Lake Oconee Elks Lodge No. 2849 volunteers visited the Georgia War Veterans home in Milledgeville on May 27 to host a cookout for 42 of the veterans who live there. Nine Veterans Administration staff also attended the cookout with the veterans and enjoyed grilled hamburgers and beer brats prepared by the Lodges’ chuck wagon crew.
The Lodge had 21 volunteers who helped transfer the veterans from their rooms to the recreation center, then helped to fix plates and take them to the veterans and enjoyed visiting with them while they ate before taking the vets back afterward.
Thanks go to Veterans Chairman Mike De Petrillo for putting together the event and thanks also to each of the veterans who attended. Thanks also go out to Bill Lewis, chairman of the chuck wagon, along with all the chuck wagon crew and members of Lake Oconee Lodge, including some of its newest members: ER, John White, Mary Zachary, Mike Parker, Lou Valentic, Johnny Rey, Cory Olson, Peter Novak, Cheryl Abbott, Don Hill, Beth Colie, Bob Colie, Kevin Baker, Mike Essex, Sam Orr, Doug Rigdon, Heidi Cross, Chet Echols, Joe Shea, and Bob Harris. Special thanks also to Beth Colie for the decorations that made the room look so festive.
— Contributed