On Feb. 27, the six lodges of the Northeast District — Gainesville #990, Green Cove Springs #1892, Jacksonville #221, Mandarin-St. Johns #2866, Orange Park #2605 and St. Augustine #829 — joined together to donate a flagpole to the newest Gold Star Memorial located at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida. This is the fifth Gold Star Memorial in the state with 76 memorials across the country. This memorial, organized by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, honors the sacrifice of veterans killed in action, missing in action or listed as prisoners of war. The plaque, bench, garden and flagpole are dedicated to Gold Star families, and the ceremony included moving speeches by several Gold Star family members and members of the military.
Pictured are Steve Easton, Mandarin-St. Johns Lodge Exalted Ruler; Sam Runyon, Garden Club member; Renee Taylor, Elk spouse and Gold Star family member; Ed Weston, Green Cove Springs Lodge Exalted Ruler; Emily Hughson, volunteer and family member of Green Cove Springs Lodge member; Connie Sarnowski, St. Augustine Lodge Exalted Ruler; Joy Elrod, Green Cove Springs Lodge Inner Guard and Garden Club member; Olena Siranni Roberts, Garden Club member; Bill Watson III, Jacksonville Lodge Exalted Ruler; Al Williams, Green Cove Springs Lodge Leading Knight; Greg Hughson, PDD of Green Cove Springs Lodge; Paul Orvosh, PDD, Mandarin-St. Johns Lodge Advisor; and Scott Wilson of Jacksonville Lodge, endorsed Northeast District Vice President.