By Allison Tiek
'As long as there is a vet, they will never be forgotten.'
Members of Elk''s Lodge lived by their motto as they honored eight more military veterans at Crestview Care Center Thursday, May 27.
An American flag was donated to the center, and each veteran was presented with a plaque, a personal flag and a flag lapel pin for their service.
'It''s a tradition of Elk''s Lodge,' said Don Smith, chairman of the veteran''s committee. 'We take care of our vets.'
Richard Rogers, a resident of Crestview Care Center, sang 'God bless America' after the veterans received their medallions and said they were honored.
Dan Cosby, administrator at the center and also a veteran, said he wanted to take the opportunity to have these veterans thanked and honored this Memorial Day.
Cosby said he was inspired by Sen. Bob Dole''s statement regarding the veterans of World War II.
'Unfortunately, the veterans of that war are now passing away in even great numbers,' Dole said. 'Before the World War II generation is gone, we owe them one last salute.'
Smith and his wife, Julie Vance, who is the Americanism chairwoman, also commemorated the veterans and promised to return from national World War II Memorial in Washington with WWII memorial pin for each of them.
Smith and the Elk''s Lodge members hold various events to ensure the vets are remembered. Every year on Veteran''s Day, the Elk''s Lodge provides them with dinner and presents them with something that they think is appropriate.
Last year, the Provo lodge celebrated their centennial.
'The Provo lodge has been here for 100 years, but a lot of people don''t know that,' Vance said. 'They don''t realize that we''re here and we''re doing a service for the community and we want to help people but they don''t know what they can do to get help.'
The veteran committee searches for veterans; however, they are difficult to locate because that is private information. Rest homes are their only chance for finding them.
'If the word would get out to the care centers in valleys, then we could do more,' Smith said. 'But I don''t think the care centers are aware of it. We wish we could word to them because we do care about the vets.'
Smith said being a vet helps him understand the situation with these gentlemen and ladies.
Elk''s Lodge is nationwide and has 13 lodges in the state of Utah that cover different areas in different counties.
During the Iraq War, an Elk''s committee goes to the homes of military personal and the help around the house and repair things.
'Whenever we have the opportunity to do something for our vets,' Smith said, 'and we try to do as much as possible for them.'