On the evening of June 24 at Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658 during a bingo game, member Mike Keleher was looking at the veterans’ wall of service photos, which honors lodge members who are veterans. As he was looking, he recognized his best friend, who he served with in 1962 but hadn’t seen in 55 years — Harry Keat. Both men were Air Force policemen during the Cuban Missile Crisis stationed at the Air Force base in Homestead, Florida. Mike told April Barth, who runs the bingo program, that he would like to get in touch with Harry. Harry’s wife, Karen, happened to be at the lodge playing bingo, so she called Harry, who came to the lodge in about 15 minutes. When the men were stationed in Florida, they owned a car together. When Mike shipped out, Harry told him he would sell the car and split the money with him. Harry sold the car for $100 and was then shipped out to Vietnam. So, the first thing Harry said to Mike when they were reunited after 55 years was, “I owe you 50 bucks.”

This story was shared by Rick Barth, PER, Lodge Secretary, Harry’s brother-in-law.

Pictured are Harry and Mike in front of the veterans’ photo wall.