Last year, in honor of Veteran’s Day, Our Lady of the Angels Province JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) Chairman, Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. published a reflection on the Seraphicum’s website entitled “A Song of Hopefulness for Veterans & Members of the Armed Forces.” Follow the link, if you would like to take a moment to read it, as we prepare to celebrate Veteran’s Day 2020.
Within the reflections he included this stanza from the “Navy Hymn” added in 1969/70:

Creator, Father, who first breathed
In us the life that we received,
By power of thy breath restore
The ill, and men with wounds of war.
Bless those who give their healing care,
That life and laughter all may share.

Friar Santo ~ a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom

Many of our friars have served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces. A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Fr. Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv. (at left) is in the Reserves and currently provinces counseling services for the Jonesboro, GA area through an office in our pastoral ministry of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, where he was known as Corporal Kenneth Lucas of the US Marine Corp, Br. Ken Lucas, OFM Conv. still stays involved in Veteran Affairs, as he stated in his recent Spiritual Testament posted on this site on November 5, 2019 (click the link in his name).
There are a number of other friars of our province who are also veterans, including Br. Douglas McMillan, OFM Conv. (in residence, spiritually contributing to events and presentations at The Shrine of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, MD), Fr. Curt Kreml, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar – St. Lucie Catholic Church, Port St. Lucie, FL), Fr. Anthony Francis Spilka, OFM Conv. (Pastor – St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Johnstown, PA), and Br. Dennis Sokolowski, OFM Conv. (in residence at the Our Lady of the Angels Care Center, Enfield, CT).