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Celebrating

Feb. 26 the Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus, Putnam, celebrated the 35th anniversary of its First Degree Ceremonial Team. The team’s job is to initiate men into the Catholic, fraternal organization. They have held about 200 private ceremonies since the team was founded in February of 1982. Left to right: new Cargill Council Knights Kevin Dupre, Danny Desrosiers, Edward Chrabaszcz, Jr., and Gary Rudman, all of Putnam, surrounded by team members dressed in their ceremonial robes. Photo: John D. Ryan

 

 

 

PUTNAM — The year was 1982. Ronald Reagan was president. Gas was 91 cents a gallon. A new GMC 1500 pickup truck cost $5,400. The first CD was sold. Michael Jackson released his Thriller album, which is still popular today, 35 years later, in 2017.

Also in 2017, Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus, headquartered in Putnam, is still making brand new Brother Knights. This month marks the 35th anniversary of the founding of the council’s First Degree Ceremonial Team in February, 1982.

The tradition continued on Sunday morning, February 26, when four men became members of Cargill Council, during a private initiation ceremony held by the team at the Cargill Council 64 Hall on Providence Street.

Robert E. Desrosiers, 59, of Putnam, is the only original team member left.3 He’s been there for all of the approximately 200 private ceremonies held over the last 35 years. Since he was 24 years old he’s helped to create hundreds of new Knights from around northeastern Connecticut and beyond.

“It’s been a real honor for me,” Desrosiers said. “I’ve been part of bringing so many men into the Knights. It’s some of the best work I’ve ever done. It’s something I’m very proud of.”

Desrosiers was particularly proud on Sunday, when he performed his part in the ceremonies for the four candidates. What made it special for him was that one of them was his nephew, 27-year-old Danny Desrosiers, of Putnam.

The other three new Knights are Edward Chrabaszcz, Jr., Kevin Dupre and Gary Rudman, all of Putnam. 

The Knight running the initiation ceremonies these days is a young professional actor, Carlo P. Lombardo, of Putnam, who at 26 has been First Degree Team Captain for five years, since he was 21.

At the moment all six ceremonial team members are from Cargill Council, but down through the years they’ve come from all the councils in the local area.