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Larece Galer brings you the latest military news. To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Civil Air Patrol hosts Open House

The Frank H. Kettlewood Composite Squadron of the United States Civil Air Patrol will host an open house beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Painesville Church of the Nazarene, 6235 Chestnut St. in Painesville.
The Civil Air Patrol began in the 1930s and during World War II flew numerous missions, saving crews and passengers from sinking vessels, and sinking two enemy submarines. It became an official group just one week before the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war, the Civil Air Patrol became the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force.
Stop in at the open house to get more information about this interesting group.
A composite squadron is composed of both cadets, those younger than age 18; and seniors, adults 18 and older who are interested in aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services.
For details, call 440-415-5528 or email Thomas.snell@ohwg.cap.gov

Rock-A-thon benefits hospice
The Annual Rock-A-thon to benefit Hospice of the Western Reserve will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in front of Perry AMVETS Post 1971, 4425 Main St. in Perry.
What is a Rock-A-thon? Individuals will be rocking in rocking chairs while earning donations from sponsors. This Rock-A-thon was formerly sponsored by Perry AMVETS Post 1971 Ladies Auxiliary and has been adopted by the 20th District Ladies Auxiliary consisting of Mentor, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Maple Heights, Richfield and Perry.
The Rock-A-thons have earned $46,000 for Hospice of the Western Reserve and anyone can join in by rocking or donating. For more information or to get a sponsor sheet, call Gertie Rorabaugh at 440-259-4242.

Young Marines work for trip
Ashtabula County Young Marines will host a garage sale 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1295 South Broadway in Geneva. Come out and shop and help support the Ashtabula County Young Marines program.
If you have items to donate, call 440-812-0126. Proceeds will benefit the Young Marines trip to Washington, D.C.

AMVETS post to host clam bake
AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake will host a clambake at the post home Oct. 6. Tickets are $24 for the chicken bake and $28 for steak bake. For details or to order tickets, call 440-257-9217 before Monday.

Card party at Wickliffe Legion
American Legion Auxiliary Brewer-Tarasco Post 7 in Wickliffe will host a card party from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 19, at the post home, 29919 Euclid Ave. in Wickliffe. Tickets are $9 per person and include a salad bar supper and desserts. There will be a 50/50 raffle, theme baskets and door prizes. For details, call Lucille Greig at 440-944-9732 or Dolly Hillier at 440-585-0449.

Burton post hosts soup and chili dinner
Atwood-Mauck Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host an all-you-can-eat chili and soup dinner with corn bread from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the post home. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children age 12 and younger. For details, call 440-479-0297.

Chardon VFW serves clambake
Chardon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6519, 752 Water St. in Chardon, will host its annual clambake from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at the post home. Tickets are $25 per person and $10 for extra clams. Tickets for the clambake must be purchased in advance before Oct. 20. For information or tickets, call 440-285-3699.

Council on Aging offers veteran information
Lake County Council on Aging will salute Veterans Day with a Wednesday evening information meeting with the Lake County Veterans Service office. The gathering will begin at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7, and will inform veterans about available assistance and programs for men and women who have honorably served this country. The meeting will be at the Council on Aging office, 8520 East Ave. in Mentor. To register, call 440-205-8111 or email maribethg@lccoa.org.

Veterans Day event benefits Wounded Warriors
Veterans Day Campaign for A Cause, to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, will be 2 to 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at Tizzano’s Party Center, 1361 E. 260th St. in Euclid. Tickets are $25 per person or $20 for veterans and seniors over age 65. Tickets include a buffet dinner served from 3 to 5 p.m., music, sideboards, a Chinese auction and raffles. The event is organized and hosted by the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post and Chapter 31. For details, call 216-337-8997; 216-346-6843; 216-973-3012 or 440-479-1410.

To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094: fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Veterans benefit differences defined

Confused about Lake County Veterans Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs? Ever wonder what benefits you may be entitled to as a veteran?
The Lake County Veterans Service Commission will present an informational meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26 at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor.
The presentation will explain what the Veterans Service Commission is and what services are offered.
The agency offers a link between Veterans Affairs and veterans and their dependents. The commission may be able to aid with emergency temporary assistance in some cases and assist in identifying what benefits the veteran, spouse and dependents may be entitled to.
The informational meeting is free and open to the public.
The event is sponsored by VFW Post 7754 and the Ladies Auxiliary.

Need help locating a monument
At one time, an honor roll stood in front of McKinley School on Lost Nation Road in Willoughby. The names of those who were in the armed forces or those killed in World War II were listed on the honor roll. The memorial was in three sections and had three eagles carved into the stones on top.
This stood in an area that has been used as a parking lot. Does anyone know what happened to the monument or where it might have been moved to?

Reverse raffle to benefit
Fisher House Cleveland

A $1,000 grand prize reverse raffle and Chinese auction to benefit the Greater Cleveland Fisher House will be 5 p.m. Saturday at VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor.
Tickets are $25 per person and include food, open bar and side boards. All proceeds will benefit the construction of a Cleveland Fisher House, where families of veterans can stay for free while their veteran is undergoing treatment at veterans facilities in Cleveland.
Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The drawing begins at 8:30. For details, call the post at 440-352-1123.

Ladies serve breakfast
Ladies Auxiliary of Painesville VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday at the post home. For details, call the post at 440-354-9090

Cabbage roll dinner in
Willoughby Hills

The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 4358, 29412 White Road in Willoughby Hills, will host a cabbage roll dinner from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the post home. Donation is $8 per dinner. Call 440-944-1642 or Rosina Drenski at 440-944-4903 for reservations.

Annual Rock-a-Thon returns
AMVETS 20th District Ladies Auxiliary will host the Annual Rock-a-Thon at Perry Post 1971, 4128 Main Street in Perry, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 29. This is a fundraiser benefiting Hospice of the Western Reserve. The 20th District includes Mentor Post 40; Mentor-on-the-Lake Post 109, Maple Heights Post 80, Richfield Post 176 and Perry Post 1971.
Rockers are needed to rock in the rocking chairs and sponsors are also welcome. For details about rocking or donating, call Gertie Rorabaugh at 440-259-4242.

Young Marines Garage Sale
Gather all the unwanted items around the house and donate them to the Young Marines Garage Sale, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 29 and 30 at 1295 South Broadway in Geneva. Call 440-812-0126 to arrange for donation. The sale will be open to the public and proceeds will help support the Young Marines’ trip to Washington, D.C., scheduled for Oct. 10.

DAV chapter meets in Mentor
Lake County Chapter 42 Disabled American Veterans meets on the second Saturday of each month at the Marine Corps League Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor. Meetings begin at 11 a.m. and last about an hour. All disabled American veterans are welcome.

Incoming
The 237th USMC Birthday Celebration sponsored by Marine Corps League Detachment 782 will be 6 p.m. to midnight Nov. 10 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall, 133 S. Spruce St. in Jefferson.
The event is open to the public. Dress is business casual. Tickets include dinner, beverage, dancing, ceremony and more.
Tickets are $45 per couple and $25 a single.
Come and help celebrate the birthday of America’s Marines with your local Marine Corps veterans and members of the Pvt. Henry Kalinowski Marine Corps League Detachment 782.
For details, call Tom Lucas Jr. at 440-992-5861 or 440-813-3914.

To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Ninth District Commander honored at homecoming dinner

Charles Stennis of Painesville is a familiar face to many of the members of the American Legion Ninth District.
The Ninth District includes Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Stennis has been the commander of Post 336 in Painesville for the past three years and will be serving his fourth year in this position while taking on the challenges of Ninth District commander.
Active in the community, Stennis serves on several boards and is a Lakeland Community College Alumni Hall of Fame inductee.
A true advocate for veterans, Stennis considers it a privilege to help fellow veterans.
He has been married to wife, Tammy, for 23 years and they have one son, Brandon, currently serving in Afghanistan in the United States Army.
A homecoming dinner honoring Stennis as Ninth District commander will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at American Legion Post 678, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick. Tickets are $20 per person and include dinner and semi-casual attire.
Call Tammy Stennis at 440-392-2942 for tickets.

Juniors serve spaghetti dinners
n The Junior Girls Unit of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a spaghetti dinner and bake sale from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the post home. Donation is $6 per person.
The girls, ages 5 to 16, are the daughters, sisters and granddaughters of men and women eligible to join the VFW. Funds raised will be used for their trip to the Statue of Liberty birthday celebration.
n Junior Auxiliary Unit 336 of American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville, will host a spaghetti dinner 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Proceeds will benefit the Marie Moore Fund to help provide extras (wheelchairs, computers, recreational equipment etc.) for veterans in hospitals and clinics. Tickets are $6 and the public is welcome.

Willoughby auxiliary serves cabbage rolls
Palmer-Roberts Ladies Auxiliary Unit 214, 4304 Center St. in Willoughby, will host a cabbage roll dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the post. Donation is $7 and proceeds will benefit homeless veterans and the Veterans Creative Arts Festival. For details, call 440-942-7762.

AMVETS observes Sept. 11
AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will host a 9/11 ceremony in front of the post at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. There will be guest speakers and an honor guard. For details, call the post at 440-257-9217.

Outing helps Marines and sailors
The Three Deuce Five Marine Foundation will host its annual charity golf outing on Sept. 14at the Bunker Hill Golf Course, 3060 Pearl Road in Medina.
The day will begin with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. For details about reservations or sponsorships, call 440-342-0378 or 330-655-2933.
The foundation’s purpose is to oversee the administration of funds that have been generously donated by grateful and caring members of the Northeast Ohio community and beyond to meet the unmet needs of Marines, sailors and their immediate families.
The foundation is available to support them financially when no other means is available and to provide support to any active duty, reserve or honorably discharged Marine in the area.

Clambake time again
n VFW Ladies Auxiliary of Post 3863, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake, will host its Second Annual Clambake from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at the post home. Dinner choices are a steak bake, $21; chicken bake, $19; and extra clams for $7. All bakes include steak or chicken, a dozen clams, baked potato, corn, salad and clam chowder.
Tickets may be purchased at the post. Proceeds will benefit the auxiliary veterans programs.
n American Legion Post 112, 6671 Middle Ridge Road in Madison, will host a clambake from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at the post home. Reservations are requested by Monday. Tickets are $25 for steak; $23 for chicken and $7 for extra clams. For details, call 440-428-7893.
n The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 9295, 8682 Mentor Ave. in Mentor, will host a clambake beginning at 6 p.m. Sept. 22. The bake with chicken is $20; a chicken dinner only is $12. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 18. For information, call 440-255-3473.

Event helps to build Fisher House
A reverse raffle and Chinese auction to benefit the Greater Cleveland Fisher House will be 5 p.m. Sept. 22 at VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor. The grand prize will be $1,000. Tickets for the event will be $25 per person. For tickets or more details, call 440-352-1123.

To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.

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