Flag Day Ceremony 2025
Nationwide, Elks Lodges hold annual ceremonies on June 14th, Flag Day. This day is the anniversary of the birth of the American Flag. We set aside this day to honor what our Old Glory represents, and to share proper knowledge and respect of the American Flag.
At the Erie Elks Lodge 67, this year’s ceremony was honored to have special flag bearers from Tracy Elementary School’s Millcreek Township Police Athletic League. The Lodge is involved in the P.A.L. program that mentors local youth. The celebration culminated with a patriotic cake supplied by the Lodge Auxiliary.
Veterans Picnic at P.I. State Park
Erie Elks Lodge 67 Veterans Committee hosted its annual highlight event; the Veterans Picnic at Presque Isle State Park. On June 12th, volunteers hosted 78 U.S. Veterans and staff from four Erie area residential facilities for a luncheon at the park. Veterans had the opportunity to connect and socialize with fellow vets outside of their residential communities. They also had the opportunity to fish with volunteers from the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie. Thank you, volunteers!
Teaming up with Erie Marine Corp League
Erie Elks Lodge 67 assisted the Erie Marine Corp League with placing flags on Veteran grave markers at Laurel Hill and Erie County Memorial Cemeteries, on Friday, May 16th and Saturday, May 17th. This yearly activity recognizes all Veterans just prior to Memorial Day.
Over 30 Lodge members spent the two mornings adjusting flag holders and placing flags, while taking in the serenity and quiet remembrance. Approximately 1,000 flags were placed at the cemeteries.
R. Scott Seib, PER, PDDGER, named Elks PA Chaplain
At the 2025 PA Elks State Association Spring Convention's Officer Installation, Erie Lodge 67's own R. Scott Seib, PER, PDDGER, was installed as the State Chaplain for the 2025-26 fiscal year! Scott is also the chairperson for the PA Accident Prevention committee.
The following Lodge 67 members hold PA and District positions:
Jim Law, PER, PDDGER, as Vice-Chair of the Convention Committee, and PA Membership/Lapsation Committee member
Laurie Law, as Chairperson of PA Home Services Committee, PA Resolutions Committee member, and NW District Secretary
Fran Milkowski as PA Soccer Shoot Committee member, PA Youth Activities Committee member, and NW District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler
Dictionaries for Tracy Elementary Students!
Our Lodge looks forward to expanding our impact on
Volunteers from Erie Lodge 67 visited local Millcreek Township School Tracy Elementary, to deliver 120 dictionaries to their third graders. Lodge volunteers and school staff distributed the dictionaries and completed activities with the students. The third graders were ECSTATIC!
Plans are in the works to expand the Elks Dictionary Program to the other four elementary schools in the Millcreek Township School District.
Below are 2 activities we did with the dictionaries at Tracy Elementary School:
- Speedy Word Search: Students were given a list of words to look up in their dictionaries. How many of these words could they find in three minutes? Participants recorded the page number to show where they found the words.
- Mystery Word Hunt: Ahead of time, students were instructed to write a series of clues to lead a specific word. For example, clues for the word ‘parrot‘ might be: 1) Comes between ‘parlor’ and ‘parsnip’, 2) has two syllables, 3) is a colorful animal.
Our Lodge looks forward to expanding our impact on our local youth!
Western Saloon Night for Elks Charities
The Erie Elks held their first Western Saloon Night on Friday, March 14th, and it was a very fun night for all. The social quarters were decorated in a western theme, complete with a jail.
During the evening, Sheriff Don Langer arrested 45 people, while Judge Scott Seib set the bails, and Bailiff Dave Miller collected all the fines. All proceeds will go to our Elks Charities.
We offered a chuckwagon menu with cowboy candy cheeseburger, corn casserole, pulled pork, rodeo stew, baked beans and cornbread.
A special thank you to Larry Stadler for making the sign for the jail, Don Langer for constructing the jail, and Don, Scott, Dave for their acting jobs at the jailhouse! Additionally, thank you to Elaine Langer, Greg & Paulette Kindle, Phyllis Marchinetti, and Wendy Seib for decorating the room.
37th Annual Erie Elks Lodge Gun Raffle
The Erie Elks Lodge #67 once again raised the most charitable monies than any other fundraising event throughout the year!
On Saturday February 22nd, people lined outside of Rainbow Gardens to get inside this 20,000 square foot facility. As you can see, it was a packed house!
Volunteers and the Gun Raffle Committee make this event a success. We'll see you again next year!
Volunteers getting snack boats and sodas ready before the doors opened
Hoop Shoot 2025
On January 18th the Elks Lodge 67 held the annual Elks Hoop Shoot at the Cathedral Prep Events Center. The kids competed in their age brackets for the opportunity to move on to the District Hoop Shoot February 6th.
Congratulations to Erie Elks Lodge Shooters who competed at the NW District Hoop Shoot in Warren, PA. Erie had 4 shooters participate; boys (ages 8-9) Madden Brooks taking home the Bronze medal, boys (ages 12-13) Kayden Denbow finishing fourth, and girls Leighton Schevering taking home the Silver, and girls (ages 12-13) Harper Schevering taking home the Gold! Harper moves on to compete for State Champion in Bellefonte, PA on March 1st! Good Luck Harper! Erie Lodge 67 is very proud of all of the kids. We hope to see you next year!
Ugly Sweater Contest
On Friday, December 13th, the Erie Lodge 67 hosted our annual Ugly Sweater Contest to raise funds for the Elks National Foundation and PA Elks State Major project, Home Services. Members donned their best "ugly" holiday sweater for the competition. The Lodge raised close to $500 during this jovial holiday event.
Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus
The Erie Elks Lodge 67 had a special early visitor from the North Pole! On Saturday December 7th, Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped by the Lodge to wish a Merry Christmas to the good boys and girls of Erie Lodge members. Over 30 enjoyed a hearty breakfast, games, crafts and gifts from our Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Elks Care, Elks Share
The Erie Lodge 67 donated $500 from funds raised from Lodge
raffles to the Tracy Elementary School, Millcreek Township School District.
With the donation, the organization purchased a storage cabinet
for their Caring Closet. The Caring Closet provides students who
need additional supplies such as clothing, shoes, and hygiene
products. The remainder of the donation will go towards the
school-wide Positive Behavior Program, CTBK (Cool To Be Kind).
ENF Freedom Grant
Erie Elks Lodge 67 utilized the Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to host 57 Veterans along with 13 caregivers from the Erie VA Medical Center, the PA Soldiers and Sailors Home, as well as several local nursing homes. The Veterans enjoyed each other’s company, bingo games, and great food. Fourteen Lodge members welcomed our special guests and assisted in serving, bussing tables and simply just spending quality time with the Vets. The Lodge's Kitchen Manager prepared homemade Salisbury steak, homemade gravy with real mashed potatoes. Erie Elks Lodge's Auxiliary provided homemade pies and homemade cookies for dessert. Every Vet received a $50 Walmart card along with an Erie Elks Lodge 67 branded lanyard, and the bingo winners received an additional gift card. This event was a huge success as many of the Vets expressed their appreciation with tearful eyes.
"Operation Turkey" Press Release
Erie VA partners with local groups to donate Thanksgiving meals to Veterans
PRESS RELEASE
November 20, 2024
ERIE , PA — The Erie VA Medical Center, in collaboration with Erie Elks Lodge 67, and Erie Times Newsies, is providing 202 Thanksgiving turkey dinner boxes to Veterans throughout northwestern Pennsylvania November 21 and 23.
Staff from the Erie VA worked within their programs to identify Veterans to receive the dinner boxes with a pick-up location for those identified November 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Erie VA’s second floor pavilion.
Elks Lodge members from Titusville, Franklin, Oil City, Corry, Meadville, Kane, Warren, and Ashtabula have volunteered to deliver turkey dinner boxes to Erie VA Veterans identified in those areas.
Media interested attending can reach out to the Erie VA Public Affairs Specialist, Allyson Weislogel, at 814-969-2158.
An Elk's volunteer carries a Thanksgiving donation box. The ENF Beacon Grant helps fund the event.
Marine Corp 249th Anniversary
On Sunday, November 10th, the Erie Elks Lodge 67 celebrated the Marine Corp anniversary by holding a large holiday meat raffle. All proceeds from the meat raffle, $2,000 will be matched by the Lodge and donated to the Meals on Wheels Vets program in Erie. The $4,600 donation will remove two Vets from the waiting list and provide each of them one hot meal a day, 7 days a week for an entire year.
Lodge 67 Marines, thank you for your service and welcome home!
Pictured left to right: Esteemed Loyal Knight Greg Kindle, Member Ben Witt, Member John Weaver
Drug Awareness
The Erie Elks Lodge 67 is very proud of Lt. Tom Lenox of the Erie Police Department for being selected as the 2024-2025 Pennsylvania Elks Enrique Camarena Award winner. In 2016, after a 40-year hiatus, Lt. Lenox was reinstated to the Erie Police Athletic League (P.A.L.).
Today, Lt. Lenox, along with over 100 other Police Officers across many departments and agencies, have over 1,700 local youth involved in activities, camps, sports, and mentorship programs. Lt. Lenox
has formed a lifelong bond with the kids, and has recruited 6 of his wrestlers from his State Championship teams to join the Erie Police Department.
Elks Care Elks Share
Erie Lodge #67 PER Scholarships were awarded to two family members of Lodge 67 this year. The applications included scholastic achievements and leadership accomplishments along with a short essay researching and advocating for a local nonprofit organization. Each student received a $1,000.00 scholarship along with the opportunity to present a $500 donation from Lodge 67 to their charitable organization.
The Lodge membership are very proud of these two students and wish them well as they advance their education.
(Photo 1) Pictured left to right, Jim Law, PDDGER, Chris Bruschi, Father, Alyssa Bruschi, and Jennie Hagerty, Executive Director for the Mercy Center for Women.
(Photo 2) Pictured left to right, Jim Law PDDGER, Kelly Hart and Sarah Trojak, Foundation Administrator
Alyssa Bruschi, daughter of members Chris and Michelle Bruschi. Alyssa's essay featured The Mercy Center for Women, an Erie based nonprofit that provides transitional housing and support services to homeless women with or without children. Alyssa will be attending the University of Pittsburgh's nursing program in the fall.
Good luck to Alyssa!!!
Kelly Hart, daughter of members Brian Hart and Andrea Hart. Kelly's essay advocated for the Iroquois School District Foundation, an Erie based nonprofit that enhances the educational opportunities for all District students K-12 by developing imaginative and creative partnerships with the educators. Kelly was the Valedictorian at Iroquois and will be attending The Pennsylvania State University, University Park for nursing in the fall.
Good luck to Kelly!!!
Elks Lodge 67 Vets
On July 24th the Erie Lodge 67 Vets Committee hosted 65 Vets from the Erie VA Medical Center, PA Soldiers and Sailors Home and numerous long term care facilities to an afternoon of AA Baseball in Erie, PA.
The first place Seawolves responded by winning the game. Fun was had by all, several guests of the Lodge commented it has been a long time since they attended a baseball game!
The Erie Seawolves, AA affiliate of the MLB Detroit Tigers, invited a 98 year old WWII Vet from the Soldiers and Sailors Home to throw out the ceremonial first pitch! A total of 65 Vets and caregivers were treated by Lodge 67 to the game, food, soft drinks and Seawolves branded gear!