Middletown Elks Lodge #257 Member Named Veteran Volunteer of the Year

At the Ohio Elks Association Spring Convention, Melodie Rickard of Middletown Lodge #257 was presented with the 2022 Veteran Volunteer of the Year Award.

Melodie was nominated for this award because of her dedication to supporting our veterans and spearheading Middletown Lodge getting involved with Blue Star Families Southwest Ohio Chapter, which helps veterans and their families feel more connected to a community they have recently been relocated to, and the Lodge volunteering with Blue Skies for Good Guys and Gals, which hold a "Warrior Weekend" each year where veterans are flown in from around the country to spend the weekend together doing events and establishing comradery amongst themselves and the volunteers, most of whom have lost family members in the military.

Middletown Lodge also has hosted a two-day music event, called Toadstock, for several years, which benefits Adam's Hope, which is lead by a local mother who lost her son in Afghanistan and continues to send care packages to active duty troops. 

From left: Jim Sberna, PER; Angie Whitt, Treasurer; Pat Lovely, Secretary; Melodie Rickard, PER; Mary Beaston, State Veterans Chairman; Mike Liesner, ER; and Bryan Klatt, Grand Secretary