Squire Roses - History

History

The Squire Roses were established in 1996 under the leadership Mr. Russ DeRose and the Virginia State Council, Knights of Columbus.

The process for the birth of the Squire Roses took just over four years. In March 1993, Squires Circle #3992 (St. Mary of Sorrows) held a recruitment drive. Several young ladies asked if they could join the Squires, or if there was a similar group they could join. Regrettably they were turned down, as the Squires are an organization for young men. The seed was planted, though, which would soon grow into a beautiful rose.

In 1994 the same young ladies, bringing their friends and parents, continued to ask the Squires if they could join. When turned down, the ladies asked if they could assist the Squires in their projects, thus getting them involved in service to their parish and community. By December the Squires agreed to recruit young ladies for this offshoot organization.

By 1996, the groundwork for the Squire Roses had been laid. Volunteers from the Ladies of Virginia (LOV), local college sororities, and the local community helped to define the vision, roles, and ceremonials for this fledgling group. The young ladies who first requested to join the Squires were the ones who came up with the name. They did not want to be "Squirettes," "Columbiettes," or any other form of -ette. This group was to be equal to the Squires, not some diminutive version. They chose Squire Roses for several reasons:

• In many women's investitures, a rose was given to the candidate or another special person
• The rose is a multi-cultural symbol of womanhood
• 1960 for “Operation Rose,” a sterling silver rose was brought by Columbian Squires from Canada, throughout the United States by Squires, to Mexican Squires, to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadeloupe, and given to Pope John XXIII.

In June 1996, the Virginia State Council of Knights of Columbus recognized the Squire Roses as the Virginia State Council's official youth group for ladies aged 10 to 18. Soon after, the group had its first Investiture, which is the formal name for the initiation ceremony. It was conducted by the Squires of Circle #3992 as a showing of solidarity, and LOV assisted.