TUSCALOOSA ASSEMBLY 2527

CIVIC AWARD

CIVIC AWARD - "for outstanding implementation of patriotic programming faithful to the principles of the 4th Degreeof the Knights of Columbus."

• "Wear the Flag on the 4th of July" - On the 4th of July we celebrate the birth of our Nation. The flag is the symbol of our country. Knights from our assembly passed out to the community small adhesive falgs on the 4th of July and asked the individuals to wear them for the day. The flag acted as a reminder (to themselves and the people who saw them) of the meaning of the Holiday. Over 150 flags were distributed.
• "Patriotic Quiz Contest" - Knights from our assembly assembled a quiz of 50 questions about the US Flag and US history. The Faithful Navigator presented the quiz to the Holy Spirit School Middle and High School students (grades 7 - 12) at their morning assembly. Students turnded in the quiz a few days later after taking time to research the answers. The quiz was graded and the winner was to be presented with a $100 US Savings Bond. Two students tied for 1st place, missing only 2 questions. The Faithful Navigator presented a $100 savings bond to each of the winners on November 11, Veteran's Day, at the school morning assembly in the school gym.
• "4th of July Family Picnic" - We celebrate the birth of our Nation on the 4th of July. Knights held a family picnic for Holy Spirit Parish to celebrate the day. Knights set up tables, volleyball nets, horseshoe stakes, and badminton sets. The crowd was hungry and the Knights cooked over 100 hot dogs and 10# of ribs. The clean up after the picnic was easy. Everyone had a great time.
• "Veteran's Mass" - On one Saturday each month, the parish priest travels to the Veteran's Hospital to offer mass for the patients and staff. A Knight assists by setting up the altar and preparing the Hospital Chapel for the mass.

• 1. "Wear the Flag on the 4th of July" - On the 4th of July we celebrate the birth of our nation. The flag is the symbol of our country. Knights from our assembly passed out to the community small adhesive flags on the 4th of July and asked the individuals to wear them for the day. The flag acted as a reminder (to themselves and the people who saw them) of the meaning of the Holiday. Approximately 43% of the Sir Knights of our Assembly participated in this project and about 950 flags were distributed.
• 2. "Patriotic Quiz Contest" - Knights from our assembly assembled a quiz of 50 questions about the US Flag and US history. The Faithful Navigator challenged the students at the 3 High Schools in area. Students turned in the quiz a few days later after taking time to research the answers. The quiz was graded and the winner at each High School was to be presented with a $100 savings bond. Two students tied for 1st place, at one High School and the Faithful Navigator presented both with a $100 savings bond. The Faithful Navigator presented $100 savings bond to the winners on November 11, Veteran's Day. At two of the High Schools the savings bonds were presented as a part of their Veteran's Day assembly. At the 3rd High School the savings bond was presented to the individual.
• 3. Presenting new United States Flag to Elementary School - At the end of the last school year members of our assembly noticed that the United States flag flown at the Elementary School was badly worn. Our Assembly contacted Alabama United States Senator Richard Shelby and ordered a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capital in Washington D.C. On Veterans' Day students in grades 3-6 assembled around the flagpole at Holy Spirit Elementary School. Our Assembly Honor Guard stood at attention while the school color guard (Boy Scouts) raised the new flag provided by our Assembly for the school. The principal was presented with a certificate of authenticity certifying that the flag had been flown over the United States Capital in Washington D.C.
• 4. New Flag Pole and United States Flag for High School - Construction of the new Holy Spirit High School had been completed for several years, but a flag pole had not been installed. Our assembly voted to donate and install a flagpole to Holy Spirit High School. Our Sir Knights installed the flagpole and organized a ceremony for its dedication and blessing on November 11, 1999, Veteran's Day. On Veterans' Day our Assembly Honor Guard assembled around the new flagpole in front of the High School. There, veterans, the Mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alvin DuPont, Probate Court Judge W. Hardy McCullum, Principal of Holy Spirit Elementary School Ana MacCrone, Principal of Holy Spirit Middle/High School Stephen Calabro, and were joined by the middle and high school students. Rev. Jerry Deasy blessed the flagpole and Faithful Navigator Harry Renfroe read a story about what it means to be a veteran. The School Color Guard raised the new flag while the 4th Degree Honor Guard led the assembled crowd in the singing of the Star Spangle Banner. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a reception was held in the lobby of the High School. Members of the local TV station and press covered the event. Video from the event was aired on the local TV news coverage of patriotic events celebrating Veterans' Day.

• "Wear the Flag on the 4th of July" - On the 4th of July we celebrate the birth of our nation. The flag is the symbol of our country. Knights from our assembly passed out to the community small adhesive flags on the 4th of July and asked the individuals to wear them for the day. The flags were also passed out after mass on the weekend before the 4th of July as preparation for the holiday. The flag acted as a reminder (to themselves and the people who saw them) of the meaning of the Holiday. Sir Knights of our Assembly distributed about 750 flag decals.
• "Patriotic Quiz Contest" - Knights from our assembly assembled a quiz of 50 questions about the US Flag and US history. The questions were selected from examples of questions used by the Immigration and Naturalization Service in preparing the Civics Exam, which applicants are required to pass before being considered eligible for U.S. Naturalization. The Faithful Navigator challenged the students at the Catholic High School in area. Students turned in the quiz a few days later after taking time to research the answers. The quiz was graded and the students with a perfect score were eligible for a drawing for a $100 U S savings bond. One hundred thirty-three students took the quiz. Twelve students made a perfect score and were eligible US savings bond drawing. The Faithful Navigator presented $100 savings bond to the winner at the High School's Veteran's Day celebration.
• Essay Contest - The Knights from our assembly held an essay contest for the graduating seniors at the Catholic High School in our area. The theme of the essay was "The Responsibility of the Catholic citizen in a free society." A kit with materials for the contest was provided by Knights of Columbus Supreme. 5 students completed the essay. The essays were judged by a high school faculty member, the Faithful Navigator and another Sir Knight. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place certificates were presented to the students with the top three scores. Certificates of merit were presented to other students participating. A $100 US savings bond was presented to the 1st place winner. The Faithful Navigator presented the certificates and savings bond at the High School awards ceremony. The ceremony was attended by all the students and parents.
• Avenue of Flags and new Flagpole and Flag - Displaying the flag is one of the ways to honor those men and women that have stepped forward in service to our country, and those that sacrificed their lives in order to preserve our freedom and defend our country. An avenue of flags is an impressive display of patriotism. Our assembly undertook a project to install an avenue of flags along the entrance road to the Church. On Saturday morning 7 of our members got together and placed stands for 20 flags in the ground along the church access road. The flags were displayed for the first time during the 3 days of Memorial Day weekend. In addition to the avenue of flags the men erected a 20ft. flagpole in front of the Knights of Columbus Hall used by our council and assembly.

• 1. "Wear the Flag on the 4th of July" - On the 4th of July we celebrate the birth of our nation. The flag is the symbol of our country. Knights from our assembly passed out to the community small adhesive flags on the 4th of July and asked the individuals to wear them for the day. The flags were also passed out after mass on the weekend before the 4th of July as preparation for the holiday. The flag acted as a reminder (to themselves and the people who saw them) of the meaning of the Holiday. Sir Knights of our Assembly distributed about 750 flag decals.
• 2. "Patriotic Quiz Contest" - Knights from our assembly assembled a quiz of 50 questions about the US Flag and US history. The questions were selected from examples of questions used by the Immigration and Naturalization Service in preparing the Civics Exam, which applicants are required to pass before being considered eligible for U.S. Naturalization. The Faithful Navigator challenged the students at the Catholic High School in area. Students turned in the quiz a few days later after taking time to research the answers. The quiz was graded and the students with a perfect score were eligible for a drawing for a $100 U S savings bond. One hundred thirty-three students took the quiz. Twelve students made a perfect score and were eligible US savings bond drawing. The Faithful Navigator presented $100 savings bond to the winner at the High School's Veteran's Day celebration.
• 3. Avenue of Flags and new Flagpole and Flag - Displaying the flag is one of the ways to honor those men and women that have stepped forward in service to our country, and those that sacrificed their lives in order to preserve our freedom and defend our country. An avenue of flags is an impressive display of patriotism. Last year our assembly installed an avenue of 20 flags along the entrance road to the Church. Our assembly displays the avenue of flags on patriotic holidays and for funerals of veterans.
• 4. After the September 11 terrorist attack on New York and the pentagon passed out over 2000 stick on US flag decals for people to wear of display. The assembly also flew the US flag on an avenue of flags along the access road to the church.