Our Military & Veterans
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- Written by: Brandon Elks
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In support of February being National Salute to Veteran Patients Month, the members and spouses of Brandon Elks Lodge #2383 and Brandon Ladies of Elks made homemade crafts for the veterans at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital at the request of Robin Rutzke, Lodge Veterans Chair and Leading Knight. Lara McCleary, Jerrilyn Pietro, Jackie Florentino and Terri Ciesla, Ladies President, made items such as themed door hangers, eyeglass cases made from potholders, and women’s jewelry.
Pictured Feb. 26 is Rutzke delivering the items to Rashad Thompson with the Center for Development and Civic Engagement at JAHVH. Also pictured are Brandon Ladies of Elks Jackie Florentino and Lara McCleary displaying some of the donated items.
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- Written by: Taz WrightReynolds, PER
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On Feb. 4, the Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge Veterans Committee celebrated the United Service Organization’s 85th anniversary by donating 17 large bags of candy. The individually wrapped candy will be available for troops using USO facilities. It was distributed to the four USO locations throughout the Pensacola area, including the Pensacola Airport and base locations. The USO was founded in 1941 to support U.S. military morale with entertainment, care packages and, more recently, transition services.
Pictured are Iris Santiago, USO area operations manager; Carey Seigle, lodge member; and Mary Ellen Schaffer, USO center ops specialist.
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- Written by: Brian Estus, PDD
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On Feb. 5, using funds generated by Veterans Committee projects, the West Citrus Elks Lodge Veterans Committee donated $1,500 to Honor Flight of West Central Florida. This donation will allow three central Florida veterans to fly to Washington, D.C., to tour the monuments.
Barbara Mills of Honor Flight, front middle, is pictured with members Debbie Lawerence and Susan Adams (front row, middle); Roxie Bartosek, Pat Lehman, Cheryl Renteria, and Joanne Hepner (middle row); and Dolly Hall, Terri Harrison, Donna Hayes, and Orlan Hayes (back row).
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- Written by: Brandon Elks
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Brandon Elks Lodge members and Brandon Ladies of Elks donated money, items and volunteer time for this year’s New Year’s gift bags for veterans of James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. The lodge assembled 100 gift bags (85 for men and 15 for women) for the veterans in the polytrauma unit and spinal cord injury center. Ladies members donated $1,033.88 and lodge members donated $63.72. In addition, 50 hand crocheted lap blankets valued at $1,000 were donated by the Brandon Senior Center ladies, organized by Mary Lou Schreck, Lodge Secretary. Kathy Bilinski, Lodge Grants Coordinator, secured a $1,000 Elks National Foundation Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant to assist with costs of this yearly project. On Jan. 2, lodge and Ladies members assembled the bags.
Robin Rutzke, Lodge Veterans Chair, is pictured delivering the bags Jan. 23 to Holly Wilson of JAHVH Career Development and Civic Engagement. Also pictured are Jackie Florintino and Charlene Hart; Charlene Hart, Past Lady President Ann Fox, and Beth Benham; and Past Lady President Jane Gilblair (front) and Donna Mancuso-Fultz and Jackie Floritio (back).
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- Written by: Bonita Springs-Estero Elks
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On Jan. 17, Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge #2753 hosted a classic car show, with 69 vehicles on display, to benefit the Army of Hope. The lodge sold 50/50 tickets and T-shirts and held a chance auction. The event raised $6,130, which was presented Feb. 22 at the annual South Southwest District Army of Hope picnic at Rotonda Lodge #2710. The district raised more than $30,000.
Pictured are Bonita Springs-Estero Lodge members Shirley Thompson, Dewey Lashua and Frank LaBletta with Vincent Primavera, District Vice President and member of North Fort Myers Lodge #2742.
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- Written by: Taz WrightReynolds, PER
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On Jan. 19, Fort Walton Elks presented $600 for the Army of Hope. Jamie Clemons, Lodge Secretary and District Army of Hope Chair, created a fundraising board for the Army of Hope. At lodge functions and meetings, Clemons gives a brief presentation about how Army of Hope donations are used. She displays the board and in each one of the bubble letters that spell out Army of Hope, there is a respective amount of money to claim by donation. Once that donation is made, that section of the letter is colored in. The donation increments were $20, $10 and $5. This board raised $600 in one and a half months so Clemons is already building another board with higher available donation areas.
Pictured are Michael “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER, trustee; Terri Griffin, PER, Leading Knight; Joe Reames, trustee; Mary Ann Coalt, Treasurer; Mark Wynn, Loyal Knight; Jamie Clemons, Secretary; Dusty Austin, Inner Guard; Tom Knowles, PER, trustee; Tom McLaughlin, PER, Esquire; Wendy Parker, Lecturing Knight; and Heath Hamilton, Tiler.
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- Written by: Rita Smith, PER
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On Jan. 23, the Tampa Elks Lodge Veterans Committee invited the Salvation Army Red Shield Center to bring 10 veterans to dinner at the lodge, but their van was not available, so their social worker brought four veterans to the lodge in his car. Members surprised them with a $500 donation from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to be used for their Veteran Service program.
Pictured are T. Michael Boyle, Exalted Ruler; Jarrod Marshall, Salvation Army social worker; Frank Palladini, PSP; Army veteran Ronald Wilcox, Navy veteran Darrick Ward, Air Force veteran Ian Jennard and Army veteran Lavonne Waffer.
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- Written by: Deborah Reedy, PER
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On Jan. 24, Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 hosted its seventh annual military baby shower, using funds from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight and Gratitude grants. They hosted 25 military families and gave them gifts from their personal baby registries, which included bassinets, strollers, car seats and lots of baby items. They also included books, homemade burp cloths and bibs and crocheted blankets made by lodge members, blankets made by members of the Daughters of the Revolutionary War, and diapers donated by lodge members. Guests enjoyed lunch and dessert and played baby games, with prizes donated by members. Special guests included Blue Star Families of Jacksonville and Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services district occupational therapist Melanie Sarris. Both spoke about what they do for families.
Pictured are Melanie Sarris, FECTS OT, with mother Anastasia and her husband; attendees playing baby shower games; and lodge volunteers Beth Clark; Deborah Reedy, PER, event chair; Anne Paulisczak; Cheryl Kehl; Sandy Trippe; Pam Haley; and Kelly Paulson.
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- Written by: John Nugent
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On Jan. 21, Cape Coral Elks Lodge #2596 used its $1,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to purchase bus passes for veterans in need of transportation to and from their medical appointments. The voluntary assistance department of Lee County will dispense the passes to veterans in their system who are in need of assistance.
Pictured are Martin Bruner, trustee; John Nugent, Loyal Knight; Jill Acree, assistant director of Voluntary Services; Dominick Tartaglione, Exalted Ruler; Vincent Giorgi, PER; and Herbert Herring, Voluntary Services specialist.
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- Written by: Pattie Cloud
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On Dec. 19, Holiday Isles Elks Lodge #1912 donated $5000 to VFW Post 4256 for the ongoing repairs needed from hurricanes Helene and Milton. The VFW is an important part of social activity to veterans, and as supporters of all veterans, the lodge felt that it was essential to support them and help them provide a place for veterans to go and socialize with each other, as they have since 1963.
Pictured are a VFW officer; Paula DeBlasio, Lodge Secretary; Stan Hickrod, Exalted Ruler; Dave Cain, VFW Post 4256 Commander; and three VFW officers.
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- Written by: Margaret Schnichels
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On Jan. 10, Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165 donated $8,000 to the Army of Hope from funds raised at their golf tournament.
Ron Locke, PDD, Army of Hope Fundraising Chair, accepts the check from members Cory Asperleiter, Lesley Croft, and Megan Reisch and Greg Barberio, Exalted Ruler.
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- Written by: Pattie Cloud
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In December, Holiday Isles Elks Lodge #1912 ran a collection drive for the veterans in need at Bay Pines VA Service Center in Madeira Beach. Donations in gifts and money to shop for what they needed were valued at $6,200 and included sleeping bags, air mattresses and warm clothing for the winter months.
Member Mike McNulty and House Committee member Sara McNulty are pictured Dec. 20 on the far right dropping off donations to two representatives at the Bay Pines VA Service Center.