WW2 Memorial

World War II Memorial Fund Convention Report

Two years ago our 135th Grand Lodge Session in Kansas City I proposed and you Resolved to donate One Dollar per member to help build the National World War II Memorial in Washington DC.

Such a program as this is really nothing new to our order. For the Elks since its inception could always be counted upon to support patriotic, national and veteran service endeavors.

Our Order was there in W.W.I when in 1917 we pledged and collected One Million Dollars for a War Relief Fund - this money was used to establish two Military Base Hospitals and also a Veteran Reconstruction Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Which became the Very First Veterans Hospital.

When once again our World was thrust into another War our Order led the way with its' this ever present vigilance of the enemies of freedom both within and without.

As you know, our National Headquarters was built and dedicated to the Veterans of W.W.I and then rededicated to our Veterans after W.W.II.

Here are some notable efforts of our Order during W.W.II:

Elks National Defense Commission who initiated Vocational Rehabilitation Programs, this was the origination of what later became the GI Bill

We conducted Grand Lodge Patriotic Programs to raise funds for USO

We Established Americanism Week celebrations

We introduced the Doctrine - "that teaching Americanism to the youth is one of the most effective method of assuring the future strength of democracy"

We had

Uncle Sam Poster Contests
National Essay Program
Write 'em a letter Campaign

And we continued to serve the Veterans Hospitals

Our Order was recognized by the United States War Department for procuring Army Aviation Cadets with the Elks' Keep 'em Flying Program.

In 1943 and then again in 1944 the Elks voted to assess themselves One Dollar per member to be used directly for the War Effort. Additionally we established 155 Elks Fraternal centers which provided hospitality and entertainment for servicemen.

Many Elks Lodges turned their Lodge buildings over to the Red Cross for blood collection.
Our Lodges collected scrap metal, tires, and other materials for the War Industry.
Subordinate Lodges sold War Bonds and the Lodges themselves purchased almost 22 million dollars in War Bonds
Our Lodges sent Gift Boxes to Servicemen overseas
Books to Merchant Marines and Provided Slippers for Convalescents

Two of our Elks Lodges fell into enemy hands - along with the members and their families.

Elks spent thousands of hours in service to Veterans with their hospitalization programs and in the rehabilitation facilities.

Our Order established the Elks War Commission. This Commission's most notable effort was the cooperative recruiting for the Army, Navy and Nursing Corps. Those Lodges and States that participated in the recruitment effort received an Elks War Commission Certificate, which was the inspiration for the Elks WWII Memorial Fund Certificate awarded to those Lodges and States that now have achieved our $1 per member pledge.

The Elks War Commission that directed our World War II efforts shortly after the war became the Elks National Veterans Service Commission, as you know it today.

And all of this was accomplished in spite of an almost one forth of our membership on active duty and over the expanse of the war our Order grew by 40% in membership.

We can certainly be proud of our Elks' Heritage and of our Member's who were part of the "Greatest Generation".

But as I stated before we can not and we did not rest upon the valor and the devotion of our war time members, because to each generation of Elks comes its own patriotic duty and our freedom depends upon our willingness to sacrifice and endure as those before had sacrificed and endured to assure our national hope.

I want to thank the 1,300 Lodges and the 37 States, and Guam, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines for achieving the $1 per member pledge. The States of Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia for having all of their Lodges contribute. A special recognition goes to Alaska, South Carolina and Utah for all of their Lodges achieving the $1 per member pledge.

I am pleased to report to you that as of this morning we not only achieved our goal but you exceeded the 1-dollar per member by almost 1/4 million dollars. In fact, your efforts have made the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks the largest non-corporate non-service related contributor with a total donated of more than $1,320,000.

Our Order is to be commended for this donation but also for submission of names to the Registry of Remembrances. For during this time of our involvement this Registry grew more than 10 fold.

The sad but true reality is that it is going to take longer to build this memorial than it took to fight and win the war - and there were people who tried to block it's construction. But, when law-suites and others actions were impeding and threatening to block the building of the memorial - you came forward with your voices and support to again help move forward the building of this long overdue Memorial.

You made and met your Pledge and now the This National WWII Memorial is being built to not only recognize and thank the more than 16,000,000 active duty service men and women and the near equal amount on the Home front but it will also serve to forever remind us of the high cost that our Freedom Exacts.

So that 100 years from now when a child visiting this memorial asks his Father or Mother why was this built? - it will be remembered and that child will be told.

Senator Bob Dole National Chairman of the National World War II Memorial Fund was to be with us but due to an impending surgery he prepared a Video Message.

Thank ALL OF YOU for what you have accomplished. It has been my and my wife, June's pleasure to have worked with you in this effort.

Grand Exalted Ruler Rumney this concludes my Report on the Elks National WWII Memorial Fund and I move for the Motion of its adoption.

Submitted July 11, 2001
D. Steve Gunter, GL National Coordinator
National World War II Memorial Fund