World War I

The story of the Order's social service to soldiers began with the U.S. Army's incursion into Mexico in 1916, setting up recreation centers along the border states. It continued during into World War I, when the Knights of Columbus was recognized as the premier Catholic service agency and under the banner "Everybody Welcome -- Everything Free," established centers or "huts" in training camps throughout the United States and behind the lines in western Europe and eastern Asia. On the home front 350 K of C secretaries, or "Caseys" as they were called, served 150 huts in the military camps. There were also 150 chaplains tending to the spiritual needs of the servicemen. By the end of 1918, there were 1,000 secretaries and nearly 150 clubs located throughout the war zone

After the war, funds from the Order's $30 million war chest were expended on a variety of K of C educational, vocational, occupational and employment programs for veterans in its 100 evening schools. More than 50,000 students enrolled, while some 25,000 took part in free home study courses.

Of all the accolades and tributes paid to the Order during this time, the greatest tribute was the admiration demonstrated by the nearly 400,000 men who joined the Order between 1917 and 1923.

In World War II the U.S. Catholic bishops created a new agency called the National Catholic Community Service, which functioned under the direct control of the United Service Organizations (USO). Members assisted in the sale of war bonds (over $92 million to K of C members alone), civilian defense efforts, supplying blood banks, Red Cross work, and a multitude of local and national enterprises. Canadian Knights revived the popular "hut" program of the first World War.

In 1944 the Knights of Columbus established its $1 million Educational Trust Fund to provide a college education to the children of members who were killed or permanently and totally disabled in World War II. Later, this benefit was extended to those of other wars (Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and to United Nations peacekeeping forces). In 1970 this benefit of membership was enhanced to include the children of law enforcement officers, and in 1971, to full-time firefighters.

On Sept. 12, 2001, the $1 million "Heroes Fund" was established in the aftermath of the World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks. Funds were provided for the families of all full-time professional law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who lost their lives in the rescue and recovery efforts. This was the first time in the Order's history that a fund of this nature was created in response to a national tragedy.