From: NewNowNext
Denver just wrapped up its Pride celebrations over the weekend with a very special moment — their Pride parade was led by the first openly gay commander in the entire VFW.
Veteran John Harry, who did eight tours of duty while keeping his sexuality a secret, was just elected as the new commander of VFW Post 1 on Saturday night.
Harry said he actually came out at age 15, but knew that joining the military meant he had to go back in the closet.
Now, the vet is able to both be openly gay and the head of a VFW established in 1899.
Having only been elected to the position the night before, marching in the Denver Pride Parade with Post 1 as their commander was an overwhelming experience for Harry.
“I am so happy to be here at Pride and to have this crowd still living and loving and experiencing joy and being the community they’re supposed to be,” he said.
The group said Harry’s being gay had nothing to do with them voting him into the position, but rather, they value the leadership and service that he says made him who he is today.
“It taught me discipline, job skills, life skills, things I didn’t know before and made me capable of running the oldest VFW in the world,” Harry said with pride.
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