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Our Military & Veterans
Village of Valor Receives Donation from Boca Raton Elks
- Details
- Written by Boca Raton Elks
On Dec. 5, Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 donated $900 of its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the Village of Valor, which supports veterans rejoining society.
Pictured are Casimiro Hampton-Crockett, Village Deputy Director; Tito Young, PER; Paula Buss, member; Shirley Board, Exalted Ruler; and John De Cicco, member.
West Citrus Elks Deliver Gifts to Veterans
- Details
- Written by Brian Estus, PDD
On Dec. 21, members of the West Citrus Elks Lodge Veterans Committee visited Crystel Gem to deliver Christmas gifts to the veterans who live there. Crystal Gem is one of the local assisted living facilities visited monthly by the committee. Gifts were purchased using funds from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant.
Sebring Elks Lodge Donates 10 Wreaths to Wreaths Across America
- Details
- Written by Ronna Mason, PER
On Dec. 16, Sebring Lodge participated in the Highlands County observance of the national Wreaths Across America program. This took place at the Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Avon Park. The lodge paid for 10 of the 528 wreaths, which were placed on the graves by volunteers. Member Ron Schilffarth represented the Lodge Veterans Committee.
Pictured are volunteers placing the wreaths.
Fort Myers Ladies of Elks Assist Veteran's Family for the Holidays
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- Written by Diane Hendrick
On Dec. 17, the Fort Myers Ladies of Elks presented a family with a $300 Publix gift card, receipt for a turkey dinner for Christmas, and a rolling cooler filled with treats for the family. The father is a veteran who is in need of assistance for his family and was referred to the Ladies of Elks through Hearts and Homes for Veterans Inc.
Pictured is Kathy Lake, Ladies President, presenting the gifts to the family.
Sebring Elks Host Annual Veterans Luncheon
- Details
- Written by Ronna Mason, PER
On Dec. 6, Sebring Lodge hosted its annual Christmas luncheon for veterans at the lodge. There were 31 veterans and their caregivers in attendance from several local assisted living facilities as well as invited veterans. Also in attendance were lodge volunteers and Santa (nonmember Chip Boring). Ret. Sergeant Jose Santos, pictured, gave the opening prayer and presented each veteran with a special veterans pin. A ham dinner was provided by the Elks and cooked by Chef Jacob Lyons from Hands for Homeless. Member Patsy Howard sang "Proud To Be an American."
Veterans Receive Holiday Gifts from Bradenton Elks
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- Written by Bob Erwin, PDD
The Bradenton Elks Lodge Veterans Committee and members who gave gifts, with the assistance of the Blessing Bags Project, a local nonprofit organization serving Manatee and Sarasota counties and the Sun Key Villages, a Palmetto community, delivered $3,500 in personal and comfort items to the C.W. Bill Young Veterans’ housing facility.
Pictured are Betsy Plant from the Blessing Bags Project; Bill Rauh, Lodge Veterans Chair; and Barbara Bouchard of Sun Key Villages.
Parrish Elks Participate in Two Wreaths Across America Events
- Details
- Written by Anthony D'Abbraccio
On Dec. 15, members of Parrish Elks Lodge #2889 took part in two Wreaths Across America events. At noon, members assisted the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 325 in laying their 1,700 wreaths at veterans’ graves at Mansion Memorial Cemetery in Ellenton. At 3 p.m., lodge members, along with Parrish High School's Key Club members, laid wreaths at 87 veterans’ graves at Parrish Cemetery in Parrish.
Members pictured at Mansion Memorial Cemetery are Anthony D'Abbraccio, Dennis O'Hare, Ken Knight, Chris O'Hare, Kim Bahlke, Sherri Crunk-Gumbs and LeeAnn Mitchell.
Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Entertain Veterans at Jacobson House
- Details
- Written by Shirley Thompson
On Nov. 29, Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge #2753 volunteers went to the Jacobson House to entertain the veterans with karaoke singers. They also brought $500 worth of handmade blankets along with toothbrushes, toothpaste, crossword puzzle books and socks.
Karaoke singers pictured in the front are Phil Boucher, Phyliss Steelsmith, Pete Thompson and Steve Neelin as veterans watch from the audience. Frank LaBletta told jokes.
Sanford Elks Swing 4 Veterans
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- Written by Cristin Rumler
Sanford Elks Lodge #1241 hosted its first Swing 4 Veterans charity golf tournament Oct. 29. The tournament was held at the Mayfair Country Club in Sanford and had 121 players, including members and nonmembers. There were 32 hole sponsors and six corporate sponsors. The event raised $10,147 to support the lodge’s various veterans programs.
Pictured are a golfer swinging in front of a sponsor sign and a general view of players and golf carts.
Zephyrhills Elks Lodge Veterans Committee Donates Produce to Healing Heart
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- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
On Nov. 2, the Zephyrhills Elks Lodge Veterans Committee donated 30 pounds of fruits and vegetables to Healing Heart soup kitchen. Healing Heart feeds veterans without homes as well as others in the community and also has a laundry facility. Ken Fabiani, PER, Veterans Chair, has been helping for the past two years.
Sebring Elks Participate in Veterans Council of Highlands County Veterans Day Events
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- Written by Ronna Mason, PER
On Nov. 11, the Veterans Council of Highlands County honored veterans with a parade and day of events. Vendors, bands, JROTC color guards and local organizations were in attendance at Fireman's Field in Sebring, Florida. Sebring Elks veteran Bert Horwitz, left, rode in a convertible along with trustee Ron Schilffarth. The car owner and driver was member Bob Alley. Brenda Walton, Lodge Veterans Services Chair, worked at the Elks tent, where there were brochures, pictures of charity events and applications available. Pictured with Brenda are two unnamed visitors.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Host Open House Luncheon for Veterans
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- Written by JoAnn Reddy
In celebration of Veterans Day, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge #2855 held an open house luncheon, with all veterans invited and given a free lunch and drink. The event served 54 veterans, both members and nonmembers.
Tom Sweeney, Lodge Veterans Services Chair, second from right, is pictured with four area veterans.