Veterans Day is dedicated to American veterans of all wars, celebrated on November 11th each year. This date was chosen because, in 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.” Originally commemorated as Armistice Day, and becoming a federal holiday, in 1938, in the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day.
Many of our friars have served in the Armed Forces. A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Fr. Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv. currently serves the province as Guardian of the St. Philip Benizi Friary, assisting the parish with priestly ministry, while provides counseling services for the Jonesboro, GA area through an office in our pastoral ministry of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church. [Pictured here, in October 2005, Chaplain Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv. gave his first Mass in French at a Catholic Mission in Arta, Djibouti. He was requested to assist in a shortage of priests in the area by the Catholic Bishop of Somalia.
- Br. Dennis Sokolowski, OFM Conv.
- Fr. Anthony Francis Spilka, OFM Conv.
- Br. Douglas McMillan, OFM Conv.
- Fr. Curt Kreml, OFM Conv.
- Fr. Tom Lavin, OFM Conv.
- Fr. Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv.
- Br. Lawrence LaFlame, OFM Conv.
- Fr. Andy Santamauro, OFM Conv.
Excerpt from the “Navy Hymn”
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.
