New Assembly Charted at Military Air Base in Germany

One hundred military personnel on active duty, Department of Defense civilian employees and contractors, and retirees based in Germany, Italy and Great Britain, had the Fourth Degree conferred on them and became the charter members of Father H. Timothy Vakoc Assembly during a recent Fourth Degree exemplification held at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard and Assistant to the Supreme Knight for Military and Veterans Affairs Colonel Charles Gallina, USMC/Ret. observed the exemplification. Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spenser of the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, was the main celebrant for the Mass that followed the exemplification. This is the first assembly formed in Europe and is part of the new Military Overseas Europe Special District. The assembly is named for Father H. Timothy Vakoc, a military chaplain who died of wounds received during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the past year, other assemblies have been formed at Camp Zama, Japan, and the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, Korea.