Russian College of Heraldry Gulgowski4 m AIII

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INVESTITURE

The Order of Saint Stanislas

The First-Ever Order of St. Stanislas Investiture
in the Great American Midwest
on December 1, 2007

conducted by

Chev. Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul William Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa
GCMS, GCDA, RCST, etc.
and
Dame Heide Anna Maria Margravine Gulgowski-Doliwa
GCMS, GCDA, RCST, etc.

     Near-blizzard conditions prevailed on the day of the first investiture of the Order of St. Stanislas in Racine, Wisconsin, requiring the Holy Communion Church to activate its emergency generator system, which resulted in a dimmed-light effect in the church's interior.

Whiteout and deep snow conditions prevented two postulants from attending the investiture ceremony

     Severe winter-weather conditions, as only the American Midwest can experience, did not result in the cancellation of the first-ever Order of St. Stanislas investiture in the Great American Midwest. Although Captain Paul Count Gulgowski-Doliwa II and Mrs. Nena Romo-Perkins were prevented from reaching the Holy Communion Church in Racine, Wisconsin, in this harsh and icy weather (They will be accorded the opportunity of participating at another investiture event in the future.), the fifty guests and two weather-hardened postulants were exceedingly pleased and gratified by the solemn investiture ceremony in the warm and cozy sanctuary of the Holy Communion Church.


The Holy Communion Church altar area with the Order of St. Stanislas insignia displayed

Chev. Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa, SMOS, GCDA, RCST, etc.
leads the investiture procession to the altar.

The postulants for this most special investiture occasion were:

Aviation Captain Dr. James A. Michaels, DDS

and

Coast Guard Commander Larry D. Perkins, M.Ed.

     Dr. Michaels is one of the most preeminent dental surgeons in America, who is highly respected by ten prestigious dental associations and adored by his patients for his finely honed medical skills. Captain Michaels is equally passionate about his avocation as a highly revered expert aviator. He holds ratings and licenses in all the major aviation specialties for jet planes, propeller planes and rotary wing aircrafts.

     His service on behalf of a safe and secure community includes utilizing his own aircraft to fly search-and-rescue missions for the United States Coast Guard, the Waukesha County Police Department, the Dousman Police Department and the Dousman Fire Department.

     Commander Perkins is an acknowledged military leader, who has excelled in U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard service. He has been highly decorated by all three of America's Armed Forces. The commander is comfortable in tanks, airplanes of all types and descriptions, and 10- to 15-foot waves never bothered him in the slightest.

     As a member of the Idaho National Guard he was awarded the Idaho Emergency Services Medal for performing fire fighting duties of greatest danger, to the public at-large and himself, in the Montana and Idaho forests. As his records manifest, he mastered all the elements with courage and finesse at all times.

     The Order of St. Stanislas may be rightly proud to count both of these individuals among its renowned and distinguished knights.

Commander Larry D. Perkins is being escorted to his pew.
Prominently visible on his right chest is the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Star

     From left, standard bearer Mr. Ronald Clayton, teacher and possible future postulant; Miss Tonie Michaels, daughter of Dr. James and District Attorney Barbara Michaels and aide-de-camp to the Prior; Dame Heide Anna Maria Margravine Gulgowski-Doliwa, Chancellor of the Order of St. Stanislas for Wisconsin and Illinois. Between Miss Michaels and Dame Heide, your attention is invited to the insignia of the Order of St. Stanislas that are about to be bestowed upon the postulants.

     The Prior spoke eloquently and extensively about the life, work and sacrifice of St. Stanislas, a novelty to many of this Midwestern American Christian audience. Yet, they were inspired by the effect this Polish saint had on the life of his people. The Rear Admiral then lectured on modern-day knighthood based on historical precedents and prominent individuals, who have exemplified the essence of knighthood in their days.

     And last but not least, he pointed out the rules and virtues of enlightened knighthood such as loyalty, honor, duty, courage, valor, perseverance, compassion and a profound religious faith. It goes without saying that a knight respects and lives by the Ten Commandments. The present postulants of the Order of St. Stanislas have adopted and embrace credos commensurate with the spirit of noble knighthood.

     Dr. Michaels' coats-of-arms is Servire Aliis Est Servire Deo, or in English: Service Unto Others is Service Unto God.

     Commander Perkins' credo is Deus Fortitudo Mea, or in English: God is My Fortress.

Chev. Paul speaks extemporaneously on St. Stanislas and knightly virtues

     Dame Heide Anna Maria Margravine Gulgowski-Doliwa, CStS, etc., presented well and extensively researched biographies on the two postulants. Everyone present was delighted to learn about the individual achievements and personal values of Dr. Michaels and Commander Perkins. Surely, every woman and man in the church of The Holy Communion realized that membership in the Order of St. Stanislas is reserved only to morally outstanding and truly deserving individuals. It should go without saying that a knight in any Chivalric Order must espouse character traits that are beyond reproach by anyone.

Dame Heide reads biographies of postulants

     Aviation Captain Dr. Michaels was first to receive the Blessing of the Sword by the Prior, according to the traditional ritual delineated by the Order of St. Stanislas handbook authored by Chev. Captain Michael Count Subritzky-Kusza. District Attorney Barbara Michaels and daughter Tonie are proudly looking on.

Dr. Michaels receives the Blessing of the Sword

As Chev. Paul properly adjusts the hood of Chev. James' mantle,
Mrs. Michaels fastens the mantle's cords

Chev. Paul announces the newly created Commander of the Order of St. Stanislas,
Chev. Dr. Michaels, to the audience

     Commander Larry D. Perkins was next in line to receive the Blessing of the Sword by the Prior. Commander Perkins, in previous years, had served as one of Rear Admiral Gulgowski's Flotilla leaders. Hence, this was definitely a profound moment for both of these maritime officers.

Commander Perkins receives the Blessing of the Sword

Chev. Paul prepares to bestow upon Chev. Larry the Commanders Cross of the Order of St. Stanislas
as Miss Tonie assists

     Chev. Paul introduces the newly installed Commander of the Order of St. Stanislas, Commander Perkins, to the audience. On this occasion, Commander Perkins also received the Cross of Jerusalem, honoring him for his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, while it was being embattled by the forces of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

     This Christian and chivalric celebration was enriched by noble compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Pachelbel and Arthur Sullivan. As Director of Music for the Holy Communion Church served Mr. Randy Fisher, whose beautiful organ music was deeply appreciated by everyone who had braved the cold winter weather to not miss this solemn occasion.

     At the end of the investiture ceremony, the official investiture party, the newly created knights of the Order of St. Stanislas, with their spouses and escorts and young guests, who had gladly consented to holding the coats-of-arms, pose for the obligatory group photo.

Group photo and a special note of acknowledgement:

     The coats-of-arms for our new knights were created by Commander the Chevalier Valery Yegorov and Dame Natalie Yegorova of the Russian College of Heraldry.

     A heartfelt expression of gratitude is due to Mr. Ronald Clayton, who gallantly held up the St. Stanislas banner, which is rather heavy in weight and somewhat cumbersome to hold up over a prolonged period of time.

     We also would like to take this opportunity to thank, from the bottom of our hearts, Miss Zdzislawa Gulgowska of Gdansk, Poland, who embroidered the standard of the Order of St. Stanislas for the Priory of Wisconsin and Illinois.

     Chev. Paul and Dame Heide enjoy with great satisfaction the successful conclusion of a small but very special investiture ceremony.

     None of this could be made available to a wider audience and interested members of the Order of St. Stanislas abroad and here in the United States of America would it not have been for the photographic support services happily and helpfully provided by Mr. Russ and Mrs. Erlyn Schultz of Racine, Wisconsin, who were married, not too long ago, in this beautiful edifice dedicated to the Service of God.

Mr. Russ Schultz, Mrs. Erlyn Schultz and Dame Heide

     The Prior and Chancellor of the Order of St. Stanislas, the Priory of Wisconsin and Illinois, are also deeply appreciative of everyone not personally mentioned in this article, but has contributed to make this event as memorable as it is increasingly becoming in the hearts and in the minds of everyone who was there to witness it in Racine on that stormy 1 December 2007.


PRAEMIANDO INCITAT

The Coat of Arms of H. H. Chev. Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul William Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa
can be seen HERE

The Coat of Arms of H. H. Chev. Lt. Colonel Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa II
can be seen HERE

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