Harney Point VFW to mark 60th anniversary
Post 8463 invites the public to take part in its celebration of service and support
A Cape Coral organization that honors, supports, and assists veterans is celebrating a milestone anniversary this weekend.
This Sunday, Cape Coral’s Harney Point Veterans of Foreign War Post 8463 will host an event celebrating the Post’s 60th birthday and celebrating its distinction as one of the oldest organizations within the city.
Festivities for the celebration will begin at noon, with a formal cake-cutting ceremony to be held during the afternoon. Cape Coral Cub Scout troop 8463 will perform the time-honored “presentation of colors” at 3 p.m.
“For us, it’s 60 years of camaraderie,” said Treasurer Bob Sutter. “You know, that we’ve been able to have people come in. Two weeks ago, we had a 99-year-old World War II veteran pledge. It’s a huge opportunity for retirees or ex-military people that were in wars to talk with their buddies who might have been in a similar war or with similar experiences. It just allows them to vent and to relax and share like-experiences with other members that understand what they went through.”
The post officially began March 26, 1966, with 56 charter members and since has grown to more than 1,000 members. The VFW stands as a beacon for all who have honorably served the nation overseas. Members say post is more than just a building; it is a community, a brotherhood, and a place of purpose where the spirit of military service continues.
“Whether you’re Army or Navy or Air Force or, you know, it doesn’t matter, at the end of the day, it’s all brotherly love,” Sutter said. “You put everything aside and at the end of the day. If somebody needs something, you’re there for them.”
The VFW has done a lot of community outreach over the years.
“If there’s a member or a nonmember that’s having problems paying a bill, we’ll vote to donate money to them so they can pay their electricity bill,” Sutter said. “Or if they need a bed, we’ll go find them a bed. This is a very giving-back-to-the-community group of people here. I’ve never seen anything like it. I mean, they’re constantly doing stuff for people.”
With the growth of the city always on the rise, so has membership with veterans coming down and Cape Coral being a Purple Heart City.
“A lot of people settle down here because they like the atmosphere here in Cape Coral,” Sutter said. “So the more people that come into the community, the more people you’re going to have join the VFW. The growth of the community has helped our numbers. And it’s rising awareness — getting out into the community and engaging.
“And of course, you have more wars. You have everybody coming out of Desert Storm and Desert Shield now that’s saying, ‘Hey, I need to go hang out with people that are like-minded.'”
Additionally, as part of the celebration, the VFW’s motorcycle “riders-group” is conducting its annual “poker run” motorcycle ride for veterans in need. The Post’s “riders-group” activities will end at the VFW Post as they join us in on the celebration. This year the group will be collecting items as well as monetary donations in support of “Holidays 4 Heroes,” an organization that provides non-perishable items to food pantries for veterans, backpacks for homeless, and care packages for active duty. Attendees can feel free to bring an item in support of the efforts.
Post Commander Rob Williams will officiate all activities and invites members of the community to attend and enjoy the camaraderie, a good meal, as well as listen to live music from Cape Coral’s own “One Hot Mess” band.
Above all, the VFW has served as a place for veterans to spend time and find solace for six decades.
“It’s being there constantly for the veterans,” Sutter said. “Just being part of their normal life to where if they need to get away for a couple of hours, they go to the VFW, grab something to eat because we got a chef there that cooks phenomenal food. Just sit back and just relax and converse with some of the people that they know, and they get to know other new people.
“It is a safe zone for anybody. And we don’t care… ex-military, non ex-military, it’s a safe zone. If you’re having problems or whatever, come by and see us, hang out for a while, you know, we’re your big brother. We’re there to help.”