Virginia Beach Elks Our Mission as Elks To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Lodge # 2268 Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate goo d fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for Flag Day Ceremony its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America At the Flame of Hope will serve the people and communities through 671 S Oceana Blvd, benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share. Sunday, June 10th, 2012 11am PROGRAM BPOE Flag Day Welcome Guests Paul Shoemaker, Past Exalted Ruler Patriotism has characterized the Introductory Benevolent and Protective Order of Dan Haney, Exalted Ruler Elks of the United States of America since the early days of the Escorts organization. Allegiance to the flag Cub Scout Troop 372 of our country is a requirement of every member. Presentation of Colors Princess Anne NJROTC In 1907, the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks designated, by resolution, June Invocation 14, as Flag Day. The Grand Lodge of the Order adopted Kathy Hobbs mandatory observance of the occasion by every Lodge in 1911, and that requirement continues. The Flag: It’s History Bonnie Shoemaker The Elks prompted President Woodrow Wilson to recognize the Order's observance of Flag Day for its Flag Bearers patriotic expression. Military Veterans But it was not until 1949 when President Harry Truman, Response himself a member of the Elks, made the proclamation Samantha Spencer that thereafter June 14, would be a day of national observance for the symbol of our country. Guest Speaker Colonel Francis Cubillo, USMC (RET) It was through his Elks Lodge in Independence, Missouri, that President Truman got the idea for a Guest Speaker national observance of Flag Day CAPT Robert N. Geis, CO NAS Oceana President Harry S. Truman signed the legislation in Special Guest Speaker 1949 and June 14th was properly RDML Mark Leavitt, designated Flag Day. RC CoS Commander Naval Air Forces/ Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet This is where Flag Day stands today, 63 years after Truman.

Captain Robert N. Geis, USN Colonel Francis X. Cubillo Commanding Officer United States Marine Corps (Ret.) Naval Air Station Oceana

A native of Long Island, NY, and a graduate of La Salle Military Academy (an Army Captain Geis is currently the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Oceana. He JROTC prep-school in NY), Col Cubillo enlisted in the Marine Corps on Jan 31, 1972. was born in San Diego, California. After graduating from the University of California at San Diego with a BA in Communications, he graduated AOCS in October 1987. His career as a Marine spanned nearly four decades until he retired (October 2009) He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in January 1989. After transitioning to the with the rank of full colonel and as the first commanding officer of Marine Corps Intelligence S-3B, his first sea tour was in VS-32, where he made two deployments in support of Schools in Virginia Beach, VA. Operation DESERT STORM and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH onboard USS AMERICA

(CV-66). CAPTAIN Geis was named the VS-32 NFO of the year for 1992. Col Cubillo ascended through the ranks from private to staff sergeant, from warrant st officer to chief warrant officer-3, to Limited Duty Officer (LDO) 1 Lieutenant to Captain and to Captain Geis then became an FRS instructor at VS-27. His duties included Colonel as an unrestricted line officer in the intelligence and signals intelligence career fields. Curriculum Officer and Carrier Qualifications Instructor. Captain Geis was named the last NFO Instructor of the Year in 1994 at the dis-establishment of the squadron. Captain Geis Throughout his career, he served several years overseas with the Naval Security headed west to Sea Control Wing, Pacific for a one year tour as Tactical Development and Group in Scotland, Spain, Cuba and a tour in Washington, DC. His Marine Corps intelligence Evaluation Officer and Instructor at VS-41. tours included: Iwakuni, Japan; Camp Lejeune, NC; Kaneohe Bay, HI, Coronado, CA, Virginia Beach, VA; and Okinawa, Japan where he commanded the Third Intelligence Battalion as a Captain Geis was then assigned to Carrier Group Three as Assistant Air Operations Lieutenant Colonel. Officer onboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) and USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70). During this tour, he deployed on numerous exercises and to Saudi Arabia in support of He graduated from the University of West Florida with a BS degree in Management Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. He was then selected to be a Flag Aide which included a while on active duty, and received a MS in National Security and Strategic Studies from the transition to Flag Aide for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan. , Newport, RI. After refresher training, Captain Geis was assigned to the VS-30 Diamondcutters as Administrative Officer, Safety Officer and Maintenance Officer and completed a He was fully qualified as a Joint Specialty Officer after his tour with Joint Forces deployment on USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73). During his tenure as Command, Norfolk and graduating from the Joint Forces Staff College. Maintenance Officer, the squadron was nominated for the Phoenix Award as the best maintenance department in the Navy. Captain Geis was named the VS-30 Senior NFO of Col Cubillo saw combat in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 as the the Year for 1999. Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). Captain Geis was selected to attend the Naval College of Command and Staff in His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Newport, RI. He earned a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies in Bronze Star Medal, and numerous personal, service and campaign medals. He was the 2006 March 2002. recipient of the Rear Admiral Edwin T. Layton Award for excellence in Naval Intelligence Leadership. Captain Geis was then assigned as an Action Officer and Executive Officer in the Plans and Policy Directorate of U.S. Central Command. He was responsible for writing, Col Cubillo currently serves as the Training Program Coordinator for the Navy's assessing and disseminating high level policy during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM Information Dominance Enterprise at NETC, and lives in Virginia Beach with his wife Cindy of and IRAQI FREEDOM. His tour included a deployment to the forward headquarters in 35 years and their Son Frank and Daughter Tina Col Cubillo is also a singer/Entertainer 2003 through early 2004. performing Frank sings Frank. Captain Geis was selected for command of Strike Fighter Squadron 211 and transitioned to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The command was awarded the Battle Efficiency award for 2005. During his command tour, the squadron deployed on USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) in support of both Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM on the first east coast deployment of the Super Hornet.

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Strike Flight Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (w/ three Gold Stars), Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal (w/two Gold Stars) as well as numerous unit awards.

Historic U.S Flag Bearers

Pine Tree Flag Walter Brady, USN (RET) Rear Admiral Mark Leavitt WW II Veteran Reserve Chief of Staff, Commander Naval Air Forces/Commander Naval Air Forces Snake Flag Pacific Fleet Philip Coviello, U.S Army

Rear Adm. Leavitt is a New England native and son of a United States Marine Corps WW II Veteran Sergeant Major. He is a graduate of Florida State University (FSU), Tallahassee, Fla., and enlisted as an Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate in April 1982. Upon graduation from FSU, he entered Aviation Officer Candidate School Pensacola, Fla. He was Grand Union Flag designated a naval aviator in June 1986 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Miss. Floyd Shoemaker, USN,USAF,USA (RET) WW II Veteran Leavitt reported to the VA-42 "Green Pawns" NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va., for Fleet Replacement training as an A-6E Intruder pilot. Upon completion of his training in April 1987, he reported to the VA-34 "Blue Blasters" completing two Mediterranean Betsy Ross Flag deployments embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), qualifying as a wing C-Ray Kinney, USMC (RET) landing signal officer (LSO). Korean Veteran In September 1990, Leavitt reported again to VA-42 as a Fleet Replacement Instructor pilot. In April 1992, Leavitt received orders to Commander, Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW 7) NAS Oceana, as a Staff LSO while enroute to training at VFA-106 NAS Cecil Field, 15 Star Flag Fla. Upon completion of a category IV Syllabus in the FA-18C, Leavitt assumed the Rudy Boesch, (SEAL) USN (RET) duties as Senior Staff LSO and Safety Officer with CVW-7. Leavitt flew both the A-6E Vietnam Veteran Intruder and the F-18C Hornet while attached to CVW-7. CVW-7 embarked in USS George Washington (CVN 73) for her maiden work up cycle and deployment to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf. He oversaw the mishap free completion of 20 Star Flag over 15,000 carrier landings. In April 1996, Leavitt left active duty and transferred to the Robert P. Clark, (SEAL) USN (RET) Navy Reserve and was selected as a Fleet Logistics Squadron Fifty Six (VR 56) aviator. Vietnam Veteran Leavitt’s command tours include: VR-56, Training Air wing Two Reserve Component, and Chief of Naval Air Training Reserve Component and Joint Transportation Reserve Unit Navy Element, United States Transportation Command. During his tenure, the VR- 48 Star Flag 56 "Globemasters" deployed several aircraft and crews to the United Arab Emirates in Terry Bobka, USN (RET) support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, earned numerous awards including the Noel Davis Vietnam Veteran Battle E, and the Commander Fleet Logistics Support Wing Career Information Management Award for retention. During his command tour as Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) Reserve Component commander, his responsibilities included POW-MIA Flag overseeing the Reserve program that employed over 350 Navy and Marine Corps Edward Carr, U.S Army Selected Reservists and 90 Full-Time Support personnel located in five Training Air Wings and the CNATRA staff. While serving as commanding officer Joint Transportation Vietnam Veteran Reserve Unit Navy Element, United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), he directly supported the USTRANSCOM mission as the Distribution Process Owner for all of DoD. 50 Star Flag Eric Swenor, USN (RET) Leavitt’s most recent assignment was deputy Reserve component commander, Navy Afghanistan War Veteran Region Midwest. In this capacity, he served as the Senior Selected Reservist in the Navy Midwest region encompassing 16 states and 35 Naval Operational Support Centers. Totaling over 200 years of military service defending our Flag and Leavitt's military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Country Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), and other personal and unit awards and citations.