Catholic War Veterans

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Catholic War Veterans (officially called the Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America) is a national veterans service organization established in 1935.

History

In 1935, Monsignor Edward J. Higgins held a World War I veteran saw the need for an organization to serve veterans and uphold the Catholic faith. Monsignor Higgins gathered parishioners who had served in World War I together at Immaculate Conception Church in Astoria Queens, New York. This event is recognized as the first meeting of the Catholic War Veterans. On May 19, 1935 the Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. In 1935 Monsignor Higgins journeyed to Rome where Pope Pius XI bestowed his blessing upon the Catholic War Veterans, and blessed the American and Papal flags of the organization. In July of 1940 The Catholic War Veterans was officially recognized as a Veterans Organization by the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation on August 17, 1984 granting the Catholic War Veterans a Congressional Charter, being the 59th group to receive a Federal Charter, and the first explicitly religious organization to receive the honor.

National Commanders

• Rt. Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Higgins, LL.D Founded 1935
• John M. Dealy 1935-1939
• Thomas J. Walsh 1939-1942
• Charles Brophy 1942-1944
• Edward T. McCaffrey 1944-1946
• Max H. Sorensen 1946-1948
• Anthony H. Forbes 1948 (Jun-Oct)
• Nicholas J. Wagener 1948-1950
• Donald J. McQuade 1950-1952
• Thomas J. Cuite 1952-1955
• William J. Gill 1955-1957
• Peter J. Hopkins 1957-1959
• Robert T. O'Leary 1959-1960
• James W. Fay 1960-1961
• Rev. Deacon Albert J. Schwind 1961-1962
• Edward F. McElroy 1962-1963
• Walter D. Hyle, Jr. 1963-1964
• Charles F. Shelley 1964-1965
• Martin G. Riley 1965-1968
• L.E. "Bob" Shugrue 1968-1969
• Francis X. McBarron 1969-1970
• Aldo F. DiChiara 1970-1972
• Joseph v. Klubert 1972-1973
• Neil G. Knowles 1973-1975
• Joseph J. Palaia 1975-1977
• Henry H. Woyach 1977-1978
• Thomas M. Bailey 1978-1979
• Francis F. Fox 1979-1980
• Walter W. Stachacz 1980-1981
• George G. Baran 1981-1982
• Cosmo D. Gallo 1982-1983
• Edward R. Ross 1983-1984
• David J. Zielinski 1984-1985
• Walter Drayhan 1985-1986
• Edward J. Kochanski 1986-1987
• Paul P. Zawicki 1987-1988
• John J. Eletto 1988-1989
• Chet Ellisage 1989-1990
• Martin J. O'Reilly 1990-1991
• Gilman G. Udell 1991-1992
• Leo J. Krichten 1992-1993
• Patrick Mancino 1993-1994
• John C. Slobodnik 1994-1995
• John H. Walsh 1995-1997
• Joseph D. DiPasquale 1997-1998
• Manuel Tanguma, Jr. 1998-1999
• Michael E. Chuhinka 1999-2000
• Robert A. Wamester 2000-2002
• Joseph Satriano 2002-2004
• Joseph Catanese 2004-2005
• Jose M. Garcia 2005-2007
• Gerald Kryznefski 2007-2009
• Fred P. Schwally 2009-2011
• Leo F. Haley 2011-2013
• James F. Finkel 2013-2015
• Arminda Crawford 2015-Present

National Shrine

Immaculate Conception Church in Astoria, New York where Monsignor Higgins founded the Catholic War Veterans has been designated the National Shrine of the Catholic War Veterans. The building was built in 1950 and designed by Henry J. McGill, one of the era’s leading church architects. There are two cornerstones, one on either side of the main entrance. The one to the left of the door as you approach is the 1950 date stone. To the right is the CWV stone which depicts the original cross logo of the Catholic War Veterans. The church also includes a number of stained glass windows that commemorate the Catholic War Veterans.

External links

• Home Page
• Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America, Inc. : hearing before the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Ninety-eighth Congress, second session, on H.R. 1199 ... March 21, 1984.