His allegiance to the Slatington Moose Lodge is unquestioned.

It’s that type of tireless devotion that has led George Kern to the ultimate honor: The Pilgrim Degree of Merit from the Loyal Order of Moose.

Kern attained the prestigious honor, which is the highest that can be bestowed upon a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, on June 3.

The Degree, originally created on Aug. 1, 1918, is conferred only in the House of God at Mooseheart, Illinois, and comes as a reward to members of the Fellowship Degree for extraordinary service to the Order.

It states that Kern, for having been found worthy by the Pilgrim Consistory, after due and proper consideration, was admitted to the 94th opening of the Pilgrim Crypt in the House of God, Mooseheart, Illinois.

His name has been duly recorded in the Pilgrim Book of the Covenant as a member of the Pilgrim Degree of Merit.

In testimony of Kern’s years of service and sacrifice for Mooseheart, Moosehaven, and humanity, this recognition bestows upon him the highest honor within the gift of this Fraternity.

Kern noted that he was one of only seven in the state of Pennsylvania, and 116 total in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, to receive the Degree this year.

“The Pilgrim Degree is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Kern said. “I was extremely surprised.”

The night before, June 2, marked 50 years to the date of Kern’s graduation from the former Slatington High School, an event he was unable to attend because he had to fly out to receive his award.

Just one week after he received the Pilgrim Degree, Kern was honored with another award in recognition for his years of service and elevation to the Pilgrim Degree of Merit. That came courtesy of the William Penn Moose Legion No. 3, an Eastern Council of Higher Degrees.

“I was more surprised to get this,” Kern said. “I feel great pride in the stuff that I did for Mooseheart, Moosehaven, and my community.”

Kern said he taught youth awareness, as well as safety tips such as stop, drop and roll, and the subject “Stranger Danger” to children ages 4-9.

“My wife and I ran different events like breakfast at the Moose,” he said. “I thought the kids needed a little bit more around, so I got them proclamations from the (Washington) Township and (Slatington) borough.”

Kern also ran the Tommy Moose Program for one year, where they would give little moose dolls to children who were either in distress, a fire, a car accident, and the like.

Initially, on April 5, 2008, Kern received the Moose Legion, which is a higher degree of the Loyal Order of Moose. Men of the Order who have held memberships for at least six months or who have sponsored at least one member into the Order qualify to advance to the Moose Legion.

Then, on Aug. 24, 2013, Kern received his Fellowship Degree of the Loyal Order of Moose, which is an honorary degree. It was first created on Aug. 7, 1918. To advance to this degree, one must first be an active status Moose Legionnaire. This degree must be earned through service to the Lodge, Moose Lodge, and/or other entities of the order.

But, for Kern, the Pilgrim Degree is a testament to his lifelong service to his organization.

“It means that I did something with my life that probably nobody else ever did,” he said. “Mooseheart and Moosehaven are the things I’ve supported from the beginning; I always wanted to support the children.”

A cancer survivor, Kern has been married to his wife, Leoma, for 46 years. Together, the couple has a daughter, Vanessa Kern.

He is a member of the Slatington Hose Company No. 1.

Kern is also the former emergency management coordinator for Slatington and Washington Township.

His hobbies include hunting and fishing, collecting beer steins, shooting pool, and at one time bowling.

Above all else, Kern bleeds Slatington.

“I’m all about community projects for the kids,” he said. “I’d like to see more volunteers in the borough.”