Elks lodge honors departed members

Every year on the first Sunday in December, Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge holds its memorial ritual and ceremony to remember those members who passed in the previous 12 months. It is open to the public, and family members and friends of the departed were welcomed by officers and members of the Lewes lodge Dec. 1 for the annual ceremony.

Exalted Ruler Joy Schreck opened the ceremony with a brief statement, followed by a prayer from acting chaplain and Inner Guard Bob Hall-McBride. Lodge Secretary Joanne Mayer, PER, solemnly read the names of each of the 29 departed members while Hall-McBride and Karen Palmer lit the ceremonial candles representing each of the missing members. Past Exalted Ruler Gary Eckenrode then recited the poem, “The Vacant Chair.”

Part of the ritual involves placing special flower sprigs upon the Bible: The forget-me-not symbolizes charity, the amaranth symbolizes justice and immortality, and clinging ivy symbolizes brotherly love.

Once again this year, a beautiful slideshow of the departed was shown. Created by Leading Knight Buddy Hall-McBride, the presentation was well received, with some guests taking photos of the screenshots showing their beloved.

The service continued with the Eleventh Hour Toast, and the reading, “What Is an Elk?” by Buddy Hall-McBride, followed by the emotional song “You Raise Me Up” sung by Schreck, and a light luncheon prepared and served by volunteers.

This annual ceremony, although brief, is required by all Elks to remember absent brothers and sisters. “Rather than have tearful eyes today, our hearts will be filled with happy recollections of their lives and service,” said Schreck. “It is a heartfelt ceremony for us all.”

The Carey family attended the service this year to commemorate the passing of Rich Carey's mother, Sandy Moore. Terri Carey said, “Thank you, Elks Cape Henlopen Lodge, for the memorial service honoring the ones who have left us, and especially for Rich’s mother Sandy Moore. It was a great service, and it was so nice and funny to hear the stories her co-workers told us. It was also nice that we were with Mary-Beth Pepper, who was Sandy’s neighbor, friend and co-worker. I know [Sandy] was looking down and was proud of being honored at the memorial.”