Establishment The 1912 annual convention of the
Lithuanian Catholic Alliance, held in
Boston,
Massachusetts, received a report by Mykolas Norkūnas calling for establishment of a new patriotic youth organization in an effort to combat a decline in
national feeling, rise in ethnically-mixed marriages, and growing tendency towards political radicalism among Lithuanian-American youth. This call was subsequently echoed in the pages of the conservative
Lithuanian-language press, gaining the support of a number of prominent
Catholic leaders and further inspiring Norkūnas in his efforts.
Development The Knights of Lithuania were established as an alternative social and cultural organization to the popular youth activities organized by the anti-religious
Lithuanian Socialist Federation (Amerikos lietuvių socialistų sąjunga, ALSS) and were from its inception directed towards working class and lower-middle class Lithuanian-American youth. Comparatively few intellectuals were attracted to the organization during its early years. The gathering was attended by Deputy Chief of the Lithuanian Mission to the United States Simonas Šatūnas and by the Lithuanian General Consul in New York, Valdemaras Sarapinas. The Knights of Lithuania continue to prosper and grow throughout the United States. Its most recent national convention, their 111th, was held in June of 2025 in Las Vegas, NV. Their 112th National Convention will be co-sponsored by Council 7 - Waterbury, CT and Council 141 - Bridgeport, CT from July 31, 2026 - August 2, 2026 in Southbury, CT. ==References==