Today, I finally achieved a milestone with the Knights of Columbus that I've been trying to complete for nearly 20 years: Fourth Degree! For the first time, I'd found a location where I wanted to attend the Exemplification, paid my money and it had actually not been canceled - usually, something has derailed my plans... As if it was some kind of "insurance", I had a fellow Knight, Bert, who'd offered to sponsor me - he even offered to drive today! I was awake early (0545) and Bert stopped at my place at 0745. We then drove (via I-91, US-302 and NH-116) to Whitefield. It was misty and cool but there was almost no traffic at all. We arrived at St. Matthew's Catholic Church by 0945 and I spent the next hour checking in for the event and visiting with some of the other candidates (there were 22!). A luncheon started at 1100 and the food was good. At 1215, all of the candidates were taken to a different room for training. The Exemplification Event began at 1230 and lasted until around 1430. After that, I was a Fourth Degree "Sir Knight"! The sun had come out while we'd been inside and, since we had to kill time (until Mass started later), Bert and I walked around in the Whitefield town square. I also checked out a deli nearby and then explored some of the cemetery stones in the church graveyard. There were several Revolutionary War veterans buried there but two, more interesting, stones caught my eye: two young men from the town died in Fairfax County, Virginia, within a few days in January 1862. I wondered if finding out more about this might make an interesting research project. At 1545, I joined a Rosary taking place in the church. At 1600, a special Mass (for the Fourth Degree) began. The Priest gave an excellent Homily about a Nazi who converted prior to his execution. When the service was over, we all adjourned to the Parish Hall for a banquet and award ceremony. Again, the food was good and the speeches were short. By 1830, Bert and I were able to leave. We drove home via the reverse route from the morning (NH-116, US-302 and I-91) and arrived at my condo by 2000. Feeling good about getting this done!
