North Carolina
Department of Administration
| Pat McCrory, Governor | Bill Daughtridge, Jr., Secretary |
| Date | May 6, 2014 | Contact | Chris Mears, Public Information Officer |
| Release | Immediate | Phone | xxx-xxx-xxxx |
North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs Thanks Elks Associations for Supporting NC Veterans
RALEIGH – May 6, 2014
Ilario Pantano, Director of the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs (NCDVA), was the keynote speaker for the NC State Elks Association Spring Convention on May 3 in Asheville, NC. There, he expressed thanks on behalf of the NCDVA to the national, state and local Elks Associations (the Elks) for their partnership and continued support of veteran residents at NC State Veterans Homes.
“The Elks have taken the initiative to ensure that our most vulnerable senior veterans are provided-for in a way that should make all North Carolinians proud,” said Pantano. “From adopting veterans during the Christmas season to providing televisions and travel buses, the generosity of the Elks is heartwarming. Their continuous day-to-day support and interaction with our veterans is incredibly valuable and ensures that our heroes are not forgotten.”
In 1917, the Protective and Benevolent Order of the Elks dedicated themselves to serving veterans by building the first veteran hospital in support of the war efforts of WWI. This support has continued both domestically and internationally with each US war and conflict. Their veteran outreach effort continues today in North Carolina as the Elks have donated countless volunteer hours and over half-a-million dollars in resources towards NCDVA’s NC State Veterans Homes.
“Every year, throughout the year, the Elks are one of the greatest supporters of our Veterans,” said James Woodard, Vietnam Veteran and Supervisor of the NC State Veterans Home Program. “For more than 12 years, the Elks have graciously included provisions for each State Veterans Home in their annual budgets. In addition, they have spent numerous hours visiting our veteran residents – listening to the heroic stories of service and survival, laughing, and crying.”
The NC State Veterans Homes are located in Black Mountain, Salisbury, Fayetteville and Kinston. Some homes have received a 5-star rating by US News & World Report.