8 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HONORED 4TH-DEGREE MEMBERSHIP IS CATHOLIC GROUP'S TOP LEVEL.Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Often seen serving as honor guards, wearing elaborate capes and plumed hats at civic and religious functions such as the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. parade, weddings and funerals, fourth-degree Knights of Columbus Knights of Columbus, American Roman Catholic society for men, founded (1882) at New Haven, Conn. (where its headquarters are still located), by Father Michael J. McGivney. foster their patriotic spirit by displaying love and loyalty to their country. It's an honor not many Knights achieve, but eight members of the Santa Clarita Assembly were inducted in the fourth-degree level of the Knights of Columbus recently, during a ceremony attended by members from throughout Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, at the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa Costa Mesa (kŏs`tə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 96,357), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific south of Santa Ana; inc. 1953. It is a transportation, residential, and light industrial center. . Harold Bahrke, Edwin Bernard, Andrew Garcia, Jerry Garcia, (Jerome John) Jerry (1942– ) band leader, guitarist, songwriter; born in San Francisco. Son of a Spanish immigrant who became a band leader popular in the San Francisco area, he studied piano as a boy but turned to the guitar in his teens. Gladbach, Robert Hamilton, Mark Maynez, Gary Vegara and Richard Yamauchi were honored at the ceremony. There are 265,000 Knights of the fourth degree worldwide. ``It's a major honor. On a scale of one to 10, it's a 10,'' Gladbach said. ``All the talk about patriotism during the ceremony brought tears to my eyes. It was very touching.'' In order to receive the fourth-degree status, a Knights of Columbus member must prove himself as a patriot, serve well as a member of the third degree and be sponsored by a fourth-degree member, Gladbach said. ``It's the highest degree in the Knights of Columbus, also known as the patriotic degree,'' Gladbach said. ``It recognizes a member's commitment to his country.'' The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization founded in 1882 for Catholic men. Its purpose is to foster brotherhood and patriotism. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Santa Clarita's newest fourth-degree Knights of Columbus are: first row, from left, Harold Bahrke, Mark Maynez, Gary Vegara, Edwin Bernard; second row, Jerry Gladbach, Robert Hamilton, Andrew Garcia and Richard Yamauchi. |
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