Ribbon cutting: Chamber members and U.S. Army and NCOs and friends look on as the ribbons are cut officially opening the Army Career Center in Lehigh Acres. Cutting the ribbons is SFC Charles Cotto, the station NCO in charge surrounded by Capt. Christopher Beal and Lehigh Honorary Mayor Oscar Gamble. Photos by Mel Toadvine

Never before have there been so many uniformed soldiers at one time in Lehigh Acres as there were last week when a ceremony was held to mark the opening of the new Army Career Center.

The temperatures hovered just above 90 degrees as more than 100 civilians, community leaders and members of the U.S. Army turned out May 24 for a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the new recruitment station at the Bealls Plaza in Lehigh Acres.

Honorary Mayor Oscar Gamble, wearing his hospital blues and a sash identifying him as the “mayor” of Lehigh, read a proclamation welcoming the new Army Career Center to town and proclaiming it Army Career Center Day in Lehigh.

Several soldiers representing army recruitment stations from mid Florida to South Florida turned out to mark the occasion. They are known as the “Black Knights” and are members of a battalion of recruiters stationed in central and South Florida.

SFC (Sergeant First Class) Charles Cotto opened the program by stating that the Lehigh Army Career Center was the newest and 39th station to open.

East Lee County High School’s JROTC Color Guard participated in ceremony opening the new Army Career Center in Lehigh.

He said that the Army began recruitment stations in 1778 after the Revolutionary War.

The East Lee County JROTC’s Color Guard presented the colors as the National Anthem was sung by Porsha Jones, a senior student at Life Skills Center in Fort Myers.

The Lehigh Center is located in the Bealls shopping plaza across from a barbershop and next to an all-you-can pizza restaurant.

Hot foods and beverages were served to the 100 or so who attended the ceremony.

Cotto in his early remarks gave thanks to the veterans who had attended the ceremony, thanking them for their service.

Proclamation is read: Here members of the military gather with Lehigh Honorary Mayor Oscar Gamble following ceremonies last week that officially opened the new Army Career Center on Homestead Rd. From left to right are Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Whalen, Command Sgt. Maj. Torrey Vap, Sergeant First Class, Charles Cotto, Lt. Col. Cedric Ferrior, Honorary Mayor of Lehigh, Oscar Gamble; SFC Ralph Riggs, the company first sergeant; and Capt. Christopher Beal. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Since the station opened several weeks ago, Cotto said later that there have been 56 young people who have signed up to join the Army.

Also staffing the recruitment station in Lehigh are SFC Chevis Musselman and Staff Sgt. Thomas Carter.

Cotto said he was really excited to see the large turnout and credited the crowds to a good relationship the Army Center has built with the people of Lehigh.

Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) came from Tampa and southward for the ceremony. They stood in formation during the ceremony, an impressive sight of soldiers.

The Army Career Center is open during normal hours during the week. If you are interested in obtaining information from the Center, Cotto suggested stopping by or calling them at 239-634-7468.

Recruiters in formation: U.S. Army recruiters from different areas of central to South Florida attended the ribbon cutting ceremony that officially opened the Army Career Center in Lehigh Acres.

It was noted during the ceremony that a few years back, that only 3 out of 10 young Americans were able to pass the requirements to get in. Today, two out of every 10 are able to pass the requirement tests.

Cotto spoke of excellent programs that pay for college and said there were many different fields of training that a young man or woman could go into today’s U.S. Army.

This is the first military recruitment center to open in Lehigh Acres. Before prospective soldiers had to go to Fort Myers to talk to recruiters.

Cotto said recruitment so far has outnumbered quotas set by the Army.

Singing National Anthem: Porsha Jones, a senior at Like Skills Center in Fort Myers, sang the National Anthem before ribbon cutting ceremonies that marked the official opening of the first Army Career Center ever in Lehigh.