Oct. 29 deadline for tickets to annual Veterans Day Dinner

Online Staff Report

Winnebago County Veterans Association will hold its 71st Annual Veterans Day Dinner Friday, Nov. 4, at Cliffbreakers, 700 W. Riverside Blvd.

Social hour and cocktails will begin at 6 p.m., Post colors will be displayed at 6:45 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The Veterans Day program will follow dinner.

This year, the association will offer a single entree featuring turkey. The Veterans Day Dinner, a long-time Rockford tradition, has brought together for one evening people from the government sector, the private sector and veterans from all walks of life.

Guest speaker will be Capt. Todd M. Cabelka, JAGC, USN. Capt. Cabelka is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marquette University Law School, and the Naval Justice School in Newport, R.I. He was defense counsel and legal assistance officer at the Naval Legal Service Office, Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine. From 1991 to 1992, he served on the staff of the Commander, U.S. Forces, Azores, Portugal, as an International Law Attorney. He also served as staff judge advocate to the Naval Security Group and Naval Air Facilities, and as defense counsel to the U.S. Air Force Military Support Wing and U.S. Army Terminal Transportation Units in the Azores.

In 1994, Capt. Cabelka transitioned to the U.S. Naval Reserves, joining VTU-0113G, then later served as executive officer of VTU-0153. In 2000, he joined the Naval Justice School Unit, Newport, R.I., instructing new judge advocates in court-martial procedure and advanced trial advocacy. In 2004, he was recalled to active duty in support of Operation Noble Eagle to serve as legal adviser to the Iraq Interagency Transition Planning Team, reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense. He ended his tour as executive officer of the unit which received the Judge Advocate General’s High Howell Award for superlative contributory support to the War College.

Capt. Cabelka next served as staff judge advocate to the CNE-C6F Maritime Partnership Program Detachment 413, from 2005 to 2008. In this capacity, he served as the Republic of Congo and Gabon Team Leader working with U.S. State Department and Defense Attache personnel, broadening U.S. Naval ties to various West African nations. In 2008, he served for 14 months as the deputy staff judge advocate to the Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

After this tour, he reported for assignment as an international law instructor for the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, Newport, R.I. In December 2010, he was selected as the commanding officer of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command Legal Reserve Unit in Norfolk, Va. In civilian life, he is an assistant superintendent for the Beloit, Wis. School District and practices business, labor, and education law. He has received several military decorations for meritorious service.

Ticket prices for tables of eight are $250 per table, or a second-level donation for one table at $500, or a third-level donation of $1,000 per table. Checks should be made payable to Winnebago County Veterans Association and mailed to Veterans Memorial Hall, Attn: Scott Lewandowski, 211 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61101.

For tickets, contact your Post commander or call Veterans Memorial Hall at (815) 969-1999. Organizations that purchase one or more table(s) of eight will receive eight numbered tickets per table that may be distributed to the organization’s members and guests. Indicate the name of the organization when ordering a table or tables. The deadline for all payments for tickets is Oct. 29. No dinner orders can be accepted after the deadline. To place an order, contact Scott Lewandowski at (815) 969-1999 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.