By Port Huron Elks Lodge 343
The National Wreaths Across America Day (NWAA), sponsored by Jeepers Anonymous Michigan (J.A.M.) takes place locally on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Woodland Cemetery in Port Huron Township. This is to honor our lost Veterans, as wreaths are laid at the grave sites of each Veteran in Woodland Cemetery. This recognition of honor has never been done in Woodland Cemetery. It will be the first cemetery in St. Clair County to honor our lost Veterans with a full memorial ceremony, as well as the wreath placement on the Veterans’ gravesites. It’s the NWAA committees’ goal, to ensure every Veteran buried in Woodland Cemetery is honored with a wreath this Holiday season. There are currently 474 Veterans buried at Woodland Cemetery. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 14th beginning promptly at 12-Noon at the Woodland Cemetery, prior to wreaths being placed. This is the time, nationwide, when all participating locations will conduct their ceremonies as well. Lodge 343 membership are welcome to participate or Volunteer to help J.A.M. place wreaths at the grave sites.
Photo courtesy of the Port Huron Elks Lodge 343. Gary A. Osburn, Veronica Caplinger, & Mike Hernandez accept check on behalf of the Port Huron Elks Lodge 343 Veterans fund.
Port Huron Elks Lodge 343 membership takes great pride in joining the J.A.M. who recently became the Official Wreaths Across America local sponsor with the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach. On Wednesday, November 6th Port Huron Elks Lodge 343 members, Gary & Penny Osburn, met with Veronica Caplinger, committee chair of Wreaths Across America MI0301 and Mike Hernandez to present (2) donation checks of $500.00 each on behalf of the Port Huron Elks Lodge 343 Veterans fund and Club 343 fund.
Other points of interest: The Port Huron Elks Lodge 343 and the Elks National Veterans Service Commission hosted our annual free Hot Dog Roast on Thursday, November 7th starting at 10:00 am at the Yale VA. All Veterans, spouses, active Military, First Responders and VA Staff were invited to stop in for free Hot Dogs, chips, homemade cookies, an array of condiments, and beverages which will be provided. Over 70 Veterans stopped in to enjoy the event. As we continue to show our appreciation for our local area Veterans, Lodge 343 and ENVSC have planned our 5th free “Coffee & Donut Day at the Yale VA” on Wednesday, December 11th from 8:30 am to 12-noon in the Veterans Wellness room. These events are sponsored by ENVSC, Lodge 343, and the Yale VA. This is our way to say thank you, to our Veterans, active Military and first responders for their service.
Photo courtesy of the Port Huron Elks Lodge 343. Gary Osburn, EMVSC Deputy Rep & Patrick Lanthier, US Coast Guard draw this month’s lucky Gas Card winners
On another note, the ENVSC and Lodge 343 continue the monthly (2) $25.00 free gas gift card “give-a-way” program in 2024. Our most recent drawing took place on Thursday, November 7th for the October drawing, as US Coast Guard (retired) Veteran Patrick Lanthier drew this month’s lucky local Veterans. The winning tickets belong to Dennis Gill, US Army & Rodger Hoeninghausen, US Army, congratulations! The Yale Veterans Clinic of McLaren/Port Huron Yale Community Health Center is located at 7470 Brockway Road, Yale, MI. 48097. To our Port Huron Elks Lodge 343 Veterans and newly initiated Veterans, your time served is very interesting to us, please consider sharing your Military Service story to Scott R. Harris PER, ENVSC VAVS Rep at scottharris55@comcast.net for a future Veterans Corner publication.
