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Show Elks To Report On , Wartime Activities Two hundred and sixty-five members mem-bers of Congress will assemble In the U. S Senate in Washington, D. C. at 11:15 a m. today to receive re-ceive the "Elks R.port to the Nation", Na-tion", a published resume of the Order's war activities, which later In the day will also be presented to President Harry S. Truman, the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, according to word received re-ceived today from Dr. Robert South Barrett. Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks by Glen Heaton, Exalted Ruler Rul-er of Cedar City Lodge No. 1550. I The report, just published by the i Elks War Commission through t I which the fraternity's war activities are conducted, will be presented by, I Dr. Barrett and a delegation of Elks , including James R. Nicholson, Chair-1 I man of the War Commission; mem-, bers for the commission, and Grand Lodge Officers. "The program arranged by the Elks," Dr. Barrett said, "is one of the most Important and ambitious ever undertaken by any fraternal, organlatlon. The morning meeting . will bring together all the Senators Sena-tors and Representatives who are members of th 'Order. A unique fea-j ture will be the presentation of messages from Governors of every State and from Mayors of the 1,4:!5 cities where Elks lodges are locted, expressing their recognition and ap- nrnrlnttntl rf thn OrHnr'o wnr nn. tlvitles." These actlpitles have entailed en-tailed an expenditure of more than $1,300,000. Although th war Is only half over, as Dr. Barrett stresses, lt Is felt by the Elks that a review of accomplishment ac-complishment successfully completed comple-ted or now being undertaken by the Elks War Commission will serve as an Inspiration for the Job still to be done. j After reviewing the record of Elk war actlvltle In World War I, when the Order set up a War Relief Fund of one million dollars, the "Report to the Nation" relates how Elks set up n National Defense Commission at Its 1940 Convention. Then came our entry In the war, and the Na-tlcnnl Na-tlcnnl Defense Commission became the Elks War Commission. Among some of lt many activities have, been the evacuation of children from war zones; establishment of( more than 400 schools for training young men desiring to take aviation cadet courses; the recruitment of men for the Naval Air Corps, mec-' hanics and technicians for the Army Air Qorps and volunteers ; fcr the Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy Construction Bat-! talions; the collection of books for the Merchant Marine, and the establishment es-tablishment of Elks Fraternal Centers Cen-ters throughout the United States where more than two million service ser-vice men and women have enjoyed good meals, overnight hospitality and relaxation. Other activities outlined In the "Report to The Nation" Include Elk-sponsored programs for pro-' moting letter writing to those In the services, and for sending gift boxes, cigarettes and tobacco to members In the, armed forces. More than 150,000 veterans are In hos-. pltals in which Elks are regularly presenting programs of entertain- nient. Most recently, as the Report relates, the Elks war commission es-tabltsher es-tabltsher a fund of $100,000 to extend ex-tend aid to members who were Interned In-terned In Jap camps In the Philippines. Phil-ippines. Other activities will continue con-tinue until the war against Japan Is won, the Report states. |