Bonita Springs Elks Lodge: Elks join forces with Bonita Boy Scouts

July is going to be busy. Don't forget the parade on July 1. We will be having a float in the parade along with the Boy Scout Troop #30. They will be showing off their new trailer we bought them and promoting drug awareness. We will be having an old-fashioned picnic on the Fourth of July. Come join the fun for $8 a ticket. You won't be disappointed!

Special to the Banner

The Bonita Springs Elks Lodge #2753 recently held its annual Flag Day ceremony at the lodge, chaired by Lecturing Knight Richard Cooke. The ceremony included Boy Scout Troop #30, and following the ceremony, the Elks presented the troop with a new trailer. Pictured here: Cooke, Exalted Ruler Ronald Cumming, Senior Patrol Leader Jessie Davis, Assistant Scout Master Chris Connerton, Scout Master Ed Howell, Elk dignitary Carl Sturmm, and Elk dignitary Weslie Phelps.

Don't forget to come out on Tuesdays for karaoke and wings, Wednesday for spaghetti, and Thursdays for game night and a buffet. This week we will be having turkey. Naturally, our date night on Fridays is always fun. Our Saturday steak fry will start soon.

On June 11, the Bonita Springs Elks Lodge #2753 held its annual Flag Day ceremony at the lodge, chaired by Lecturing Knight Richard Cooke. The lodge invited Boy Scout Troop #30 to participate in the ceremony. The troop proudly carried the flags of our country into the room beginning with the first recorded flag in 1775. The Pine Tree flag was adopted for all colonial vessels and was the banner carried by the Continental forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill. The procession continued until it reached the flag we fly today, consisting of 50 stars and 13 stripes.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is the first and only fraternal body to require formal observance of Flag Day. In July of 1908 the Grand Lodge of this Order in Dallas, then assembled, provided for the annual nationwide observance of Flag Day on the 14th of June in each year, and made it mandatory upon each Subordinate Lodge of the Order. This year our ceremony was held on a Sunday, with permission of the Grand Lodge.

After the impressive ceremony, fellow Elks, spouses and their guests stepped outside to present the new trailer to Scout Troop #30. This trailer will be used to haul their equipment for different events they hold throughout the year. A free picnic, put on by our caring volunteers, was enjoyed by all in the lounge afterward.

The presentation was made possible by our Bingo Charity Fund chaired by Al Eckberg and his volunteers. Our whole lodge is proud of this group of men and women who give so their time so selflessly. They are the true meaning of our motto, "Elks care, Elks share."

The Boy Scout trailer will be in the Bonita Springs Parade on July 1, along with a trailer from the Elks to promote our drug awareness program. We all say no to drugs!

Please stop by the booth we will have set up on July 1 and talk to us. Bonita Springs Elks #2753 is located at 3231 Coconut Road. We'd love to see you there! For more information, call 947-2753.