Several times per year, during our more patriotic holidays, the VFW Post 10127 comes to the Atrium at Liberty Park in Cape Coral to salute the veterans.

Thursday, on Veterans Day, they stopped by once again to salute veterans (one a World War II vet), hand out American flags, and celebrate those who served our country.

They also hosted U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds at their post at 996 Pondella Road, where he spoke about honoring veterans and the importance of remaining the preeminent superpower in the world.

“It’s something we do on Memorial Day, 9-11, we come and see the vets, talk to them, meet them, hear their stories, and they seem to appreciate that,” said Paul Baldwin, commander at the VFW Post. “We’ve been doing this here since it opened at couple years ago. My wife’s mom is here and when the director heard we were with the VFW, she asked us to come down and do a service.”

Cheryl Cooper, enrichment coordinator at the Atrium, was among the speakers. She talked about the “missing man table” devoted to veterans who lost their lives or who are missing in action.

“They come and share a little of their knowledge and I did some research and I learned a lot about their missing man table. I got goose bumps all over me body,” Cooper said. “It put a different perspective about Veterans Day for me because I thought of it as red, white and blue and a party. I didn’t realize all the meaning behind it.”

Baldwin had those attending wave their flags as Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless the U.S.A.” and spoke with some of the veterans before leaving for the VFW Post to host Donalds and many respected leaders from the community.

Donalds joked about how those in Congress played the Capitol Police in a football game and got trounced before paying tribute to those who served in the military to help keep us free.

“Our nation would not be what it is today or what it has been without the service and sacrifices of those men and women who served, continue to serve or will serve,” Donalds said.

Donalds added that we constantly need to be reminded of how important the nation’s security is. He said we are in a battle for world supremacy with China.

“We cannot allow them to become the dominant military player of the world. America’s preeminence with respect to our military and its ability has allowed us liberty and freedom not just here, but around the globe,” Donalds said.

Other people spoke at the VFW.

Danny Ballard, president of the North Fort Myers Civic Association, said that as a firefighter of 40 years, his occupation is as close to the military as you can get, which makes Veterans Day special.

“I was at Ground Zero, another man I know is from Ground Zero and the veterans are close to my heart because I have a son who was crew chief on the B-1 Bomber that dropped the Bunker Buster on Saddam Hussein’s house and killed his two boys,” Ballard said emotionally. “It’s one of those things that makes these guys who they are and makes you who you are.”