LEWISTON — On Nov. 6, the national president of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, David Carr and his wife, Penny, arrived at the Portland International Airport for their official four-day visit to the state of Maine.

Greeting them at the airport was past national president Amos McCallum of Saco, Maine Elks state president Wayne Cotterly of Lewiston and several other Grand Lodge and State dignitaries. The Carr’s are from Crown Point, N.Y., and are traveling across the country to meet with local officials and to promote the charitable works of the order.

During their visit to Maine, the Carr’s had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the history and the beauty of the state. Their travels included visits to the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta, the L.C. Bates Museum at Goodwill-Hinckley, Backyard Farms in Madison, Museum L-A in Lewiston, Saints Peter & Paul Basilica in Lewiston and the Maine Children’s Cancer Program in Scarborough.

One of the highlights of the tour in Lewiston came when Carr had the opportunity to play the state’s largest church organ in the Basilica. “It is an experience that I will never forget,” said Carr.

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, Carr spoke about the challenges facing the Elks today, and introduced a new program to use placemats to show what the Elks do in their communities. Following his address, exalted rulers of each of Maine’s 22 lodges had the opportunity to present Carr and his wife with gifts. Carr capped off the evening by signing each member’s card and providing them with a pin.

The Carrs traveled to Freeport to visit the famed L.L. Bean store, and then to the Maine Elks Association’s major project, the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, where they learned about the treatments and support that is provided for children with cancer and their families. Over the past 27 years, lodges across Maine have donated close to $3 million to the program.

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 the nation’s youth and its veterans. To learn more about the Elks, visit elks.org or maineelks.org.