America Truely Means Freedom: The Beaverton Elks Lodge
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) has four cardinal virtues: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity. We serve in and around our communities in many ways, including giving out Christmas Baskets, scholarships, and funding the Elks Youth Eye Services Program (E.Y.E.S).
Generations of Elks have sought to “quicken the spirt of American patriotism and to stimulate an awareness – a genuine feeling of respect toward patriotism” and a reminder that America truly means freedom.” Nationally, Elks do this in a variety of ways: hosting flag programs, community and lodge activities, distributing informational books (“Citizens Rule Book” & “Flag Code”, etc), and through our Americanism essay contest.
The Beaverton Elks Lodge hosts various special flag ceremonies to mark holidays or events including:
- Flag Day (June 14),
- Patriot Day (September 11)
- POW/MIA (September 18),
- We also work with our local Boy Scout troop for flag retirement ceremonies.
Elks pledge: So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.
We host Veteran’s Remembrance Programs. The first Vietnam memorial in Oregon was dedicated at the Beaverton Elks Lodge in 1968. This wall is now located in the Beaverton Veterans Memorial Park in Central Beaverton. We are planning our annual Afternoon Tea for Sunday, Oct. 11 to raise funds to send a veteran on an Honor Flight.
Believing that “the values we impart to our children today, will be the values of our nation tomorrow,” the BPOE holds an annual Americanism essay contest. This year’s theme is “Explain a Constitutional Right or Privilege and How it Affects you and your Family.” Each lodge submits an essay to the national level, where winners are chosen in four divisions with awards for first, second and third place.
Beaverton students in fifth through eighth grades (public, private or homeschooled) are invited to submit their essays to our lodge by December 15, 2026. For more information, please contact us at 503-646-6116 or visit us online.
New members are always welcome.
If you are interested in learning more or joining us, please visit our website: www.beavertonelks.org
