Seattle Stand Down Appreciation Dinner
at The Seattle Elks

On Veterans Day, November 11th, 2011 the Seattle Elks Lodge hosted many of our fellow service providers from the Seattle Stand Down for Homeless Vets held in late September 2011.

The event was hosted by Seattle Elks Stand Down Dinner Committee Members Leading Knight Kevin Bouffiou, Trustee Mark Fritts, Member (also Stand Down Director) Sam Barrett, Rosemary Magnusson and Toni Schwichtenberg.

VIP attendees included Seattle Central Community College President Paul T Kirkpatrick, Past Grand Leading Knight Dick Mitchell, and many of other Stand Down Service Provider Principles.

Our Kitchen & Serving Staff included Toni Schwichtenberg & Rosemary Magnusson assisting Chef Phil Blackmarr. Our Servers were Emblem Club #110 Members President Violet Simonson, VP Kem Baesman, Treasurer Bobbie Neilsen and Susan Allen PER

Tri-Cities Elks Lodge observed Patriot Day (9/11), the 9th anniversay of the attack on the WTC and the Pentagon. About 60+ attended, Elks, friends, guests and members of American Legion, CBVC and Iraq/Afghanistan service veterans.

The Alaska State Elks Association and Soldotna Lodge #2706 in conjunction with the Kenai River Professional Guides Association held the 4th Annual Wounded Veterans Fishing Event on the Kenai River. There were 43 professional river guides who donated their time, boats, fuel and expertise for these two days to allow these military personnel the opportunity to fish as a means of saying thank you for your service.

Over 100 military personnel from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage and from Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks, traveled to Soldotna for two days of fishing for King Salmon on the Kenai River. Each participant was given a goody bag filled with great stuff for them to take home.

Fishing on Friday, June 17th started at noon and there were a total of 6 fish caught that day. There was a banquet held that night where they were able to feed on Prime Rib and each participant received a polar fleece jacket and cap. Hobo Jim entertained us all during the dinner.

On Saturday, June 18th, fishing commenced once again at 5am and a total of 10 fish were caught that day, which ended with a BBQ featuring a roasted pig, brats, salads and desserts provided for all the participants. It was followed by a drawing for the many wonderful gifts, prizes and other donations that were given by a large group of sponsors. Every member of the service received a gift. Some of these gifts were rifles, fishing rods and reels, tools, fishing trips, hunting trips, etc.

A great time was had by all and to the many, many volunteers who helped make this happen, a Great Big Thank You.

Seaside residents paid homage to those men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on the one day set aside to honor them - Memorial Day. The annual event in Seaside on May 30 was a joint project by the local American Legion Post 99 and Seaside Elks Lodge.

See the write up on the Seaside Signal here.