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Written by Jerry Harrington, PER

On June 12, Viera Elks Lodge #2817 held an Antlers graduation banquet for their senior Antlers graduating high school. The lodge provided and served an Italian dinner and presented seven graduating seniors with $500 each to be used as they wish. Jerry Harrington commented, “This group of kids were awesome ambassadors for our lodge over the last three years. They helped us leave a bigger footprint in our community.”

Pictured are the seniors as well as other Antlers and parents; Eric Enrique, right, Antlers sponsor; and Heidi Vargas, middle of middle row, Antlers sponsor.

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Written by Rotonda Elks

Rotonda Lodge donated $2,180 to Wreaths Across America. The funds came from members who purchased 80 small American flags, which were installed on the roadside at the lodge May 31 and will fly until July 4. The flags included tags to honor a veteran and include the name of the person who purchased the flag. This event was led by member Brad Fitzgerald and 15 volunteers. 

Pictured are the flags outside the lodge.

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Written by Anthony D'Abbraccio & Linda Smiley

On May 27, Parrish Elks Lodge #2889 held its first Memorial Day ceremony at the Parrish Cemetery. There were 79 people in attendance, including 29 lodge members and family members, four members of the Parrish Cemetery Association Board of Directors, and family members and friends of veterans buried at the cemetery. There was a workday in April where the veterans' graves were identified and prepared for this event. Lodge members bought, cut, painted and installed 100 PVC pipes for each of the veterans buried at the cemetery to hold the Memorial Day flags steady. The Elks also donated and installed a collapsible flagpole for a large American flag to wave above the cemetery near the message board. Bill Tetrault, Esquire, installed the pole into the ground. During the ceremony, welcome remarks were made by Ken Knight, trustee, Army of Hope Chair and Veterans Committee member. Army Chaplain, Alan Brown, gave the invocation and benediction. The flag dedication was done by Mary McQuoid, Lecturing Knight and Americanism Chair. Richard Tatem, retired Air Force Colonel, was the guest speaker. Veterans Committee member Kim Panza recited the war poem “In Flanders Field.” Taps was played as well. Finally, family members of veterans buried at the cemetery placed small flags into the 100 PVC pipes. Afterward, other attendees placed flags at the remaining veterans’ graves.

Pictured raising the flag are members Frank Loviglio, Keith Parsons, Clark Christensen and Joe Kline. Also pictured are attendees and a flag at a grave.

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Written by Erika Barger, PDD

Ormond Beach Elks Lodge #2193 held its annual scholarship banquet May 3, honoring high school seniors from four schools and their families with a certificate of recognition and dinner. The lodge awarded a total of $38,500, which included $3,000 in lodge scholarships, $31,500 on behalf of the Florida State Elks Association, and $4,000 on behalf of the Elks National Foundation. Banquet guests included student recipients; parents, grandparents and family members; principals and administrators; Paul Leonard, East Central District ENF Scholarship Chair; and Harold Briley, Vice Mayor of Ormond Beach.

Receiving $1,000 scholarships from the lodge were Tiden Burch and Kaiden Kolis, of Spruce Creek High School, and Xaria McCoy, of Mainland High School. Tiden Burch was also awarded an additional $4,000 Most Valuable Student scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.

Ormond Beach Lodge presented six C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarships on behalf of the Florida State Elks Association. Wyatt Kent and Luke Womack, of Seabreeze High School, and Xaria McCoy each received $7,500. Cole Brown and Kylee Robertson, of Seabreeze High School, and Kaila Bellamy, of Atlantic High School, received $3,000 each. Local students garnered 30% of the Florida State Elks Association’s 21 HOPE scholarships statewide. The HOPE Scholarship is awarded to seniors with an unweighted GPA between 2.3 and 3.59 who have demonstrated leadership in school activities, community service, and citizenship and who have born additional responsibility throughout their high school careers to provide support to siblings or family.

Scholarship recipients pictured with a cake are Xaria McCoy, Wyatt Kent, Tiden Burch, Luke Womack, Kaiden Kolis, Cole Brown and Kaila Bellamy.

Also pictured are Dean Yeager, PDD, East Central District HOPE Scholarship Chair; Joe Pepe, HOPE Scholarship State Chair; Erika Barger, PDD, Lodge Scholarship Chair; HOPE Scholarship recipients, Kaila Bellamy, Xaria McCoy, Cole Brown, Luke Womack, and Wyatt Kent; Joseph Brozyna, Exalted Ruler; and Carl Seibert, PDD, FSEA COO/State Secretary.

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Written by Bobbie Vance

Members and officers of Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge #2387 attended the Cocoa Beach High School senior awards presentation May 10 to award 19 $1,000 scholarships. Of these, 16 were academic scholarships presented by Robert Janes, Exalted Ruler, right, and trustee Dean Rosenquist (not pictured). These were funded by donations, proceeds from game nights, and other events such as gift raffles and commercial bingo games at the Super Bowl party, Kentucky Derby, and Cinco de Mayo parties. The lodge also kicked off a grassroots effort this school year for students who have other interests and to provide a career path or an alternative to college. Member Gene Phillips, left, and Robert Janes, Exalted Ruler, right, presented three vocational and technical trades scholarships, which were funded by lodge members. This new scholarship program was welcomed by Cocoa Beach High School and the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department of the Brevard County Public Schools.

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Written by Carol Lee Spages

On May 4, in honor of International Firefighters Day, New Port Richey Elks Lodge #2284 presented a large tray of cookies and a thank you poster to the members of New Port Richey Fire Company 1 and 2.

Pictured from Company 1 are Captain Tom Christian; Elizabeth Groves, Inner Guard/Americanism Chair; and firefighters Tiffany Williams and Javier Espinales.

Pictured from Company 2 are Captain Eric Slafky, Elizabeth Groves and firefighter Corbin Mitchell.