KINGMAN, Ariz. – Saturday night, Nov. 7, the Kingman Moose Lodge 1704, celebrated Valued Veteran of the Year. This year’s Valued Veteran was U.S. Navy veteran Eric Olson.
McCoy said Eric Olson has been a Moose Member for about six years and has been actively involved with the community since he joined.
“He is credited with starting our golf tournament that has raised thousands of dollars for the Kingman Food Bank,” McCoy said. “He has served in various officer’s positions in the lodge as well as being a Past District President for our Arizona, New Mexico Moose Association. He is always available to step up to meet needs in our community. He has hosted numerous dinners to support our lodge fundraisers.”
“He along with his fiancé, Mariann Kaa, spend a week in Scottsdale hosting young people from all over the country as part of our Youth Awareness Congress program, a scholarship program for high school students. They have helped raise funds for many local organizations. Eric is very well known for his abilities in the kitchen from his ‘Eric burgers’ to being the first place winner in our barbecue competition that was held recently,” said McCoy.
McCoy said Olson is an active member of the Moose Legion and has sponsored close to 50 men into that program. She said he is also active in the Moose Riders Program, helped deliver food to the food bank, delivered supplies to the kids Café and delivered Bombas socks to many other non-profit organizations in the Kingman area.
“He has also worked with the veterans at Veterans Villa as well as the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Center and delivered Tommy Moose dolls to one of our local fire stations,” McCoy added.
Olsen said he felt honored to be selected as Valued Veteran of the Year.
“Every veteran in there deserves to be Veteran of the Year. Every veteran is valued,” said Olsen.
