Ham Radio has a Patron Saint!

I wonder how many of us were aware we indeed seem to have a Patron Saint?

GI70MY writing in the 30 meter PSK Yahoo group says that during the WW2 German occupation of Poland, a Ham radio Priest, Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, SP3RN was arrested by the Germans.

The Germans believed his amateur radio activities were somehow involved in espionage and he was transferred to Auschwitz on May 28, 1941.

After some prisoners escaped in 1941, the Germans ordered that 10 prisoners be killed in retribution. Fr. Kolbe was martyred when he volunteered to take the place of one of the condemned men.

On October 10, 1982 he was canonized by Pope John Paul II as Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Apostle of Consecration to Mary and declared a Martyr of charity.

He is now considered the Patron saint of Amateur radio operators."

You can also check www.qrz.com/sp3rn

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia