Cape Henlopen Elks host Veterans Day dinner
Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540 in Lewes hosted a Veterans Appreciation Dinner Nov. 11 to thank its veteran members and recognize Veterans Day. This event is held annually at no cost to member veterans and their guests. This year, there were 94 attendees, 47 of whom were veterans.
Hosted by the Lodge 2540 Veterans Committee, the program began with appetizers and fellowship, and continued with a warm welcome by Robert Trafton, committee chair. Veterans Committee member and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Dan Celia presented the colors, the national anthem was sung by Past Exalted Ruler Joy Schreck and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Past Exalted Ruler Ralph Patterson.
Trafton then proudly announced that the recent golf tournament to benefit local veterans raised over $17,000, and the committee will be able to donate more than $20,000 to local veterans' causes over the next year. Organizations that receive Elks support include the Home of the Brave, Stand Down and the Delaware Veterans Home, among others. The committee also provides funding to the Delaware Technical Community College scholarship program for veterans seeking higher education. Exalted Ruler Marty Schreck continued with the Elks Veterans Ritual, followed by a blessing from Chaplain Chris Miller-Marcin.
Attendees enjoyed patriotic music provided by DJ Sherman Newton along with a delicious dinner followed by a special sheet cake. A raffle drawing was held, and the winner received a beautiful barbecue grill, one of the many donations made by the local Home Depot Manager Lindsey Fry, a huge veterans committee supporter.
The special guest speaker for the evening was military historian Ed Paterline. He gave a most enthusiastic recounting of the history of the U.S. Army from colonial times to the present.
Other guests of honor included the most senior veterans (and Elks) in the room: 101-year-old George McCarthy, 98-year-old Vernon Hubert and 95-year-old Bill Gulden. Both McCarthy and Hubert are World War II veterans, while Gulden served in the Korean War.
To close out the ceremony, Joy Schreck brought the crowd to their feet and led them in singing “God Bless the U.S.A./Proud to Be an American,” and “God Bless America,” followed by final remarks from Trafton.
Without the unselfish volunteerism of 18 members who donated their time and talents, this ceremony and dinner showing sincere appreciation for veterans would not have been such a success. Special thanks go to Veterans Committee members Dan Celia, event organizer, and Nancy Bush, who created the table cards; and kudos to the entire kitchen and serving staff.
All those involved worked to make sure local veterans felt appreciated and honored for their bravery and love for this country. Without the sacrifices of the evening’s honorees and other veterans, Americans would not enjoy the freedoms held so dear today.
