The Shenandoah Elks Lodge held their annual Veteran Appreciation Dinner on Monday October 12, 2015. The Elks were proud to welcome 72 of our local Veterans and provided them with a free meal. There were an additional 82 family members and supporters that enjoyed the meal as well. The meal was put together by our own Chef Alan Armstrong. The event opened with a welcome from the Lodge Lecturing Knight, Doug Meyer chairman of the event. A prayer from Lodge Chaplain Robert Iske was given, then the meal was served. Following the meal, Doug introduced our key speaker Gail Ernst, CSM (RET).
Gail retired 1 October 2001 after serving 28 years on active duty with the U.S. Army. His assignments included: Mechanized Infantry at Ft Carson, Colorado; Light Infantry in Hawaii, Recon Platoon in Panama; Ranger units, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and 75th Ranger Regimental Headquarters; Brigade CSM for Army Central Command, Saudi Arabia (ARCENT-SA). He served 16 months in hostile fire areas to include: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar (14 months) and Haiti (60 days). Gail served in every leadership position from Infantry Team Leader thru Brigade Command Sergeant Major (CSM). He was a Ranger Instructor, Drill Sergeant, and Operations Sergeant Major.
His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Order of Saint Maurice Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5th Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Good Conduct Award (9th Award), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 3), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Ranger Tab, Master Parachute Wings, Pathfinder Torch, Air Assault Wings, Expert Infantry Badge, Expert Rifleman’s Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Canadian Jump Wings, and German Jump Wings.
The Veterans in attendance enjoyed sharing their memories of the service that they provided to ensure our Safety, Freedom and Liberties. Those in attendance ranged from service in World War II, to service in our current engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iowa Elks Association President, Roger McQueen closed the event with expressing thanks to all who attended. He thanked our Veterans for their service, and acquainted the group of the ongoing commitment of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks to always remember them. Roger mentioned the Elks “Deer Hide” program. The program provides tanned deer hides to Veterans in care facilities for them to use to create many different items that are sold in various locations.
The Elks National Veterans Service Commission was established in 1946, immediately after World War II, with the sole mission of serving our nation’s veterans. Though much has changed since then, the Elks’ dedication to serve veterans and military members in need has never wavered. In VA clinics, veterans’ homes, USOs, homeless shelters and more, thousands of Elks volunteers give generously of their time, energy and resources to serve veterans and military members each year.
The Elks are committed to their mission, “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” The Veterans Service Commission takes that pledge one step further, and promises service to our nation’s veterans and military members, with a special focus on service to those in need.
As the needs of today’s veterans changed, so have the Elks’ programs. Today, the Elks National Veterans Service Commission has many exciting programs and partnerships catering to veterans and military members and their families.
Pictured is Gail Ernst, CSM (RET) speaking to the large group gathered for the 8th annual Shenandoah Elks Lodge Veterans Appreciation dinner.
Pictured are from left: Lodge Loyal Knight Matt Livingston, Lodge Lecturing Knight Doug Meyer, Gail Ernst, CSM (RET), Lodge Leading Knight Marv Feller and State President Iowa Elks Association Roger McQueen.
