The Roland Terrace Democratic Club is celebrating its 60th anniversary next month with a big party on June 14.

The club formed in 1949 when a group of World War II veterans who were stationed together wanted to maintain their friendship. They met at Carl Abend's home on Bon Air Road and called themselves the Arundel Gardens Democratic Club, Rita Ketchum, the club's treasurer and political chairwoman, wrote in an e-mail.

The men elected Justin Lewis as their first president.

They had to move their meeting location to the basement of Milt Chaski's home, which was called Milt's Bar and was located next door to the...