On Nov. 15, St. Petersburg Lodge presented $6,575.48 to veterans causes. The money was raised from three lodge events: a jerky/chili cook-off, a trivia dinner and game night, and the USA Show and veterans appreciation dinner. The first donation was for $4,500 and it was presented to Nathan Witt, Chief of Voluntary Services, and D’Onna Lee from the Army’s Auxiliary at C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Fla. Witt said the money would be used to help sponsor veterans from the facility to the upcoming National Golden Age Games, the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States and the only national multi-event sports and recreational seniors’ competition program designed to improve the quality of life of all older veterans including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. The games are open to veterans ages 55 or older who receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The games will be held June 5-10, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska. The second donation of $2,075.48 was given to the Florida State Elks Association Historical Commemorative Projects and it was accepted by their liaison, Rudy Masi Sr., PDD. The funds will assist with expenses that were incurred during the Parade of Heroes which took WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans to a celebration Nov. 8-10 in Washington, D.C. All expenses were paid for the veterans and their companions by FSEA Historical Commemorative Projects.
Johnny Miller, Grand Lodge Deputy Representative to C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center; Dolly Masi, PER; Nathan Witt, Chief of Voluntary Services at C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center; Cathy Shriver, Exalted Ruler; and Ken Peel, veteran.
1224 vet 2: Albert Wiggins, veteran; Dolly Masi, PER; Rudy Masi, PDD, FSEA Historical Commemorative Projects liaison; D’Onna Lee, veteran and Army auxiliary member; Cathy Shriver, Exalted Ruler; and Ken Peel, veteran.