Establishment of the Lantern Award
During the tenure of Past State Deputy James H. Norton (1956-1958), and at the time of the Diamond Jubilee an outstanding feature of Mr. Norton’s tenure in 1957 was the inauguration of the Lantern Award. State Deputy Norton thought this was an appropriate way to honor those who reflected the religious and patriotic ideals of the Founding Fathers. Named for the Lanterns placed in the tower of the Old North Church in Boston to warn Paul Revere.
The award, given by the Massachusetts State Council is presented at the Patriot’s Day Dinner, which has drawn a number of illustrious speakers over the years.
2026 Lantern Award information document
Past Winners
Awarded 2022
Patrick E. Kelly
Supreme Knight
Awarded 2019
Very Rev. Matthew Wescott
Deputy Brigade Chaplain, Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan
Awarded 2018
Bishop Robert Reed
Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
Awarded 2017
James T. Brett
President and CEO of the New England Council
Awarded 2016
All Military Chaplains
who serve in the Archdiocese for the Military Services
Awarded 2015
Fr. Joseph Baggetta
Founder, Chapel of Hope
Awarded 2014
Dr. David R. King
LTC Army Reserve, Iraq & Afghanistan Army Surgeon, MGH Surgeon
Awarded 2013
SSG William Kleinedler (Ret.)
Injured Iraq Veteran – Representing all injured servicemen and women of the Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts
Awarded 2012
Rev. Bill Devine
Boston Chaplain, Navy Captain (Retired)
Awarded 2011
Lt. Col. Timothy A. Butler
Boston Chaplain, Command Chaplain at Headquarters Air Combat Command
Awarded 2010
Geraldine Stadelmann
Mumbai Terrorist Attack victim whose devotion to the Rosary and prayers helped her survive
Awarded 2009
John and Magi Bish
Founders of the Molly Bish Foundation
Awarded 2008
Bishop William E. Lori
Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Supreme Chaplain
Awarded 2007
Bishop Timothy McDonnell
Diocese of Springfield
Awarded 2006
Raymond Flynn
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, Former Mayor of Boston, Catholic Orator
Awarded 2005
Newman A. Flanagan
Past State Deputy of Massachusetts, Former Supreme Director, Former District Attorney of Suffolk County, Executive Director of National District Attorneys Association
Awarded 2004
Rev. Philip G. Salois
Chaplain for Veterans Administration New England health Systems, Founder and President of National Conference of Vietnam Ministers
Awarded 2003
Gen. Patrick H. Brady (Ret.)
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Awarded 2002
Carl A. Anderson
Supreme Knight
Awarded 2001
Most Rev. Thomas L. Dupre, S.T.L
Bishop of Springfield
Awarded 2000
Most Rev. Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap.
Bishop of Fall River
Awarded 1999
Most Rev. Lawrence J. Riley, D.D.
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Boston
Awarded 1998
Most Rev. Daniel P. Reilly
Bishop of Worcester
Awarded 1997
Robert P. Casey – Ellen Casey
Former Governor and First Lady of Pennsylvania
Awarded 1996
Joseph Cardinal O’Connor
Archbishop of New York
Awarded 1995
William M. Bulger
President, Massachusetts State Senate
Awarded 1994
Prof. Mary Ann Glendon
Harvard Law School
Awarded 1993
Honorable Joseph R. Nolan
Associate Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Awarded 1992
John F. Collins
Former Mayor of Boston
Awarded 1991
Bernard Cardinal Law
Archbishop of Boston
Awarded 1990
Thomas J. Flatley
Philanthropist, Industrialist, Humanitarian
Awarded 1989
Edward P. Boland
United States Representative (Retired)
Awarded 1988
Most Rev. Thomas V. Daily
Supreme Chaplain
Awarded 1988
Doctor Martin J. Dunn
President of Por Cristo
Awarded 1987
Henry J. Hyde
United States Representative
Awarded 1986
Virgil C. Dechant
Supreme Knight
Awarded 1985
Charles A. MacGillivary
Medal of Honor Recipient
Awarded 1984
Gen. Paul X. Kelley
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Awarded 1983
Thomas J. Hudner, Jr.
Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Awarded 1982
Timothy J. McCarthy
Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service
Awarded 1981
Sen. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr.
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Awarded 1980
Carl Michael Yastrzemski
Boston Red Sox Outfielder, First Baseman, Left Fielder
Awarded 1979
Maj. Gen. Henry J. Mead
Chaplain’s Corp. U.S. Air Force (retired)
Awarded 1979
Mildred F. Jefferson, M.D.
President, Right to Life Crusade
Awarded 1978
Most Rev. Joseph F. Maguire
Bishop of Springfield
Awarded 1977
Dr. John W. McDevitt, K.C.K.S.G.
Past Supreme Knight
Awarded 1976
Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D.
Bishop of Fall River
Awarded 1975
John A. Volpe
U.S. Ambassador to Italy
Awarded 1974/em>
Frank W. Tomasello
Retired Associate Justice
Awarded 1973
Humberto Cardinal Medeiros
Archbishop of Boston
Awarded 1972
James A. Farley
Patriot – Statesman
Awarded 1971
Amb. Henry Cabot Lodge
Special Envoy to the Vatican
Awarded 1970
Ben G. Shapiro
Founder, Massachusetts Committee Catholics, Protestants and Jews
Awarded 1969
William E. Powers, K.S.G.
Justice, Rhode Island Supreme Court
Awarded 1968
Very Rev. Michael P. Walsh, S.J.
President of Boston College
Awarded 1968
Doctor Abram L. Sachar
President of Brandeis University
Awarded 1967
Most Rev. Jeremiah F. Minihan, D.D., LL.D.
Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
Awarded 1966
Arthur J. Goldberg
Ambassador to the United Nations
Awarded 1979
Very Rev. Theodore M. Mesburgh, C.S.C.
President, University of Notre Dame
Awarded 1964
Daniel F. Foley
National Commander, The American Legion
Awarded 1963
Robert J Cousy
Exemplar to American Youth
Awarded 1962
John W. McCormack
Speaker, United States House of Representatives
Awarded 1961
George Meany
President AFL/CIO
Awarded 1960
Francis Cardinal Spellman
Archbishop of New York
Awarded 1959
Richard Cardinal Cushing
Archbishop of Boston
Awarded 1958
Robert F. Kennedy
Chief Council, Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor and Management Field
Awarded 1957
J. Edgar Hoover
Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Photo courtesy of Library of Congress: Hoover, Spellman
Photo courtesy of LBJ Library: Kennedy, McCormack
Photo courtesy of Archdiocese of Boston: Cushing, Maguire, Flatley, Law, O’Malley
Photo courtesy of University of Notre Dame Archive: Cushing
Photo courtesy of Brandeis University Archive: Sachar
Photo courtesy of Nationaal Archief: Goldberg, Lodge
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia or Wikimedia commons: Farley, Madeiros, Bulger, Dupre
Photo courtesy of Volpe Center: Volpe
Photo courtesy of Diocese of Fall River: Cronin
Photo courtesy of the Knights of Columbus: Tomasello, McDevitt, Deschant, Anderson, King, Butler, Stadelmann, Bish, Devine, McDonnell, Flanagan, Lori, Baggetta, Kleinedler, Brett, Reed
Photo courtesy of Barry AU H20 via Wikimedia Commons: Jefferson
Photo courtesy of BillIlott via Wikimedia Commons: Flynn
Photo courtesy of United States Congress: Denton, Hyde, Boland
Photo courtesy of the Reagan Library: McCarthy
Photo courtesy of Naval History Center: Hudner
Photo courtesy of USMC History Division: Kelley
Photo courtesy of Diocese of Brooklyn: Daily
Photo courtesy of Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Nolan
Photo courtesy of United States State Department: Glendon
Photo courtesy of Diocese of Worcester: Reilly
Photo courtesy of Defense Imagery Management Operations Center: Brady
Photo courtesy of Lasalette: Salois
Photo courtesy of Archdiocese for the Military Services: Foster