Cape Coral Harney Point VFW Post 8463 celebrates 60th anniversary
Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter, left, shakes hands with VFW Commander Rob Williams. Gunter received an honorary Post 8463 VFW t-shirt. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Bob Sutter, VFW Trustee, address attendees at the 60th Anniversary celebration. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Cakes are displayed at Cape Coral's Harney Point VFW Post 8463 Sunday in honor of the post's 60th Anniversary. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
One of Harney Point VFW Post's eldest members, Jim Weidel, left, Rob Williams, center, and youngest VFW Harney Point Post member Ben Santana, cut the ceremonial 60th Anniversary cake. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Cape Coral dignitaries, from left, Councilwoman Jennifer Nelson-Lastra, Councilman Joe Kilraine, Councilwoman Laurie Lehmann and Mayor John Gunter join to celebrate Harney Point VFW Post 8463's 60th Anniversary. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Desert Storm veteran and VFW cook, Jeff Webber, grills hotdogs and burgers for Harney Point Post 8463's 60th Anniversary. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Veterans Rob Williams, left, and Steve Romaine at Harney Point VFW Post 8463's 60th Anniversary. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter, left, shakes hands with VFW Commander Rob Williams. Gunter received an honorary Post 8463 VFW t-shirt. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Bob Sutter, VFW Trustee, address attendees at the 60th Anniversary celebration. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Cakes are displayed at Cape Coral's Harney Point VFW Post 8463 Sunday in honor of the post's 60th Anniversary. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
One of Harney Point VFW Post's eldest members, Jim Weidel, left, Rob Williams, center, and youngest VFW Harney Point Post member Ben Santana, cut the ceremonial 60th Anniversary cake. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Cape Coral dignitaries, from left, Councilwoman Jennifer Nelson-Lastra, Councilman Joe Kilraine, Councilwoman Laurie Lehmann and Mayor John Gunter join to celebrate Harney Point VFW Post 8463's 60th Anniversary. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Desert Storm veteran and VFW cook, Jeff Webber, grills hotdogs and burgers for Harney Point Post 8463's 60th Anniversary. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
Veterans Rob Williams, left, and Steve Romaine at Harney Point VFW Post 8463's 60th Anniversary. CASEY BRADLEY GENT
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Camaraderie and brotherhood.
These two words represented the spirit on display at Cape Coral Harney Point VFW Post 8463 as the post celebrated its 60th anniversary at a day-long celebration Sunday.
"All of the veterans who are members here, served in a foreign conflict," said Post Commander Rob Williams, who explained why VFW posts are unique. "Unlike American Legion posts, who are open to everyone, the VFW requires that members served during wartime."
On hand for Sunday's event were veterans who served during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In addition to burgers, dogs and a free meal for Vietnam vets to mark National Vietnam Veterans Day, Williams ordered two special cakes for the celebration.
"It is a long-standing tradition for the oldest VFW member and the youngest VFM member to cut the first cake slice," Williams said.
He explained that the cake cutting represents a "passing of wisdom and responsibility from one generation to the next."
Jim Weidel, a veteran in his 80s, and Ben Santana, a veteran who completed his military service is 2004, shared the first cake-cutting formalities.
Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter and Councilmember Laurie Lehmann shared the second cake cutting.
"This anniversary is a special event in a special city," Gunter said. "Cape Coral is a Purple Heart City, and we have been one for a very long time."
Purple Heart cities are municipalities committed to the local recognition and honor of military personnel wounded or killed in combat.
Other attendees included City Councilmembers Jennifer Nelson-Lastra and Joe Kilraine and the VFW motorcycle riders group.
Bob Sutter, an Army veteran and VFW trustee, said the riders group raised $1,700 for veterans and their families.
And, of course, there were members from multiple branches of the U.S. military who turned out to mark Post 8463's 60th anniversary.
Carlos Kelly, who served as a Marine, said it was an honor to spend a couple of hours around other vets.
"Serving has been one of the greatest honors I've ever done," Kelly said. "Our military stands for the greater good. I learned about camaraderie. The brothers I fought with in Iraq and Afghanistan are still my brothers."
Kelly, who served from 2002-2006, said that the connections he made with fellow Marines have lasted for the 20 years since he left the corp.
"I still visit my Marine family members across the country," he said. "We have a bond that will always be there."
Sutter said both he and Williams were extremely pleased with the turnout.
"This event, and this building, exist to support veterans and veterans' families," Williams said. "Every beer you drink, every bingo card you play here, that money goes back to support our veterans."
The next Open House/Bike Night at the Cape VFW Post will be Saturday, April 11.