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2018 SPECIAL SESSION I


SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 511
Commending the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

 

Agreed to by the Senate, May 14, 2018
 

WHEREAS, founded on February 16, 1868, in New York City by Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian and a handful of friends, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal society dedicated to serving and caring for citizens, communities, and the country; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to the ideals of charity, justice, and patriotism, the Elks invest millions of hours each year to build stronger communities, assist homeless veterans, and help steer young people away from drugs; to those ends, the Elks have disbursed, over the course of the order’s history, nearly $4 billion in cash, goods, and services; and

WHEREAS, since the earliest days of the Elks, patriotism has been among the many hallmarks that make the order stand out from other fraternal societies; in 1907, it was the Elks who first adopted June 14 as Flag Day out of reverence for the American flag and the sacrifices made in its honor; and

WHEREAS, the Elks honor the sacrifices made in defense of the nation through their century-old pledge, “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them”; and

WHEREAS, members of the Elks across the country visit veterans in Veterans Affairs medical facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes, providing much needed support and friendship each day, and at the request of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Elks created the “Welcome Home Program” in 2015 to end homelessness among veterans; and

WHEREAS, the Elks’ deep investment in others also extends to young people; the Elks rank among the top three private providers of scholarships for students, giving millions of dollars annually to thousands of students pursuing their dreams to become the nation’s next generation of leaders; and

WHEREAS, as the nation’s largest volunteer-based drug prevention organization, the Elks’ Drug Awareness Program has done a stellar job of informing youth and parents about the dangers of using illegal substances, tobacco products, and alcohol and of abusing prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, some members of the Elks have achieved public greatness, such as generals Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, and John Pershing and United States presidents Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, and Gerald Ford; and

WHEREAS, the Elks have done much to fulfill their self-charged duty of serving and helping others, not for fanfare or publicity, but simply because they know it is the right thing to do; and

WHEREAS, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has been and will continue to be a shining example of honor and service to neighbor, community, and the nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks hereby be commended on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia Elks Association as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s admiration for the dedicated community service of all members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.