Arlington-Fairfax Elks Lodge No. 2188 Annual Veterans Day Program

Arlington-Fairfax Elks Lodge No. 2188, located at 8421 Arlington Blvd., hosted their annual Veterans Day Program on Sunday, November 9, 2014, in the Lodge ballroom. The success of this year’s program was evidenced by the record setting number of Lodge members and guests in attendance. Almost 150 guests participated including veterans from the VA Hospital in Martinsburg, West Virginia, wounded warriors from Ft. Belvoir, members of the Kings Park Band, Lodge members and guests. The program began with opening remarks by the Lodge Veterans Co-Chair, Ken Hensley; an opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance led by Lodge Chaplain, Georgiana Knotts; and welcoming remarks by Patti Graves, Exalted Ruler. Guests enjoyed musical entertainment by the Kings Park Band.

The guest speaker for this year’s program was Frederick Downs, Jr. Fred is a wounded warrior from the Vietnam war who went on to an illustrious career with the Department of Veterans Affairs heading up their Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service. Fred provided the group with a delightful discussion of his war experiences and how his injuries led him to a successful career with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The success of his presentation was evidenced by the number of guests who stopped by after the program to meet Fred and even ask him to autograph their programs.

The program concluded with a buffet dinner of fried chicken, pulled pork, salad, vegetables, rolls and dessert. Our veteran guests were especially delighted with the menu choices and were very complimentary about the food and the program. Several of the veteran guests went around the room to thank the Lodge members for inviting them to this program.

The veteran guests were given handmade scarves donated by the Heart to Hand Knit and Crochet for Charity members, Elk members, and friends of the Elks. The scarf donations originated with Elk member, Carol Towse, 5 years ago and have become a traditional part of our Veterans Day gift to the veteran guests.

It was a perfect tribute of honor and respect to America’s military.

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