Tri-City Elks throw party for 61 veterans

By PETE FONTAINE
Posted 3/7/19

By PETE FONTAINE Sometime around 11:30 last Thursday morning, a small fleet of mini-buses pulled into the Tri-City Elks Lodge parking lot on West Shore Road in Warwick. Most of the passengers were mighty military men, a.k.a. veterans and their aides who

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Tri-City Elks throw party for 61 veterans

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Sometime around 11:30 last Thursday morning, a small fleet of mini-buses pulled into the Tri-City Elks Lodge parking lot on West Shore Road in Warwick.

Most of the passengers were mighty military men, a.k.a. veterans and their aides who traveled from Bristol to Lodge 14 where they would enjoy a touching and at-times tear-jerking tribute that included home-cooked food, gifts galore, music and super special service.

While the Elks credo is “Elks Care, Elks Share”, perhaps Mark Eaton – Vice President West of the statewide organization and one-time Lodge 14 Exalted ruler, said it best noting: “One of our sayings is as long is there an Elks, veterans will not be forgotten.”

Lodge 14, a leader in honoring veterans throughout the years, left no stoned unturned for last Thursday’s luncheon, which was sponsored by the Elks National Foundation.

For inside of three hours, Lodge 14 said “Thank You” – as disc jockey-music man Rob Caramante so aptly put it – to 61 men “for your great service to our country.”

The event was, as people like Randy Ayers observed: “Veterans honoring veterans in a very unique way.”

First and foremost there was a delicious all-the-vets-could-eat meal that included salad, Eaton’s incomparable oven-baked chicken, French fries, macaroni and loaves of warm bread baked by recently-retired U.S. Marine and new Lodge 14 member Eric Moroney.

Food wise, Eaton – a decorated Vietnam veteran – wanted to make sure the honored guests had plenty to eat but cautioned their aides to save room for dessert.

That’s because volunteers from Lodge 14 – as well as Rhode Island’s top Elk Leo Blanchette – went from table-to-table once the main meal was finished and made personalized banana splits for each of the 61 veterans.

To which Lori Eaton, Mark’s wonderful wife and Lodge 14’s “Lady for All Seasons and Reasons who doubles as the Elks Veterans Committee chairperson added: “We had over 20 volunteer members who all said this was the best luncheon we ever hosted; everyone felt so good during the meal and afterwards, too.”

The event also included a special birthday salute to Ernie Anderson, 94, a Warwick native and U.S. Army veteran who enjoyed dancing with Lodge 14 Trustee Ann Licciardi and his aide Krissie Morrissette.

“Now that’s extra special,” Noel Petisce – a U.S. Army vet who served in Vietnam and volunteered as the day’s bartender – said while pouring a soda and watching Licciardi dance with Anderson. “Just look at his smile – and step.”

There were similar statements during the heart-warming event as well as three other highlights that are why Tri-City is a step or three above the norm as far as Elks Lodges are concerned.

Take when the aides and volunteer servers escorted each vet to a table that was filled with electric razors, slippers, World Search books, magnifier glasses with lights, flannel shirts, sweatshirts, Bluetooth speakers and exercise hand balls for the mighty men to take back to their residence at the RI Veterans Home in Bristol.

Yet another tribute, as everyone called the moment, came when sounds of the National Anthem echoed throughout the room and the vets – regardless if they were sitting in a wheelchair or their walkers – rose to their feet and saluted the flag.

However, one veteran – Bill Keenen – a U.S. Martine Fighter pilot in World War II – captured everyone’s heart when he wheeled his walker to Caramante’s music machine, requested the microphone and began singing the Marine’s Hymn.

The day ended with servers presenting each guest with an embroidered that that read: “Elks Love Vets” – and as Lori Eaton pointed out “the word love is replaced by a heart.”

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