Annual event to be held on Nov. 11 at Atascadero Elks Lodge

ATASCADERO — The Annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner will be hosted by the Atascadero Elks Lodge #2733 on Monday, Nov. 11. The social begins at 5 p.m., followed by the program at 5:30 p.m. and dinner. The dinner, held annually on Veterans Day at the Atascadero Elks Lodge at 1516 El Camino Real, is complimentary for veterans and their caregivers. Spaghetti dinner for non-veterans is $15. Please RSVP by Nov. 7 at (805) 466-3557.

“Veterans Day is an important day not only for the Elks Lodge but for our community and the entire country,” stated Atascadero Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Mark Morisoli. “It is important that we never forget the sacrifices that our veterans have made so that we all have the freedoms that we enjoy every day.”

Nationally, the Elks pledge states, “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”

Since its inception in 1987, the Atascadero Elks have contributed over $900,000 to various programs, including youth activities, local sports, programs for handicapped and needy children, patriotic programs, veterans’ programs, and community activities. Additionally, the Elks participate in drug awareness programs at local schools and distribute dictionaries to all third-graders in the area.

The Atascadero Elks Lodge was established in Atascadero on Sept. 26, 1987. Its mission: To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization; and to provide for its governance. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America serves people and communities through benevolent programs.