she said, "whether fighting in Vietnam, fighting for our veterans, fighting for this small town or fighting cancer. Through all these battles Nick’s strength was his relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ."His brother John remembered his humility and friendliness. "He was very humble and he accepted the roles," John Bacon said. "I was impressed so many times going to ban-quets with dignitaries and politicians. It didn't affect him in the least. He was as comfortable with a person on the street as he was with George W. Bush." Likewise, his nephew, Surprise police Lieutenant John Bacon, stated that Bacon "was very humble and unassuming. He was a leader in a very quiet way but he wasn't afraid to speak out when he needed to."[11] Arkansas Gover-nor Mike Beebe referred to Bacon as an "American hero" and stated "He never wanted anything for himself, but always wanted to protect other people in uniform. Arkansas will miss him."Bacon's burial took place with full military honors at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock on July 24.

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Faithful Navigator’s Closing Message: In Closing, God Bless America, God Bless our Men & Women who are serving our Great County, the United States of America and God Bless you, my brothers.

Vivat Jesus,

SK Paul T. Britton, FN The Michael J. Sabella Assembly, 2417 Serving Sir Knights from Councils 7406, 10389 and 12654 ptbbei@aol.com 704 660-6830…...R 941 587-0440…...C

Minutes of the Meeting August 15, 2016

St. Therese meeting held at at St. Mark in Hunterville No meeting held due to Celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Next meeting to be held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Hunterville On September 24, 2016

Vivat Jesus, SK Dan Szajko, Faithful Scribe Michael J. Sabella Assembly, 2417

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