On Wednesday, February 26th members of the Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Elks Veterans Committee visited the Fisher House at the Long Beach Veterans Hospital to put on a BBQ for the families who were staying there. Veteran’s Committee member Sven Akesson thanked the Fisher House Staff, Ivan, Zadrea, and Elroy for allowing the Elks to once again visit the facility and cook for the families present. The staff was very happy to show the visiting Elks the many options Fisher House has to offer guests residing there. All 16 suites of the beautiful facility were full and the Elks stayed busy preparing and cooking the meal. The visiting Elks were thanked by the staff for their generosity and were invited to return.
The Long Beach Fisher House is one 86 Houses built on VA Facilities and Military installations in the US with two in Germany and one in Great Britain. This 5-Star-like hotel is where families can stay for free while the veteran or active duty soldier is receiving medical care at the hospital. The average cost of a Fisher House is approximately $6 Million dollars. Half of the cost comes from local charities and the other half from Fisher House National. Rapid expansions are planned to build from 44 to 65 more new Fisher Houses in the next several years. The Elks have a long-standing commitment of support for our active Military and Veterans. Their visit to the Fisher House is just one of many visits to Southland veterans hospitals and military bases throughout the year.
The Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 is celebrating 50 years of service to Saddleback Valley Communities. It is one of 8 lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 152-year history of giving. “Elks Care Elks Share”. For information regarding Elks programs or Elks membership, call 949 830-3557
Sven Akesson, Elks Veterans Committee, US Army Retired
The beautiful Long Beach Fisher House
L to R: Elk Marion Russo, houseguest Doris Leonard, Elk Dennis Lumley, Fisher House staff member Zadrea, and Elks Sven & Cookie Akesson.
Andy Costello
Elks Grand Lodge Area 7
Membership & Marketing Committee
