[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16733]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA ELK 
                               LODGE 1224

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2011

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th 
anniversary of St. Petersburg, Florida Elks Lodge 124 which was 
established on February 16, 1911. Forty-two members started what would 
become the second Elks Lodge along the west coast of Florida.
  By 1926, with a new three story clubhouse in downtown St. Petersburg, 
Lodge 1224 became the largest Elk's Lodge in Florida with 1,750 
members. Throughout the years, the Lodge has moved several times but in 
1970, under a stronger leadership, the post significantly grew and was 
able to purchase the building it now occupies on 66th Street in St. 
Petersburg.
  Today with nearly 1000 members, the Lodge is very active in a number 
of important activities throughout the community. Along with many other 
Florida lodges, Lodge 1224 supports the Children's Physical Therapy 
Services Program. This program consists of 22 vans driven by physical 
therapists who offer free services to any child in need. The Lodge also 
welcomes our nation's veterans with open arms, proudly offering 
entertainment and meals in their lodge twice a month.
  Mr. Speaker, over the last 100 years the members of the Elk's Lodge 
1224 have seen the city of St. Petersburg grow from a sleepy little 
town of 8,000 to a bustling city of nearly 250,000. Like all Americans, 
they suffered through the Great Depression, comforted a community 
through two World Wars, and they continue to serve the community today 
by proudly offering essential services to our children and veterans. It 
is my hope that my colleagues will join me this afternoon in 
recognizing the 100th anniversary of Elks Lodge 1224 and their century 
of service to our community.

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