Contributed by Phoenix Elks 335
Photo Courtesy of Dave Tevis, Tevis PhotoGraphic LLC
To recognize and support our nation’s veterans, Elks National President Keith Mills has proclaimed November to be Veterans Remembrance Month. This month, we urge all Americans to join the Elks in service to the veterans in your community. Let us remember the words of Elk member and late President John F. Kennedy who said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”
Despite the challenges of the last year, the Elks lived by their pledge to never forget our veterans. When the pandemic created a crisis for many veterans, Elks were there. Our members repurposed funds from hastily cancelled events to buy masks, hand sanitizer and protective equipment for veterans and caregivers at risk of COVID-19. When VA food pantries shut down and veterans’ dinners were canceled, Elks packed and delivered food baskets directly to local veterans. Elks supported hospitalized veterans by delivering books and art supplies to VA medical centers, entertained homebound veterans by playing bingo over the State Veterans Home intercom, and purchased iPads for veterans so they could virtually visit with their families.
And in a year when home was the safest place to be, Elks’ outreach programs allowed thousands of veterans to stay or become housed, giving them not only shelter but supplies, furniture, and food. There are nearly 1,800 Elks Lodges across the country with a total membership of around 800,000. To learn more, visit www.elks.org. For membership information, visit Join.Elks.Org.
