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 I
bobbed for apples on Halloween. I recall the burn of getting water
up my nose. I danced at my parents’ wedding. There are pictures. I
sang karaoke after putting in days of hard work at the annual BBQ. I
was terrified, so they passed around a hat, and I got paid to sing
Hotel California. I was given more love, kindness and support than
any child could want by people who had no reason to do so.
Years later I would turn 21. Soon after that I would be an official
member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. I bought my first beer
there. I spent my weekends there. I had a job where I was regularly
complimented on my ability to count money. I was decent at darts and
even played for the Eagles league team at one point. I was in a band
that was just starting to book real venues. Music has defined the
past 20 plus years of my life. Most importantly, the Eagles taught
me about giving and charity. Today I look back on those memories and
I’m grateful.
One of the mottos the organization uses is “People helping people.”
My life is very much a small-scale representation of that idea. The
work done by The Eagles, however, is much greater and has a much
larger impact than a bunch of personal memories.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles was founded in 1898. According to the
Grand Aerie website the organization donates more than 10 million
dollars a year to local communities, fundraisers, and charities. The
club also has eight charities of its own including kidney, heart,
diabetes, cancer and spinal cord injury funds as well as the Jimmy
Durante Children’s Fund, a memorial foundation and a Golden Eagle
fund.
The organization was instrumental in founding Mother’s Day. Many
will give Anna Jarvis the credit, but it is documented that Eagles
Past Worthy President Frank E. Hering made a public plea for a
“national day to honor our mothers” on February 7th, 1904.
In 1985 The Eagles become the first organization to
top $1 million in donations to St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital. In 2008 they committed $25 million to the University of
Iowa to fund the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center
which opened in 2014.
Prominent members of the Eagles include Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin
Roosevelt, John F Kennedy, Ronald Regan, Bob Hope, Tony Stewart,
Billy Ray Cyrus and Lee Greenwood. The Eagles Auxiliary boasts Bess
Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt and Susan Wagner.
The historical, social and charitable footprint of the Eagles on a
national level cannot be denied. With such a large organization it
can be easy to look past the work they do right in their local
communities. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you
a small sample of the work that Eagles members do in and around
Lincoln. I would like to take this chance to shine a brief spotlight
on a group of heroes I am proud to call brothers and sisters.
For the fiscal year of 2022-2023 the Eagles Aerie
sent $2,400 to the National Grand Aerie to be spread among the eight
previously mentioned charities. Another $650 was sent to local
charities, organizations and sports teams. These might include the
D.A.R.E. program, The Logan County Humane Society, youth sports
sponsorships and many more. Each week requests are received for
donations of $25 or $50. These requests are presented to members and
if it receives a favorable vote the funds are donated. It is rare a
request is denied.
The Veteran’s Benefit has become an annual event for
the club. Shirley Buchanan has been the chairwoman of the event for
over a decade. Tammy Elam, Angie Bramwell, Mike Buchanan, Guy
Carter, Shari Carter, Jami May, Brett Bacon, Troy Singleton, Verl
Prather and so many others have been a part of the event over the
years. Over the last 13 years tens of thousands of dollars have been
raised and distributed to veteran based charities in the area. One
of those charities provides honor flights for veterans to visit
memorials and locations they otherwise would not get to see. Another
helps provide dogs to veterans. Some assist in healthcare and
everyday life. In 2022 the benefit raised and distributed $5,700. In
2023 $9,746 was donated to Central Illinois Veterans Commission
(CIVIC) to be used towards the Homes for Veterans Project.
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The Eagles Lodge is always ready to help their own as
well. When a member was diagnosed with brain cancer the club came
together with friends, family and their employer to put together an
enormous fundraiser. This money aided with bills, travel expenses
back and forth to St. Louis, groceries, family care and the cost of
everyday life that is so easily taken for granted when you are
healthy. Other Eagles clubs from across the country also began
sending in checks and donations.
Another member would fall ill and spend a significant amount of time
in the hospital unable to work. Once again, the Eagles came together
with friends, coworkers, and kindhearted helpers to raise the funds
to allow them to focus on getting better. That can be hard to do
when bills are piling up and paychecks aren’t. Over the past three
years the club has donated over $55,000 to assist with the
healthcare of ill members.
While the Eagles Aerie focuses heavily on club charities, events and
the business of the organization, the Eagles Auxiliary works a bit
differently. They still donate to club charities and events as well
as the small local requests the men do, but in addition, auxiliary
members can choose a charity they would like to work for.
In recent years Angie Bramwell has raised money for The V Foundation
for Cancer Research. When advertising she uses the hashtag #FlakoStrong.
Angie was inspired to take on this project after the passing of Greg
“Flako” Feldman. A couple of times each year Angie puts together a
mountain oyster dinner. They taste fine with ketchup. She always has
drawings and a lottery tree raffle as well. This past year Angie
raised $2,800 in honor of Flako for the V Foundation.
Last, certainly not least, is Sheila Jones. In all honesty, she’s
the inspiration for this piece. Sheila has been raising money for
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for at least 15 years, maybe
20. Unfortunately, the records that could be documented only went
back to 2009. Sheila has used several ways to raise money and these
days she has Sunday brunches. There are eggs, bacon, sausage, fried
potatoes and more. Connie Karas makes the best cinnamon rolls in the
world. There’s always a 50/50 or raffle of some kind. On occasion
Sheila hires an acoustic duo to play some music after. She does not
reimburse herself for the cost of any of it. Since 2009 Sheila has
donated $29,000 to St. Jude. She was considering giving up her
charity work this year but has been motivated to continue. Here’s to
$30k and beyond!
I grew up at the Eagles Lodge. I am now 43 years old
and there isn’t a part of my life that doesn’t include memories of
the place. As a child I was ignorant to the work these men and women
were doing. To the good they were doing. As an adult I am honored to
be a part of it. As a child I was so excited just to be acknowledged
by my dad’s friends. As an adult I now realize that I was, and I
still am, surrounded by heroes.
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