"As Long as there is a Veteran in our Hospitals, The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them."When World War I broke out, the United State was ill prepared for the casualties of Battle. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks responded by raising money, outfitting and funding two Army Field Hospitals, the first of their kind. In 1917 the Elks raised more money and built a 700 bed hospital in Boston, for disabled veterans returning home from the Battles of the Western Front. The Very First Veterans Hospital. After the War the Elks turned the hospital over to the War Department, thus creating the Veterans Administration Hospital.The Benevolent and Protective order of Elks has ever since been there for our Veterans and will continue to be there for as long as a Veteran is in a Hospital.