VETERANS CORNER December 2023
The month of November was very busy for the Veterans Committee. We held a free Veterans Lunch
on November 12 for our ELK Veterans and a guest. We had a great time visiting and each Veteran who attended received a “Thank you for your service” Challenge Coin. We also put up our annual Veterans Christmas Tree on November 19. We hung 173 stars on the tree this year from seven different retirement and assisted living homes and, of course, our Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins. We spent time during our November meeting filling out the stars with the wishes of the veterans.
Please continue to pick stars from the Veterans Tree, purchase a gift ($25), wrap, and attach the star, and return the gift to the tree no later than December 15. We’ll be picking up packages from time to time and storing them until delivery by the committee one week before Christmas. This is an annual event and gives each of us a feel-good moment. We will also accept monetary donations and do the shopping for you. Just note Veterans Tree on your donation and send/give to the Lodge office.
December 16 is Wreaths Across America Day. We have been contributing both money and time to this event for the last three years and our Lodge participants will tell you that it is very rewarding. This year we will be helping lay 2200 wreaths at Tonaquint and St George cemeteries. There is an opening ceremony at Tonaquint Cemetery at 10 a.m. then a police escorted caravan to St George Cemetery.
Note: there will be no Veterans Committee meeting in December.
I want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year! Remember to always reach out to our veterans with care and honor.
Dick Wilson
Veterans Committee Chair
435-773-6974
The month of November was very busy for the Veterans Committee. We held a free Veterans Lunch
on November 12 for our ELK Veterans and a guest. We had a great time visiting and each Veteran who attended received a “Thank you for your service” Challenge Coin. We also put up our annual Veterans Christmas Tree on November 19. We hung 173 stars on the tree this year from seven different retirement and assisted living homes and, of course, our Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins. We spent time during our November meeting filling out the stars with the wishes of the veterans.
Please continue to pick stars from the Veterans Tree, purchase a gift ($25), wrap, and attach the star, and return the gift to the tree no later than December 15. We’ll be picking up packages from time to time and storing them until delivery by the committee one week before Christmas. This is an annual event and gives each of us a feel-good moment. We will also accept monetary donations and do the shopping for you. Just note Veterans Tree on your donation and send/give to the Lodge office.
December 16 is Wreaths Across America Day. We have been contributing both money and time to this event for the last three years and our Lodge participants will tell you that it is very rewarding. This year we will be helping lay 2200 wreaths at Tonaquint and St George cemeteries. There is an opening ceremony at Tonaquint Cemetery at 10 a.m. then a police escorted caravan to St George Cemetery.
Note: there will be no Veterans Committee meeting in December.
I want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year! Remember to always reach out to our veterans with care and honor.
Dick Wilson
Veterans Committee Chair
435-773-6974