The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-19
Sheridan Council Sent 400 With COIOrs-LOcal "Kaceys" Establish Outstanding Record with
 A. E. F. on All Fronts

The war activities of the Knights of Columbus with special refer ence to parts played by Water burians and the Seeing Him Through" program of the or ganization since the signing of the armistice was impressively, as well as instructively, described last evening by Major Thomas J. Bannigan. Speaking over Station WATR as a featured presentation of Sheridan Council of this city, the popular manager of the U. s. Veterans hospital at NeWing- ton, reviewed national and local achievements, touching on the highlights that have linked the knights with veterans since 1916. He concluded his magnificent ad- dress with an appeal for Ameri- cans to fight on, live on; be true Christian people in the spirit of Christ and of Washington, Lin- coin and Lee.
 Major Bannigan's address in part was as follows:
 First, I wish to bring to you members of the Knights of Co., lumbus, the greetings of your con- rade patients at the United States Veterans hospital in NeWington, whom you served so well during the World war. and are continuing to serve almost twenty years af- ter. and to express their appre- citation for your continued inter- est and helpfulness in their behalf. I feel that our mutual and joint consideration, of the problems of our disabled war caSuals, are best solved in the wonderful coopera- tion that has prevailed between the Knights of Columbus, our vet erans and civic organizations and the public in general.
 Experiences
 When my good K. of c. friends in Waterbury, "Neil' Maloney and "Bill' Harrington, extended the in- vitation to me to address you, I pondered upon a subject which would be interesting, and one on which I would be qualified to speak. One usually likes to rely upon his experience, around which to weave his remarks, and of all my diversified activities the pres ent field of work, in which l have been engaged since the Armistice, is to me the most ap- pealing, namely caring for dis abled veterans of the World war.
 And going back to those early days, this Knights of Columbus of ours. valiantly came to the front to do its part to make America safe and secure for future gen. erations. And these Knights have evinced their devotion for the dis abled veteran. up to the present time. and will continue to do so IS long as a member remains in their ranks.
 The K. of c. entered into this new field of war work in 1916, when our troops were on the Mex ican border, and learning of the need of the troops for recreation and for religious work, 1t set up a series of buildings from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of California. furnished all sorts of clean, healthy amusement, and enabled those of the Catholic faith to have the benefits of their re- ligion at all times. This was done without any expense to the peo- pie of the country, and entirely from the funds of the order it. self.
 Offer Services
 It was this success, in the new field along the Mexican border, that led the Knights of Columbus to offer its services when war was declared in April, 1917. These serv- ices were quickly accepted by the government, with the result that the Knights of Columbus entered into the work throughout this country and in Europe. wherever soldiers or sailors needed help or assistance, even in distant Siberia.
 During the World war and the postwar period the K. of c. spent approximately 45,000,O0O. There were 1900 secretaries overseas and twice that number in camps in the United States. Overseas they were located at all base sup ply stations, as well as secre-