On Dec. 14 at the Florida National Cemetery in Lantana, West Palm Beach Elks Riders #1352 Road Captain, Brad Quick, and Secretary, Angela Quick, placed wreaths on the veterans’ graves and rocks on the graves of Jewish soldiers.
On Nov. 23, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge held a fundraiser dinner for Homes for Our Troops. Their mission is to build and donate specially adapted custom homes for severely injured veterans. A total of $5,000 was raised. This year's recipient is Aaron Corneliius, Army Sergeant First Class. District Reporter, JoAnn Reddy, presented a Quilt of Honor to him. The mission of the Quilts of Honor is to bestow a universal symbol of thanks, solace and remembrance to those who serve in harm's way.
Pictured are Reddy and Corneliius.
Manasota Elks Lodge member Jim Klocke, PER was one of 30 honorees who received the second annual Congressional Veteran Commendation Award at a ceremony Nov. 8 in Lithia. Congressman Vern Buchanan established the award to honor the wartime sacrifices and peacetime community involvement of veterans in Florida’s 16th congressional district. Klocke served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1968 to 1974 during the Vietnam War with Search and Rescue, where he received his U.S. Merchant Marine Officer Captains 50-ton license. He also received the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He serves as Lodge Veterans Chair and uses Elks National Foundation grants to help veterans. He is also involved with the Manatee County Veterans Council.
Pictured are Buchanan and Klocke.
Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165 held its second annual Veterans Day golf tournament at Stoney Brook Golf Course Nov. 8, raising $15,000 for the Army of Hope and Challenge 22, an organization that helps veterans with PTS.
Volunteers pictured are Erin Pagliuca, Tiler; Dianne Armillei and Megan Reish.
On Nov. 11, members of the Hollywood West Elks Lodge Veterans Committee attended the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Sandy Nininger Veterans Nursing Home to thank the veterans for their service.
Members of Crestview Elks Lodge #2624 teamed with the Crestview High School JROTC program Nov. 3 to celebrate the annual Veterans Day celebration by installing 150 flags in the field of flags. The flags were presented to honor veterans on Veterans Day. The flags were on display until Nov. 19.
Pictured are members of the CHS JROTC and lodge.
Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763 celebrated the 249th birthday of the United States Marine Corps Nov. 10 by honoring veterans and active-duty members, both from the lodge and the community. The event included speeches, which were then posted in the lodge for others to read, and the singing of the Marie Corps hymn.
The ceremony concluded with the traditional cake-cutting, where the oldest veteran in attendance (right), member Ed Scarsolloni, 86, passes a piece to the youngest veteran in attendance (left), active-duty Marine Arron DesChamps.
Vero Beach Elks Lodge #1774 gave out grants to two organizations at the Oct. 26 Halloween event. The $2,000 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant was given to Dogs for Life for Veterans. Pictured are Flo Synenko, Lodge Grants Coordinator; Donna Knerr, PER; Dallas, 7-month old black lab in training; Don Peterson, puppy raiser; and Shelly Ferber, Dogs for Life for Veterans founder and CEO.
The recipient of the $1,000 Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant was American Gold Star Mothers of IRC. Pictured are Flo Synenko and Donna Knerr with Michelle Dale, president of American Gold Star Mothers of IRC.
On Nov. 17, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 participated in a poker run in Sarasota to raise money for Wreaths Across America. The stops included American Legion Post 312, Ruskin Eagles 4351, Kirby Pelot Stewart American Legion Post 24, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge and the Farm Bureau Pavilion. The event raised $2,806, which will provide 249 wreaths for fallen veterans to be placed at Sarasota National Cemetery.
Pictured are members from Ruskin Eagle Riders #4351, Bradenton Elks Riders #1511, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elk Riders #2855, American Legion Post 312, Disabled Veterans Chapter 18 and American Legion Riders Chapter 30.
On Nov. 8, South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 donated its $1,000 Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant to Wounded Warriors in Action in Apollo Beach. The organization helps the nation’s combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients by offering outdoor sporting activities to encourage independence and connections with communities and to promote healing and wellness through camaraderie and a shared passion for the outdoors.
Pictured are John McDaniel of WWIA and Mary Ellen Maurer, Lodge Grants Coordinator.
Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 delivered its 16th Welcome Home Kit Oct. 11 to U.S. Navy veteran Kenneth. He was most appreciative to receive the basic food and household items, along with furniture pieces. Members David Graham, PER and Rick and Tamy Branch delivered the larger pieces of furniture. Kenneth transitioned from Five Star Veterans Center. Items included a new queen bed, pillows, bedding, blankets, dishes, pots and pans, kitchenware, towels, toiletries, shower liner and rings, paper goods, light bulbs, trash can and bags, cleaning supplies, laundry basket and detergent, coffee maker, and toaster. In addition to the $490.15 spent on kit items, the lodge donated $25 to be used for a food donation for this veteran.
Pictured are Kenneth and kit items as well as David Graham, PER and Rick Branch.
On Sept. 24, the Zephyrhills Elks Lodge Veterans Committee donated 15 lap blankets to Rose Castle Nursing Home in Zephyrhills. Lodge members and volunteers make the blankets with donated yarn. With each blanket they add a note thanking the veterans for their service and finish the note saying that they were made by the Happy Hookers from Scotland Yard.
Pictured are volunteer Dave Greene and Rose Castle director Keith Brown.