Elks to aid wounded warriors

Lodge 2092 aims to raise $22,000 this year

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

"Holy crap, I just got shot," Oliverio said he remembered thinking when a round from an AK-47 slammed into his upper left arm and spun him around in his turret as his Marine tank platoon engaged insurgents in 2005 on the Syrian border in Iraq.

Oliverio's story held the rapt attention of the audience of approximately 50 local business leaders gathered at the California Elks Lodge to kick off the Elks' fundraising campaign for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization that helps wounded soldiers readjust to civilian life.

The bullet that struck Oliverio shattered his upper arm bone and cut a vital artery.

"It was a minor wound … kidding," Oliverio said. "Arterial bleeding is incredible if you've never seen it."

In the next four days after he was wounded, Oliverio said he underwent three surgeries and arrived at Bethesda Medical Center on a gurney. Over the next several months, he underwent 11 more surgeries, including the installation of three titanium plates, to reconstruct his shattered arm.

Oliverio said that the Wounded Warrior Project helped him in his early days at Bethesda, bringing him clothes and toiletries. But he then benefited from the organization's push to help injured veterans to learn to live with their injuries, even amputations, and get on with life.

"They motivate," Oliverio said. "I've skied next to blind guys."

Oliverio thought he would never play golf again, so he gave one of his two sets of clubs to his brother.

But Oliverio said that the Wounded Warrior Project wouldn't let him give up. Not only did they help him learn to play golf with his reconstructed arm, he said his game has improved.

"My brother says I got rid of half my problem," Oliverio joked.

Stories such as Oliverio's have inspired Lodge 2092 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks to throw their fundraising support behind the Wounded Warrior Project this year.

Elks Past President John Winters, who is heading up the fundraising committee, said that the commitment is in keeping with the Elks' traditions.

"We are strong supporters of the military," Winters said. "As we live here, free and well, [we] often forget the hardship of war."

Winters said that the Elks have set a goal of raising $20,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project by holding several events this year. The campaign will start June 19 with a golf tournament at the Cedar Point Golf Course at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

The club is also planning casino and show nights as well as outdoor festivals at its pool.

Finally, the club will make the Wounded Warrior Project the beneficiary of its annual charity ball, held in November.

"We've put together a pretty intense media and event campaign," Winters said. He then encouraged the audience to get their businesses involved in sponsoring the campaign.

"We cannot do this alone," Winters said.

jfriess@somdnews.com