by Jorge Gomez • 2 minute
First Liberty was at The American Legion National Convention in New Orleans this week. We presented the 2024 Philip B. Onderdonk, Jr., Religious Liberty Award to the Knights of Columbus Petersburg Council 694. Founded almost 150 years ago in the United States, the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal service order with over 2 million members worldwide.
Each year, First Liberty bestows this award to one exceptional individual or group for their efforts to defend religious liberty. The honoree receives a custom Henry Repeating Arms Military Service Tribute Edition .22 caliber commemorative rifle, specially engraved for the award. The rifle is donated by Henry Repeating Arms, a strong supporter of our nation’s military service members and veterans.
The Award was introduced in 2015 and is named after Philip B. Onderdonk Jr., long-time National Judge Advocate of The American Legion. Past honorees include Shields of Strength (2023), Coach Joe Kennedy (2022), the Northeast POW/MIA Network (2021), Christopher DiPompeo (2019), President Donald J. Trump (2018) and Senator Ted Cruz (2017).
Watch the award presentation below:
First Liberty won for the Knights of Columbus earlier this year so they could hold their Memorial Day Mass at the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia. This was an incredibly important victory for the Knights, who’ve held a Memorial Day Mass at the cemetery every year since at least the 1960s.
After we filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service, it granted the Knights a permit to allow the religious service to take place at the cemetery grounds.
The Park Service initially denied the Knights a permit, citing a new policy that designated “religious services” as prohibited “demonstrations.” That policy said religious services had to be held somewhere outside the cemetery, even though other events may be held in the cemetery.
First Liberty and our network attorneys at the McGuireWoods international law firm filed a federal lawsuit challenging that policy. We explained that government cannot disfavor organizations and gatherings simply because they’re religious. In fact, under the First Amendment and other federal law, they are granted favored treatment and protection.
“The Knights are thrilled that they will be able to exercise their religious beliefs and keep this honorable tradition alive. We appreciate the tremendous support of Gov. Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares in this case,” said First Liberty Senior Counsel Roger Byron.
This year’s Onderdonk Religious Liberty Award recognizes the Knights for their stand for the First Amendment and religious freedom. We applaud their decades of commitment to pray for and honor our nation’s fallen heroes. Their Memorial Day Mass is a historically significant and time-honored tradition that helps all Americans remember those who gave their lives in service to our nation.
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