Our Military & Veterans

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Written by Lodges #1676 & #948

On Nov. 11, Miami Elks Lodge #948 and South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge #1676 hosted a Veterans Day community picnic to raise funds for area veterans and the Florida State Elks Association Army of Hope. More than 100 guests attended. Volunteers from both lodges planned, prepared, recruited entertainers, and cooked and served hamburgers and hot dogs, macaroni salad, cole slaw, chips, and soft drinks. Other members collected donations, made presentations and provided demonstrations. A  missing-man table was on display. Boy Scout Troop 362 acted as honor guard. Attendees were entertained with tai chi and yoga lessons, line dancing lessons, a fencing demonstration, magic shows and continuous music. They also learned how to apply a tourniquet and basic CPR courtesy of Florida International University under the direction of Dr. Jefry Biehler. The Coast Guard Auxiliary was also on hand as well as Century 21 representative Mariela Pritikin who talked about their veterans’ and first responders’ mortgage incentive program. There was also a soccer crossbar challenge and a frisbee toss contest courtesy of Bird Road Subaru. The South Florida Jewelry Guild provided demonstrations on various jewelry-making techniques. The event raised more than $2,000 for veterans programs.

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Written by Gene Rittenhouse

On Dec. 11, Green Cove Springs Lodge held a Christmas luncheon for veterans. The luncheon began with a short program which included a special presentation on how K9s for Warriors matches service dogs with veterans who need one. Then the K9s for Warriors volunteer coordinator, Elizabeth Reeger, was presented with a check for $2,000 which was made possible by an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. The presentation was followed by a roasted turkey lunch with sides and homemade desserts. Member Jean Maddox coordinated the meal and started cooking turkeys at 3:45 a.m. Her 15 volunteers served 91 people including 64 veterans. Member Dorothy Wood coordinated the dozens of homemade desserts for the event.

K9s for Warriors volunteer coordinator, Elizabeth Reeger, receives $2,000 Green Cove Springs Lodge presented by Veterans Representative, PER Richard Kunze, and grant coordinator, PER Gene Rittenhouse.

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Written by Green Cove Springs Elks

Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 raised $6,000 throughout the year which came from fundraisers including their Christmas-in-July dock party. The lodge’s PER charity bingo donated $1,000, making the lodge the largest donor in Florida.

Wreaths Across America representatives A.J. and Mike Smith accept a $7,000 donation from Green Cove Springs Lodge presented by Exalted Ruler, Lucie Barnette; Amien Joseph, PER; and Rick Kunze, PER, VAVS representative.

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Written by Kathy Traina

The West Central District Army of Hope fundraiser which included a Chinese auction and games was held at Largo Lodge Oct. 21. The Army of Hope’s mission is to provide assistance to the families of deceased, disabled and deployed members of the military. Volunteers and scouts turned out in droves and eight district lodges participated. Among the attendees were Frank Palladini, PSP; Carl Seibert, COO/State Secretary; Theresa Matthews, DDGER; Anthony Fratello, DVP; and Ron Locke, Army of Hope State Chairman.

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Written by Kathy Traina

Largo Elks Lodge #2159 received the Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to paint the interior of Liberty Manor, a home for veterans in Largo, Fla. Members of the lodge Veterans Committee took the lead on this project that took four 10-hour days, Oct. 29 through Nov. 1, to complete. The second part of the grant will be used to construct/purchase and set up a yard storage shed in the back yard to protect their bikes, etc.

David Lindsay, PDD Jeanne Reinhart, Bob Beach, Ed Cabana, JeMarcus Sapp and Connie Lindsay were part of the paint team.

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Written by Linda Califf

On Oct. 20, Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 partnered with the Gainesville Garden Club and the Gold Star Mothers of Gainesville to provide a Gold Star memorial marker at the entrance of the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. The Gold Star memorial marker came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a service flag in the window of their homes. The service flag had a star for each family member in the United Stated Armed Forces. Living servicemen were represented by a blue star and those who had lost their lives were represented by a gold star. The marker was placed for the Gainesville-area service men and women who paid such a price. Gainesville Lodge helped support the marker placement by donating $500.