Our Military & Veterans
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- Written by: Taz WrightReynolds, PER
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On May 27, Holley-Navarre Lodge donated $750 from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to Healing Paws for Warriors, an organization that trains and provides service dogs to veterans in need of extra four-legged support.
Pictured are Jenna Ladik, member’s spouse; Buddy Elliott, Lecturing Knight; John Ladik, lodge trustee; CMSgt. Dennis Krebs, USAF, ret., HPFW executive director; Monika and her service dog, Buddy; Tom Stevens, PDD, Exalted Ruler; Suzanne White, Lodge Secretary; and Carol Borden, Tiler.
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- Written by: Green Cove Springs Elks
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On May 18, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 hosted residents of the Clyde E. Lassen Veterans Nursing Home and their guests for lunch and an afternoon of fishing from the lodge's dock. This was funded through a portion of the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. Fourteen lodge members assisted 16 residents, 15 family members and friends, and five nursing home staff members with fishing and served a lunch of burgers, hot dogs, chips and ice cream.
Pictured are Dr. Rick Kunze, PER, Lodge Veterans Chair; member Laura Russell; Army veteran Dianne Gregory; Penny Kunze, VAVS Deputy Representative; Army veteran John Gregory; and Navy veteran James Massey. Also pictured are nursing home staff members on the dock.
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- Written by: Bill Morehouse
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Under the direction of Ken Fabiani, PER, Veterans Chair, and Bill Morehouse, program coordinator, the Zephyrhills Elks Lodge Veterans Committee continues to use the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Welcome Home Kit program to furnish veterans’ homes as they settle into their new homes upon completion of a recovery program. Furnishings and household items are provided through donations and purchases funded from the kit program.
On April 26, veteran David Thorpe had the bedroom in his new shared home furnished with help from the lodge's Antlers youth group. When he saw the Antlers and families and advisors roll up with a trailer full of furniture, his eyes opened wide in amazement and he smiled from ear to ear! Everyone jumped in to help him set up his new home.
Pictured are Linnea Fonslet, Antler; Anne McDonald, Antlers advisor; David Thorpe, veteran; Bill Morehouse, lodge Welcome Home Kit coordinator; and Skyler Oberman, Dane Fonslet and Mikel Oberman, Antlers.
On May 3, 2025, veteran Ronald Link had his new home furnished by the Lodge’s Veterans Committee with help from the Lodge's Antlers youth group. When he saw the Elks, Antlers, and the Antlers family and advisors arrive with a trailer full of furniture, he practically ran down the stairs of his second-floor apartment!
Pictured are Matthew Collins and Joe Collins, volunteers; Skyler Oberman and Mikel Oberman, Antlers; Mike Calabrese, Bill Morehouse’s nephew; Ron Link, veteran; Bill Morehouse, lodge Welcome Home Kit coordinator; and Charles Foust, Antlers Advisor.
“This has turned a terrible day into a great day!” That’s what veteran Daniel Ross said May 7 when he saw Bill Morehouse and his nephew, Mike Calabrese, show up with a trailer full of furniture and household items for his new apartment. Incredibly thankful, he helped them unload the trailer and fill up his empty apartment.
Pictured are Mike Calabrese, volunteer; Daniel Ross, veteran; and Bill Morehouse lodge Welcome Home Kit coordinator.
On May 25, veteran Kevin Walker had his new apartment furnished after he left a homeless shelter. He didn’t realize how much help he was about to receive until he saw Bill Morehouse arrive with a trailer full of furniture. He was overwhelmed by the support.
Bill Morehouse and Kevin Walker are pictured.
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- Written by: Anthony D'Abbraccio, PER
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On May 26, Parrish Elks Lodge #2889 held its second annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Parrish Cemetery. There were 55 attendees, including 25 lodge members, four members of the Parrish Cemetery Association Board of Directors, and 26 family members and friends of Elks, Cemetery Association board members, and veterans buried at the cemetery. Carol Ann Felts, Manatee County District 1 County Commissioner, and her assistant, Selena, were also present. Colonel Richard Tatem, retired Air Force, was again the guest speaker. His 31-minute speech had two themes — "Be your wingman's keeper" and "Stop trying to be right and instead try to be helpful." Afterward, family members of veterans buried at the cemetery received a flag to place at their loved one’s gravesite. This was followed by all other attendees placing flags at the remaining veterans’ gravesites.
Pictured are some of the ceremony attendees.
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- Written by: Tallahassee Elks
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Tallahassee Elks Lodge #937 donated its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to the Tallahassee Veterans Outreach group, which organized and hosted the annual Tallahassee Veterans Stand Down on the Florida A&M University campus May 16-17. Veterans who are disadvantaged or homeless are invited to receive free meals and interface with city, county and other government offices that offer free or low-cost services to them. North Florida Legal Services, the Red Cross, the local VA clinic, a barber, a veterinarian and other community entities were on hand to be of assistance.
Elks pictured serving breakfast May 17 are Linda and Lee Fish and Tom Walden, PDD, Secretary.
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- Written by: Lakeland Elks
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On May 15, Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 held a fundraising event for Armed Forces Day. Members prepared lasagna and sausage dinners, raffled 12 baskets and held a 50/50 drawing, all which raised $2,300 for future veterans’ functions.
Pictured are Johnny Francks, member; Steve Masterson, PER; and Vicky Crosby, member.
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- Written by: Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
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During the Kentucky Derby event May 3, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 held a fundraiser for Jackson's Gifts, a charitable initiative that rewards a child aging out of the foster care system and entering a branch of the United States armed forces. The $1,563 collected will be awarded to a candidate graduating from boot camp in August.
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- Written by: Taz WrightReynolds, PER
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On May 26, Crestview Elks Lodge members joined the community for the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Okaloosa County Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park in Crestview to honor the military personnel who gave their lives in service of this nation. The ceremony featured a moment of silence, brief remarks and the playing of taps in tribute to the fallen.
Pictured are trustee Shirley Johnson and Leading Knight Dave Rodriguez, who placed the wreath on behalf of the lodge. Also representing the lodge were Deb McMullen, Exalted Ruler; Traci Medlock, board president; and Larry Medlock, chaplain.
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- Written by: Frank Kuczkowski
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On May 23, Port Orange Elks Lodge #2723 presented a $600 check to the Purple Heart Association. Funds were raised from the sale of basket raffle tickets at Friday bingo.
Pictured are Rolf Mattar, Commander of the Purple Heart Association, and Bette Dealey, bingo chair.
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- Written by: Karen Tracy
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In mid-March, members of Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 delivered Welcome Home Kits to Navy Hospital Corpsman Crystal and Mess Management Specialist Daphney when they moved into their own apartments from Women Veterans Ignited. Both women are currently working in fields that are very similar to their Navy specialties, and both are in school to further their knowledge. David Graham, Frank Varnado and Brian Pastorini delivered their kits, which included pillows, bedding, blankets, dishes, pots, pans, kitchenware, towels, toiletries, shower liner and rings, toilet paper, paper towels, light bulbs, trash can and bags, dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, broom, mop, bucket, sponge, laundry basket, detergent, coffee maker, toaster, and microwave, as well as two new beds. These items totaled $983.43 and the funds came from in-kind donations and funds from the Welcome Home Kits ENVSC program.
Karen Tracy, Veterans Chair, is pictured with Daphney and Crystal.
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- Written by: Taz WrightReynolds, PER
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On April 10, Holley-Navarre Elks Lodge #2787 donated $1,000 from its Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to the United Services Organization (USO) center at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. The center provides free internet services, program information, snacks and drinks to service members and their dependents. The amenities at this location also provide CAC readers, charging stations, computers and laptops, Wi-Fi, multimedia and gaming, TV and cable, an air-conditioned lounge to rest, toiletries, and an information desk.
Pictured are Bill White, PDD, Treasurer; Lori Mann, USO Destin-Fort Walton Beach Center operations specialist; and Tom Stevens, PDD, Exalted Ruler.
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- Written by: Cathy Walsh
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On March 25, St. Augustine Elks donated two Welcome Home Kits to Veterans Village, bringing their total kits donated to local veterans this year to 16. Pictured are Cathy Walsh, lodge charity chair, and Mary Cooke, Home Again St. Johns Veteran Village coordinator.
Additionally, the lodge partnered with the residents to collect 4,429 pop tabs to donate to Ronald MacDonald House in Jacksonville. Ronald McDonald House recycles them for cash to help provide housing for families in the Jacksonville area while their children undergo treatment at local hospitals.