Crawfordsville Aerie 1005 will mark its 120th anniversary Saturday by combining celebatory festivities with a fundraiser.
Aerie members will join its auxiliary members to raise money for the newly opened Peyton Manning Childrens Hospital Neonatal Unit and the Indiana Donor Network Donor Hero Camp.
Fundraising efforst begin at noon Saturday.
A members-only banquet will begin at 6 p.m. Dinner will be followed with a performance by the Dapper Dan Band from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., which is open to the public.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles was founded Feb. 6, 1896 by six theater owners in Seattle Washington. The Crawfordsville Aerie 1005 was chartered a few years later on March 9, 1905, with 330 charter members. It is part of the International Fraternal Order of Eagles in the United States and Canada. It is also the second oldest continuously chartered fraternal organization in Crawfordsville.
On Oct. 29, 1942, the Aerie purchased the post office building on the northwest corner of Main and Water streets. It remained there until May 21, 1969, when it moved to a new building at 920 E. South Blvd. The Aerie remains there today.
The local Aerie has had six state presidents — William McKeown, Harold Lannan, Jim Jones, Gary Harrison, Frank Escamilla Jr., Greg Dargie and one Honorary Past State President Roy Lee Moore. It also has had four Indiana State Hall of Fame honorees and one Grand Aerie Hall of Fame recipient. The local group also boasts having a six-time International Champion Ritual Team and an Indiana Hall of Fame recipient.
The Auxiliary to Aerie 1005 was chartered in August 1953 and the two have worked hand in hand during events through the years. The local auxiliary has had one Madam State President, Stella Havercamp, and currently two members serve as state officers.
The Eagles motto is “People Helping People.” They accomplish this through many fundraising events and donations to local organizations.
The Eagles also support international charities, including heart fund, cancer fund, diabetes, child welfare, kidney and many others. No donated funds may be used for overhead or administration costs, all donations must go toward research. Many years ago the Eagles partnered with the University of Iowa and created the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center with an initial pledge of $25 million over five years. The center is now world renown and the cure is now in testing stages.
Locally, the group has purchased equipment for the Crawfordsville Fire Department and supported the Boys & Girls Club of Montgomery County, local school sports and bands and the Crawfordsivlle Park & Rec. They also sponsor scholarships for seniors at the three high schools.
