09/22/2026
25 Years as a Fourth Degree Member
Our Lady of Holy Hill Assembly 1677 — West Bend, Wisconsin
Richard “Rich” Zautcke
For 25 years, I have had the privilege of being a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Holy Hill Assembly 1677, based at Columbian Hall in West Bend, Wisconsin.
When I look back over those 25 years, I realize that the Fourth Degree has been about much more than meetings and officer positions. It has been about faith, patriotism, service, friendship, fellowship, and honoring our Catholic faith and those who have gone before us.
I was exemplified into the Fourth Degree in April 2001. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve the Assembly in several positions, including Trustee, Pilot, Captain, Faithful Navigator, and, currently, Faithful Admiral.
I eventually became Faithful Navigator following the sudden death of our Faithful Navigator, Sir Knight Norm Janke, who passed away at Columbian Hall. It was a tremendous shock. I remember that it happened on Hobo Night, and I had just happened to take some pictures of Norm outside Columbian Hall. It was a bright, sunny late afternoon. I never imagined that those pictures would someday become such meaningful memories.
One of my earliest documented years as Navigator was the 2011–2012 fraternal year, and I also served as Navigator during 2014–2015. During those years, I represented Assembly 1677 throughout the community and participated in many of the activities and responsibilities of the Fourth Degree.
Looking back, I feel blessed by the countless opportunities I have had to serve, participate, make friends, and create memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
The Regalia and the New Uniform
One of the most controversial changes I experienced during my 25-plus years with the Knights of Columbus was the change from the traditional Fourth Degree regalia to the new uniform.
For generations, the Fourth Degree was recognized by its traditional cape, chapeau, tuxedo, sword, and ceremonial appearance. To many Sir Knights, that regalia represented much more than clothing. It represented the history, dignity, tradition, and pageantry of the Patriotic Degree.
In 2017, Supreme leadership announced that the traditional regalia would be replaced by a new, more modern uniform. The reasons given included making the Fourth Degree more accessible to younger members, creating a more versatile uniform, and addressing concerns about membership and the aging of the Fourth Degree.
The new uniform consisted of a navy-blue blazer with Fourth Degree insignia, gray trousers, a Fourth Degree tie, a white shirt, and a black beret. The ceremonial sword remained an important part of Fourth Degree tradition.
The change generated strong feelings among many Sir Knights.
For some members, the issue was not simply whether one uniform looked better than another. It was about tradition and identity. Some members felt the decision had come quickly and that there should have been more opportunity for the membership to participate in the discussion.
Others were concerned because they had recently spent considerable money purchasing the traditional regalia and now faced the expense of purchasing another uniform.
There were also members who believed the traditional regalia was one of the things that made the Fourth Degree distinctive and memorable. The debate became significant enough that the phrase “Save the Regalia” became part of the public discussion among some members.
Supreme leadership eventually provided financial assistance for certain members who had recently purchased the old regalia, including a $200 credit for qualifying purchases made after May 1, 2017.
The transition also gave members time to continue using the traditional regalia before the new uniform became the standard.
Looking back on the controversy years later, I understand that the Fourth Degree was trying to balance two important things: respect for its traditions and the need to move forward.
Whatever uniform we wear, the real meaning of the Fourth Degree is found in how we serve our Church, our communities, our country, and one another.
Serving Our Church and Our Community
Some of my most meaningful experiences have involved supporting our Catholic Church and the communities around us.
In 2019, I participated in Coats for Kids at St. Albert Catholic Church in Milwaukee, helping provide warmth and assistance to children in need. Experiences like that reminded me that service is often expressed through simple, practical acts of kindness.
Our Assembly has also remembered deceased Fourth Degree members through memorial Masses. These occasions honor the men who served before us and help keep their memories alive.
The Honor Guard has had the privilege of participating in numerous funerals, standing in respect and solidarity with families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Being present during those moments has been both a responsibility and an honor.
We have also participated in priestly ordinations, Eucharistic processions, parish feast days, and other important celebrations of our Catholic faith.
Some of those occasions have taken place at Holy Hill, including the Easter Vigil and special celebrations involving the archbishop.
I especially remember the occasion when Archbishop Jerome Listecki blessed the doors at the entrance of the Basilica at Holy Hill.
Another memorable occasion was when Cardinal Timothy Dolan returned to Holy Hill to celebrate Mass in honor of Holy Hill becoming a minor basilica.
There were also memorable Catholic events at Mother Cabrini Church in West Bend, including the visit of Archbishop Dolan and the presentation of documentation concerning the authority given to him by the Pope to become the next Archbishop of Milwaukee.
The Ten Commandments monument and the monument honoring the unborn at Mother Cabrini are also important parts of our local Catholic history. Archbishop Jerome Listecki also rededicated the altar after the church at Cabrini was remodeled.
I remember the dedication of the statue honoring the unborn in Cedarburg, with Bishop Don Hying presiding. That event was another reminder of the importance of standing for the dignity and sanctity of human life.
Our Assembly has also supported many events at St. Peter Parish in Slinger and St. Lawrence Parish. These included celebrations honoring St. Peter, my mother’s funeral, and many other parish events dedicated to spreading and strengthening the Catholic faith.
Through all of these experiences, I have seen how the Fourth Degree can support the Church not only through ceremony, but also through presence, service, and fellowship.
Patriotism and the Honor Guard
The Fourth Degree has always had a special connection to patriotism, and serving with the Honor Guard has given me many opportunities to demonstrate that commitment.
We have participated in parades, including the Memorial Day Parade in Menomonee Falls, Flag Day celebrations, Fourth of July parades in the West Bend area, and events throughout surrounding communities.
We have stood Honor Guard at funerals and memorial services, participated in state conventions of the Knights of Columbus, and taken part in Fourth Degree Exemplifications throughout Wisconsin.
The Honor Guard has also been present for important Catholic celebrations where faith and patriotism come together. Wearing the uniform and carrying the colors is a visible way of showing respect for our Church, our country, and the people who have served both.
The annual Military Appreciation events have been especially meaningful. We have had dinners and guest speakers, along with opportunities to recognize the men and women who have served our country.
These events remind us that the Fourth Degree is about more than wearing a uniform or participating in a ceremony. It is about showing respect for those who have sacrificed for our country and our freedoms.
Every time we stand at attention, present the colors, or honor a veteran, we help preserve the memory of service and sacrifice for future generations.
Fellowship and Assembly Traditions
Of course, not every memory involved a solemn ceremony.
Alongside the formal occasions, there have been plenty of good times and opportunities to enjoy fellowship with my Brother Knights, our guests, and our many guest speakers.
I remember the Columbus Day parties, the annual Christmas parties, and how those Christmas celebrations have changed over the years.
What once included special meals, music, and dancing has evolved into a more informal party atmosphere. But the most important part has remained the same: Brother Knights getting together, enjoying one another’s company, and building friendships.
There have been countless dinners, speakers, gatherings, conventions, celebrations, and other events over the years. Each one added another memory and strengthened the bonds among us.
And then there were the many little moments that probably meant just as much as the big ones: a conversation before a meeting, a laugh shared during a dinner, a helping hand offered when someone needed it, or simply the pleasure of seeing familiar faces again.
Those ordinary moments are an important part of what makes an Assembly feel like a family.
One of My Favorite Memories
One of my favorite memories of serving as Faithful Navigator was giving out the door prizes.
Sir Knight Roman Puestow would always look at something I had and say:
“What are you doing—cleaning out your basement?”
I would always tell him, “No!”
But the truth was, I really was having fun finding things to give away—especially patriotic items and things that I hoped would remind people of the Fourth Degree.
Those moments brought laughter to our gatherings, and I enjoyed seeing people receive something they could take home and remember the Assembly by.
That is one of the things I have enjoyed most about the Fourth Degree. It has given me opportunities to serve, but it has also given me opportunities to make people smile.
The door prizes were small things, but they helped create a spirit of fun and fellowship. Looking back, I realize that those lighthearted moments were just as much a part of our Assembly life as the formal ceremonies and official events.
25 Years and Still Going
From my first years as a Fourth Degree member, to serving as Navigator, and now serving as Admiral and continuing to participate in the Honor Guard, attending Masses and Catholic celebrations, supporting veterans and military events, taking part in parades and funerals, and simply enjoying fellowship with my Brother Knights—it has been quite a ride.
I am grateful for every Brother Knight, priest, seminarian, bishop, archbishop, cardinal, family member, and friend who has been part of this journey.
Each person has contributed something meaningful to these 25 years. Some offered guidance, some shared friendship, some served beside me, and others simply helped make the gatherings and events memorable.
I am especially grateful for the opportunity to represent Our Lady of Holy Hill Assembly 1677 and to serve our Catholic Church, our community, and our country.
After 25 years, I can honestly say:
It has been a fun ride.
And I hope, God willing, that I will have the opportunity to participate in many more years of Fourth Degree service, friendship, faith, and patriotism.
As I look toward the years ahead, I know there will be new challenges, new Brother Knights, new memories, and new opportunities to serve. But I also know that the foundation built over these past 25 years will always be a part of me.
I am proud to be a Fourth Degree member of Our Lady of Holy Hill Assembly 1677.
I am proud to stand with my Brother Knights.
And I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our Church, our community, and our country.
Vivat Jesus!
God bless Our Lady of Holy Hill Assembly 1677.
God bless the Knights of Columbus.
God bless our Catholic Church.
And God bless America.
