Our Military & Veterans

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Written by May Graci

On July 7, Johnny Miller, Grand Lodge VAVS Representative for Bay Pines, delivered 51 oral/axillary thermometers to Bay Pines VAMC in Florida. The cost of the thermometers was $230, and the money was provided by the Elks Grand Lodge to assist veterans during the COVID-19 crisis.  The thermometers were donated to the radiation oncology clinic at Bay Pines. The clinic provides outpatient treatments for prostate, breast, head/neck, and lung cancers and tumors. The thermometers will be issued to cancer outpatients to give them the opportunity to check their own temperature before driving to Bay Pines for their treatment. If the outpatient has a fever, they can call their oncologist immediately and they will determine if the patient should go to an emergency room or to the doctor’s office. It took countless hours of phone calls and internet research for Miller to obtain the thermometers at discounted prices. The thermometers are easy to use and have large displays for easy-to-read temperature measurements within 20 seconds. Pictured are Cathy Cruise, RN manager of the radiation oncology clinic, and Miller.

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Written by Inverness Elks

On July 7, Inverness Elks Lodge #2522 donated its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to the Citrus County Veterans Coalition. The funds will be used to support the veterans’ food bank in Hernando, Florida. Pictured (left and center) at the Veterans Coalition Food Bank accepting the check are Bob Bendle, Treasurer, and Richard Floyd, Chair. Richard Grosnick, Exalted Ruler, presents the donation. Citrus County has one of the highest percentages of veterans living in Florida. The Citrus County Veterans Coalition is a nonprofit volunteer group of veterans that aids veterans in need of help along with their families. They recently moved into their new food bank location.

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Written by Jane Ferguson

On June 20, U.S. Navy veteran Ron Czarnick swims with Stormy the dolphin at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, Florida. He was sponsored by the Florida Keys Elks Lodge Vets on the Water program; they used some of their Elks National Foundation Impact Grant. Vets on the Water has sponsored 422 active military, veterans and reservists to date. Theater of the Sea is the second oldest marine park in the United States.

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Written by Judy Wise

In May, Judy Wise, Plant City Elks Lodge member and District Veterans Services Chair, was contacted by the local National Guard which is aware of the Elks support of and dedication to veterans. The National Guard was asking for help through the Elks Army of Hope for veteran Sergeant Danial Windspirit. Ironically, they were requesting financial support for one of the soldiers previously in Plant City Lodge’s adopted unit that was commissioned to Afghanistan two years ago. Sergeant Windspirit returned home safely from Afghanistan and was successful in starting an excavation business in Ruskin, Florida, and was living a great life with his wife, Rebecca, and their three children. On May 16, he was in an accident while driving home on his motorcycle. An uninsured motorist pulled out in front of him, causing him to lose his left leg. He has since gone through seven operations. Fortunately their bills were current; however, June was going to be a challenge. Nancy Lay, Military and Family Readiness Specialist for the Florida National Guard Family Programs, contacted the lodge asking for financial help on the family’s behalf. They needed $2,948.34 to cover their June living expenses and bills. Wise, who was just presented the Veterans Volunteer of the Year award at the Florida Elks state convention, jumped in and prepared all the necessary paperwork, as this is what the Army of Hope is all about – supporting veterans in financial times of need. Wise requested and received approval for $3,500 to cover other expenses. In the interest of time and so that the check could be deposited immediately to their account to cover their automatic withdrawals for June, Wise presented the check to Rebecca in the parking lot of their credit union in Ruskin, Florida, June 3. Sergeant Windspirit had previously purchased an insurance policy through the National Guard that will also help take care of the family, but the required paperwork and delays due to the pandemic presented a real problem and time was of the essence. Sergeant Windspirit is home and receiving outpatient rehabilitation every day, and they are very thankful for the Florida Elks’ assistance.

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Written by Donna Gudavich

Aripeka Lodge’s Veterans Committee has a container by the lodge entrance for members to drop off clothing that will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America Association. Their local chapter is in New Port Richey, Florida. On May 21, Tom Carlo, lodge committee chair, delivered approximately $3,000 worth of clothing that had been collected.

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Written by Donna Gudavich

Even though Aripeka Elks Lodge #2520 has been closed since March, the Veterans Committee reached out to Steps to Recovery to see if they needed anything. Ken Clark of Steps to Recovery indicated they were short on food supplies since their VA funding had been drastically cut. So, with funds from the lodge’s veterans’ program, they provided $585 worth of groceries from Sam’s Club. Pictured in early May is Tom Carlo, chair of the Veterans Committee, with the load of food he delivered in his own truck.