ELIZABETH CITY — The Stanley R. Grubitz Assembly of the 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus in Elizabeth City recently presented its Patriotic Award to Frank Cudeguest, owner and operator of Southern Maid Donuts on Weeksville Road.
The award — an American Flag in a presentation shadow box — was given in acknowledgment and appreciation of Frank and his business’s support of local veterans, veteran organizations, and active-duty service members.
A gallery of photos appears at the end of this story.
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Cudeguest has been an advocate for the Armed Forces throughout his life. As student body president of Ridgefield Park High School in New Jersey, he was the driving force behind allowing Armed Forces recruiters back on campus in the 1980s, following their suspension during the Vietnam War era.
His commitment is on full display at Southern Maid Donuts. A large American Flag mural on the side of the building is visible from Weeksville Road, and Armed Forces service flags hang inside the shop — quiet but powerful reminders of Cudeguest’s deep appreciation for those who serve and have served to uphold the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The Knights of Columbus (KOC) is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded in 1882. It operates on the principles of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity — the foundations of its first three degrees of Knighthood. A fourth degree, built on the principle of Patriotism, was established in February 1900. The Knights count more than 2.2 million members worldwide.
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