Scott_Kihnke

The tradition of recognizing important volunteers and the military is combined this year. Scott Kinke, a member of St. Ann's Men's Parish Fellowship Group and a First Sergeant serving in the military in Iraq, shares a testimonial about his involvement with the group. He expresses gratitude for their support and describes how they have helped him and his family. Scott thanks his fellowship brothers and asks everyone to join him in thanking them as well. He concludes with the Pledge of Allegiance and is thanked for his service. Another key tradition we have kept is the recognition of an important volunteer representing all volunteers, and we've retained our recognition of the military. This year we've combined these two essential elements into one segment. We're about to hear from Scott Kinke on the phone. Scott is a member of St. Ann's Men's Parish Fellowship Group. Greg Hardy, one of the leaders of the St. Ann's group, has Scott on the phone for a special message. What's special is that Scott is First Sergeant Kinke and a volunteer serving in the military on deployment in Iraq. Scott is taking a few minutes out of his busy life protecting each one of us to address our group today. My brother, you're on. All right. Good morning, gentlemen. Testimonial that I wrote about my men's group. I'll go ahead and read. I was happy to hear that there was still going to have a conference this year, even though I would not be able to attend. I'd like to tell you about the men's fellowship group that I joined back in 2005. I was only able to make a couple of their meetings before I had to deploy to Germany. I stayed in touch with the group while I was gone, and when I returned in 2007, they were there to welcome me home. I attended my first Answer the Call conference in 2008, and it was a life-altering event. Since then, I've become more involved in the church and the group. In church, I serve with my daughter. I elect her and distribute Holy Communion. With the fellowship, I attend all of our monthly meetings whenever possible. I've attended the Answer the Call conference in 2009 and 2010, each time bringing someone new along with me. I also sponsored a fellow brother through the RCIA program. I'd like to tell you a little more about my fellowship brothers. When I bought my house in 2009, they helped me tear down all the wallpaper inside, and one of them painted almost the entire inside by himself. They helped by moving my family's belongings from our apartment to our new house. This past summer, when I was gone for three weeks preparing for this current deployment, they stepped up again and took care of my lawn and helped out my wife with some odds and ends around the house. Picking up to the time that I left, we had several get-togethers for my wife and daughter to get to know them better. While I was at Fort Sill for my soldiers to get their training required, they stood up again and took care of my yard by cleaning up all the fall leaves. They have sacrificed their own time to waterproof my parents' house. All these things would have been stressful distractions for me being deployed into a war zone. I know that any situation that may arise with my family, that with just a phone call, my brothers will be able to help them out. This gives me the peace of mind knowing my family is in good hands. This knowledge is allowing me to be deployed and focus on bringing all my soldiers and sailors home safely. I am truly blessed to have become a part of such a great fellowship that started from the answer to call Catholic Men's Conference. I miss them as much as I miss my family, for they are my brothers. I know my brothers are there today, more than likely wearing their blue SAMA shirts. If you would please join me in thanking my brothers from the St. Ann's Men's Association. Thank you. Now, if you would all rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Scott, all of us here want to thank you for your service to our country. Godspeed, Scott.