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n 2008, for example, folks at the Plymouth Elks Lodge 1780 raised over $4,500 to buy Christmas gifts for veterans in the Detroit, Ann Arbor and Battle Creek Veterans Administration hospitals, and at three homeless shelters; donated more than 230 bags of clothing to the Michigan Veterans Foundation; sponsored regular game days and ice cream socials for hospitalized and homeless veterans; hosted steak lunches for veterans who are bused to the Elks lodge from around the region; and donated deer hides used to make gloves given to veterans who use wheelchairs.

"Local hunters have the opportunity to stretch out a helping hand to veterans in need. The Elks have begun the annual collection of deer, elk and other animal hides which will be tanned and distributed for recreational and occupational therapy throughout the Veterans Administration health-care system to OUR Disabled Veterans'. The Elks also have a program in place where tanned leather is cut and sewn into specially designed fingerless gloves, which are furnished to Veterans confined to wheelchairs to protect their hands during movement. The drive is part of a nationwide leather program that the Elks have been operating since 1948. The motto of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission is: "So long as there are Veterans, the benevolent and protective order of Elks will never forget them.""

Lafayette resident Bill Bray served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force for five years. Advertisement After being stationed in Panama City, Fla., and Germany, he returned to Lafayette finding it difficult to meet other veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Bray didn't have to try hard to find fellow veterans Sunday night at the Elks Lodge 143 just outside of West Lafayette. The Elks hosted a Veterans Recognition Dinner that honored veterans who have served in the military since Sept. 11 or families of veterans who've died since the

"Bob Janovic, exalted ruler of the two-year-old Shallotte Elks Lodge, noticed soon after moving here that, while Shallotte has Memorial Day services and veterans recognition events, there is no physical memorial honoring veterans-something the public can view year-round to pay tribute to local veterans and those killed in action."

Season in and season out, Dave Powers is helping veterans. Take today. The semi-retired Grand Island salesman is making sure that the Re-Creations - a college-age traveling entertainment group for hospitalized veterans - makes it to the city for the group's 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday shows in Grand Island at the Veterans Medical Center and Veterans Home, respectively.

DERRY - The Derry Salem Elks lodge recently held its annual Roast Beef Dinner for Veterans. Veterans from the Manchester VA Medical Center and the Tilton Home for Veterans were invited to attend. Seven veterans from Tilton and six from Manchester attended, along with several aides.

Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge No. 2815 hosted lunch for 28 veterans from the blind and the geriatrics centers of the Tucson VA Hospital earlier this month. Veterans Service Committee Chairman Billy Tyre organized the April 4 event with help from Lodge House Committee members, who prepared Mexican food at the veterans' request.

"The Elks celebrated Veterans Day for 2009 on Nov. 12, its second event of the year for local veterans. Nearly 100 veterans were honored by their family and the Los Baños Elks during the annual luncheon."

Their stories are legion. The stress behind their stories, stress that combat veterans often hold tight inside, can be painful and destructive. There was the Marine in Afghanistan who told me he has post-traumatic stress disorder so bad he can't stand to be safe at home, where he sometimes drops to the floor, thinking a loud noise is an incoming mortar. He keeps volunteering to return to combat, where his hair-trigger reflexes make sense. Where he's comfortable. For veterans, telling their stories can be helpful. Having someone listen? Priceless.

"Tiffin Elks Lodge 94 is celebrating 127 years in Tiffin. Exalted Ruler Joe Steinmetz, who joined the lodge seven years ago, is helping plan the event with other members. Why celebrate 127 years? "We want to commemorate 127 years of benevolence in Tiffin and celebrate another 100 years of active involvement in our community," Steinmetz said. Friday, dinner and live entertainment will take place for members and guests. Events Saturday are open to the public at 106 E. Perry St. Indoor and outdoor activities are to continue all day Saturday, with proceeds to benefit Disabled American Veterans. At 8 a.m., registration opens for a 5K run or 1K walk. An opening ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. and the race steps off at 10 a.m., following a route along Riverside Drive and downtown Tiffin. Registration for the 5K and 1K can be done up to the day of the race at $15 per person. The age groups are: 12 and under; 13-19; 20-34; 35-50; and over 50. Forms can be obtained at the Elks, Clover Club, Madison Street Tavern, Varsity Barber Shop, Champs Barber Shop, Pit Stop, Reino's and Ace Hardware. Checks should be made payable to Tiffin Elks Lodge 94. A grill and beverage bar opens at noon to serve all day. A mini-golf challenge and cornhole tournament are to begin at 1 p.m. in the parking lot. The cost is $20 per team for the cornhole tournament. To register, call (419) 447-2818 or email er@tiffinelks.com. Music also is planned. From 4-7 p.m., The House Band of Toledo is to play rock with a reggae and Cajun twist. Next, 8-11 p.m. is the "rooty music" of Dragon Wagon, with a mix of bluegrass, rock and folk. Steinmetz said the Elks National Foundation issues grants to qualifying lodges to meet community needs. Steinmetz said the Elks have partnered with organizations such as Winterfest and Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival and are looking for grant opportunities for both events this year. The Elks' core mission is benevolence. The lodge has donated to the Seneca County Opportunity Cente

Early every Tuesday morning, members of the North Fort Myers Elks Lodge #2742 are busy getting ready for a weekly event. On that day, members of the Veterans Committee feed local homeless individuals and provide them with basics that improve their quality of life. The award-winning Veterans Outreach Program has been recognized as one of the best in the country by the Elks organization. It is also a model for other lodges and organizations across the U.S., Veterans Administration officials said.

"Saturday night the Mount Airy Elks Lodge #2061 took part in a long-time tradition for the Elks when it hosted a veterans appreciation dinner."

Saturday night the Mount Airy Elks Lodge #2061 took part in a long-time tradition for the Elks when it hosted a veterans appreciation dinner.

"On March 18th, the annual veterans breakfast took place at the Billerica Elks. Veterans Director, Ken Buffum, along with Secretary Marie O'Rourke tells us, their office puts on this event every year around this time."

Getting an 8 a.m. start for moving Thomas Race's belongings into storage wasn't a big deal for the seven Elks and military veterans who took on the task Friday morning. But it was a big deal for Race, who spent the past four weeks packing up his and his wife's possessions so he could check himself into the Veterans Administration hospital in Walla Walla next week. Race has used a wheelchair since January, but he has battled depression and drug abuse for about eight years. Now he hopes to get an upper hand on his mental struggles by addressing his physical disability, which was brought on by an anthrax vaccination nearly 20 years ago.

Arthur Robinson is a big man, and when he laughs, the area around him seems to light up. Robinson had caught a 6-inch perch, his first fish of the day, and when I told him to "hold that monster up" for a photo, he broke up laughing. The fishing was slow, but no one could say we weren't having a good time on a beautiful summer day. Robinson, who lives in Muskegon Heights and was a C-130 transport plane crew member in Vietnam, was one of 46 veterans hosted last week by members of St. Joseph Elks Lodge 541 for a day of food, fishing and fun. The vets are all patients at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Battle Creek. The Elks rounded up 16 local boats, some run by charter fishermen and others by sport fishermen, to take the vets out. All volunteered their time.

"As the buses filled with veterans pulled up to the Braintree Elks Lodge Tuesday evening, Georgia Pratt and her 30-plus volunteers were more than ready for them."

I'm sure chicago is an endless money pit. Need to have a program to move homeless vets out of that corrupt hell hole of a town. They could have done it if they haven't had given away the Elks home for a song. there was 200 acres and it is just so very hard to believe that this crown jewel of elkdom couldn't have been utilized for veterans.

"The Katy Elks lowered the U.S. flag at its lodge to half staff at 9 a.m. Monday, signaling a remembrance for all U.S. veterans and all they have given to provide a safer place for everyone and to preserve this county's freedom."

"Members of McAlester Elks Lodge 533 and other Elks from across Oklahoma have once again donated money for Christmas gifts to be taken to all veterans who live at the Talihina Veterans Center. "

Jordyn Schara makes grown men cry. The 14-year-old feels guilty, because every time veterans read her national prize-winning essay on freedom, they break down in tears. Merle Alt, chairman of the Baraboo Elks Club's essay program, can hardly discuss Schara's piece without choking up. And he's not alone. "This essay brought everybody at the Elks convention to their knees," Alt said.