Our Military & Veterans

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Written by Mary Lou Scribner, PER

On Feb. 14, veterans living at Liberty Manor in Tampa, Florida, received Valentine greetings from Brandon Elks Lodge #2383. Lodge Veterans Committee chair, Robin Rutzek, delivered cupcakes and cookies, which the veterans definitely welcomed and enjoyed. She also surprised them with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl LV championship merchandise purchased with funds from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant. The veterans were very excited to receive these gifts including T-shirts, adjustable caps, and commemorative souvenir Sports Illustrated and ESPN magazines. Pictured is Liberty Manor resident Art Gardener, U.S. Navy veteran, accepting some of the gifts in front of the residence.

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Written by Jeanne Reinhart, PDD

On Feb. 24, members of the Largo Elks Lodge #2159 Veterans Committee delivered their 50th Welcome Home Kit to C.W. Young VAMC (also known as Bay Pines) in St. Petersburg, Florida. These kits are provided to veterans who are moving into a new residence and are in need of household items such as linens, kitchen utensils, small appliances, dishes and personal hygiene items. This program is supported by the Elks National Veterans Service Commission (ENVSC) and will reimburse up to $300 for monies spent on kit items. Pictured are Frank Jones, Assistant Chief of Voluntary Service at Bay Pines; Georgia Greene; Janet Kingsley, Exalted Ruler; Peter Lopez, lodge member and World War II veteran; Sonja Lopez, PER; Johnny Miller, Elks VAVS Representative to Bay Pines; Nate Witt, Chief of Voluntary Service at Bay Pines; and Jeanne Reinhart, PDD, Veterans Committee Chair.

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Written by Manasota Elks

On Feb. 2, members of Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 presented 1,200 to-go meal containers with lids and 1,000 sets of kitchen gloves to Bryan Jacobs, founder of Reveille Meals and Vet2Success. These items were purchased with the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. Reveille Meals is a brother company to Vets2Success, which the lodge has been partnering with for five years. Lodge members also volunteer and assist Jacobs by delivering Reveille Meals in their community. According to its Facebook page, “Reveille trains and employs veterans through our reintegration culinary programs under our nonprofit organization, Vets2Success.” Jacobs, a Marine Corps veteran, “trains veterans in the culinary arts for success in the kitchen and life.” Pictured with Jacobs are Jim Klocke, Doris Waddell, Carol Sirianni, Janice "Spike" Klocke, Ken Davis, Diane Davis, Dale Steinke and Gloria Gardner.

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Written by May Graci

For patients at Bay Pines VAMC who do not have family or friends who can bring them items, donations of hygiene kits are most appreciated. St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 donated $550 to the Elks hospital fund at the VAMC for toiletries for veterans who visit Elks Room 106, managed by Johnny Miller, while they are receiving care at Bay Pines. The donation was raised by the lodge’s trivia night event Feb. 6.

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Written by Shirley Thompson

On Jan. 23, Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge #2753 held a charity car show to benefit the Army of Hope. Along with the nine committee members, an additional 32 volunteers came out that day to help make this a successful event. There were 112 fantastic cars participating and competing for recognition. The opening ceremony was held at 11 a.m. with the Guns n Hoses Pipes n Drums. The Estero Fire Department raised the flag. Haney’s Food Truck served sandwiches and DJ Bob Picone provided the music. After all expenses were paid and with the help of the event sponsors, Reatallick Financial, The United Group, South West Refrigeration, Ron Alfonso, Dale Sayset and Don Dewey, the lodge raised $5,636.45 for the Army of Hope and $1,053 for the lodge.

Pictured are committee members Dewey Lashua, Don Dewey, Jack Coovert, John Seachrist, Pete Thompson, Shirley Thompson, Ron Alfonso, Tom Lane and Dale Sayset.

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Written by Gainesville Elks

The Wreaths Across America 2020 event took place Dec. 19 with the presentation of wreaths at veterans' cemeteries. The Gainesville Lodge #990 Elk Riders along with other groups honored veterans by escorting the Wreaths Across America truck from the Walmart distribution center in Alachua, Florida, to the Forest Meadows East Cemetery in Gainesville, Florida. Pictured are Louis Mallory, Charles Britt, Dave Kaufman, Pete Hamilton, Charlotte "Charlee" Baumann-Rodgers (Bill Baumann’s granddaughter) and Bill Baumann.