PORTLAND -- On Sunday, November 5 2006 the Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Arthur H. Frost III and his wife Sharon arrived at the Portland International Airport for their official four day visit to the State of Maine. Greeting them at the airport was Past Grand Exalted Ruler Amos McCallum of Saco, Maine Elks State President Greg Daniels of Presque Isle, and several other Grand Lodge and State dignitaries. The Frost�s are from Oakridge, Tennessee, and are traveling across the country to meet with local officials and to promote the charitable works of the Order.

Elks National President Arthur H. Frost III meets with Togus VA Resident and WWII Veteran Carleton Munro of Round Pond, Maine. Munro was presented with a veterans ring as a token of thanks for his service to his country. Munro served on PT boats during WWII.

During their visit to Maine, the Frost�s had the opportunity to learn first hand about the history and the beauty of the State of Maine. Their travels included visits to the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, The Togus VA Medical Center, The Maine Emergency Management Agency, the Maine State Museum, and a special tour of Bath Iron Works. They also visited the Augusta, and Bath Elk Lodges.

On Tuesday, November 7, 2006, the Grand Exalted Ruler (GER) and First Lady traveled to the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, where they had the opportunity to learn about the many projects that the Maine Elks have made possible through the years. One of the highlights of the visit was the presentation of a special �veterans ring,� which was presented to Togus VA resident and World War II Veteran Carleton Munro, 89 of Round Pond, Maine. Munro had served on PT Boats during the war. In June, Munro received an American Flag presented to him by Maine Elks Association President Greg Daniels as part of the association�s Flag Day Services. Munro was very touched to have received the ring, and to have been remembered by the Elks.

Later that night, a banquet was held in honor of the Grand Exalted Ruler and his wife at the Augusta Elks Lodge. During his address, Frost spoke about the challenges facing the Elks today, including the decline in membership. He also spoke about three of the programs he felt deserve special emphasis. They are Youth Activities, Drug Awareness, and our Veteran programs. Following his address, Exalted Ruler�s of each of Maine�s twenty-two Lodges had the opportunity to present the GER and his wife with gifts of Maine made products. GER Frost capped off the evening by signing each member�s card, and providing them with a pin. Over Three Hundred Dollars was raised at the card signing, which will be donated to the Elks National Foundation.

On Wednesday, the GER and his wife traveled to the Bath Elks Lodge, where a special luncheon was held in their honor. Following the luncheon, the GER participated in a special VIP tour of the Bath Iron Works, conducted and arranged by Bath�s Exalted Ruler Leon �Mac� McCreary. Frost toured the USS Gridley, a Leahy Class Guided Missile Cruiser, and received a hat and custom embroidered jacket to commemorate the occasion. On Thursday, GER Frost and his wife Sharon boarded a flight to New Jersey for their next stop on their tour across America.

The Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks is a fraternal organization made up of nearly one million men and women from across the United States. The organization provides service to local communities through programs that promotes Americanism, and supports our nation's youth and its veterans. To learn more about the Elks, visit elks.org or maineelks.org.

(L-R): MEA Veterans National Service Director Thomas Elliott, Augusta Elks Exalted Ruler Scott Gray, MEA First Lady Barbara Daniels, MEA State President Greg Daniels, WWII Veteran Carleton Munro, Grand Exalted Ruler Arthur “Jack” Frost III, Sharon Frost, Past Grand Exalted Ruler Amos McCallum, Barbara McCallum, and Cheryl Lajoie of the Augusta Elks Lodge.