The end of the Vietnam War was 40 years ago on March 30, 1973, the day that many of the troops arrived back in the United States. The troops returning were not acknowledged, but they are being recognized now.
It has taken 40 years for these men and women to be officially welcomed home. Ohio began the commemoration Tuesday at the Ohio History Center in Columbus with the Traveling Wall, panel discussions and a remembrance ceremony. Other commemorations and ceremonies have been planned statewide.
In my humble opinion, the most important is the small one that happens when you see a Vietnam veteran and just say, “Thank you and welcome home.”

Attention: World War II Geauga County veterans
The Geauga County Historical Society is attempting to identify all current Geauga County residents who are veterans of World War II.
Each Geauga County World War II veteran and a guest will be invited to attend a dinner in their honor. If you or someone you know is a veteran of World War II and a resident of Geauga County, call the Geauga County Historical Society and Century Village Museum office at 440-834-1492 or email info@geaugahistorical.org.

Local companies receive awards for their support
Three local companies were recognized for their support of National Guard and Reserve members with the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
Nominations of employers were made by employees and members of the National Guard and Reserves.
Local companies honored were Progressive Insurance Corp.; FedEx Freight and Northeast Ohio Vascular Associates Inc.

AMVETS will offer after-dinner entertainment
AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will serve a fish fry dinner followed by a disc jockey and karaoke entertainment from 5 to 8 p.m. today. For details, call the post home at 440-257-9217.

Catholic War Veterans membership drive in Perry
John Paul II Post 1959 Catholic War Veterans will host a membership and poppy drive at St. Cyprian Catholic Church, 4223 Middle Ridge Road in Perry, at the 5 p.m. Mass on April 6 and at the 9 and 11 a.m. Masses April 7. There also will be a 50/50 drawing to support the troops. For details call Ken Kirchner, second vice commander, at 440-257-2156.

Leathernecks Nation spaghetti dinner
Gold Star Chapter of the Leathernecks Nation MC will host an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner at 5:30 p.m. April 6 at American Legion Post 678, 579 E. 328th St. in Willowick.
Adults’ dinners will be $15 and children ages 10 and younger will be admitted free with a paid adult ticket. For tickets or more information, email leathernecksmc@sbcglobal.net.

Ladies Auxiliary hosts flea market
American Legion Post 678 Auxiliary Unit will host a flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 13 at the post home, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick. This is a fundraiser for the veteran causes supported by the Ladies Auxiliary. For details, call the post home at 440-943-9659.

Eastlake auxiliary celebrates 25 years
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863 Ladies Auxiliary will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the auxiliary from 3 to 6 p.m. April 28 at the post home, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake. Tickets are $10 per person with a cash bar and a dinner catered by Koumbaro’s Catering. Reservations must be made and paid for by April 19. Call Jean Powali at 440-944-8943 for details or to make reservations.
 
Red Stocking Revue honors America
Western Reserve Junior Service League will present the annual Red Stocking Revue “Yankee Doodle Salute!” at 7:30 p.m. May 3 and 4 at Harvey High School, 200 W. Walnut Ave. in Painesville.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $35 reserved seating. To thank those who have served our country, all veterans and active duty personnel with a military ID will be admitted free the night of the performance, based on available seating.
For details or tickets, call Bev Wallace at 440-256-1547.

Walk for Fisher House
The Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center is one of the largest veterans hospitals in the United States. One of the most important parts of the veterans’ healing process is the support of nearby family. To help build a Greater Cleveland Fisher House, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 343 of Euclid will sponsor a Walk for Fisher House on May 11 at Sparky DiBiasio Stadium in Euclid. For details, call the Euclid American Legion Post after 3 p.m. at 216-531-5344 or email walkforfisher@roadrunner.com.

Indianhead Division members wanted
The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who ever served in the Army’s 2nd Infantry division at any time. For details about the national association or the annual reunion in Columbus, Ga., on Sept. 17 through 21, call Secretary-Treasurer Bob Haynes at 224-225-1202 or email him at 2idahq@comcoast.net.

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.

Rolling Thunder Inc. may be best known for the annual gathering of motorcycles on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., each Memorial Day weekend.
Beginning in 1988, the annual motorcycle gathering brought recognition to the fact that this country still had POWs and MIAs who were unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. The “Ride to the Wall” has grown from 2,500 riders the first year to an estimated 850,000 from all over the country.
Rolling Thunder, Inc. is now a registered nonprofit organization with more than 88 chartered chapters in the United States. The mission of the group is still the same: to educate the general public about the plight of American prisoners of war who were left behind from all wars.
Rolling Thunders Charities Inc. began in 2007. The funds collected are used to assist veterans, active military and their families who are in need of help. No officers of the charity receive compensation for their work.
Rolling Thunder Chapter 1 Ohio is accepting members and welcomes inquiries and questions. Visit its website at www.rtohio1.org or check out its Facebook page.
 
Breakfast in Fairport
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7754 Ladies Auxiliary, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, will host a Lenten breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at the post home. Cost is $6. For details, call the post at 440-352-1123.
 
Pancakes and sausage at Burton post
American Legion Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a pancake and sausage breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  April 7 at the post home. For details call Ron at 440-343-1478.
 
Catholic War Veterans reverse raffle
St. Vitus Post 1655 of the Catholic War Veterans will host a reverse raffle on April 16 at the Slovenian National Home, 6409 St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland. Only 175 main board tickets will be sold for a chance at $2,500 in total cash prizes. Cost for the main board tickets, which include dinner and open bar, are $60. Tickets for dinner only are $20. Consolation prizes and side boards also will be available. Call Mike Blau for tickets and details at 440-954-1426.
 
25 years of community involvement
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 3863, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake, will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the auxiliary from 3 to 6 p.m. April 28. The unit was chartered April 17, 1988, and has been active in the community and with veterans programs since its inception. Dinner will be $10 per person, with a cash bar. Reservations must be made and paid for by April 19. For reservations and details, call Jean Powali at 440-944-8943.
 
Rally for the Troops in 11th year
The 11th annual Rally for the Troops will be 11 a.m. to noon April 28 at Cleveland Public Square. Bikes will stage at 8:30 a.m. from supporting Harley Davidson dealerships in the area and depart at 9:30 a.m. for the rally. Call 440-263-8121 or email KIKSHARLEY@aol.com for details.
There is no cost to attend the rally and free parking will be available at Tower City and Network Parking.
 
Honor Flight season begins
Honor Flight Cleveland will begin the seventh year of flying World War II and Korean veterans to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials.
Applications for veterans and guardians wishing to sign up for the 2013 flight year can visit HonorFlightCleveland.com to obtain an application. All flights are on a first-come, first-served basis. Veterans fly free and guardians fly for $250 for the one-day trip.
Honor Flight Cleveland will fly nine times between May and November of this year. Guardians, in addition to paying a $250 ticket cost, must attend an hour and half of training on the second Tuesday of each month at Mentor VFW Post 9295, 8682 Mentor Ave. in Mentor. The training sessions begin at 6 p.m. and no reservations are needed. For details, call 440-639-9368 or email jmerrick7@juno.com.
 
Breakfast at Gunny’s Hall
Save time over a hot stove on Sunday morning and have breakfast at Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Road in Mentor. Served every Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon between Labor Day and Memorial Day, the breakfast is $7.50 and all-you-can-eat. For details, call the post at 440-974-9380.
 
Willoughby VFW hall rental available
VFW Post 1500, 38295 Pelton Road in Willoughby, has a nice hall available for rent with kitchen facilities and a bar area. For details, call the post at 440-951-9233 or email VFW1500@yahoo.com.
 
Honor Guard available in Geauga County
The American Legion Post 459 of Burton/Middlefield has a military honor guard available to perform full military funeral services. The honor guard, led by Newell Beaumier, is available 24/7 with just a few days’ notice. For details, call “Bo” at 440-834-8764.

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.

Flags for First Graders teaches first-grade students the importance, etiquette and history of the American flag.
Volunteers from 40/8, an independent fraternal organization of veterans, appear at elementary schools by invitation and present the short lesson.
The program concludes with the first-graders receiving a small flag of their own and a coloring book that reflects what they have learned.
Made possible through donations, the presentations are about 20 minutes long and allow for the students to participate while learning.
For details, call Joe Milmont at 440-275-1296.
 
Sequestration causes
cancellation
The United States Air Force Band has canceled performances for the spring 2013 season, including the performance scheduled for April 3 at Stambaugh Auditorium Concert Hall in Youngstown.
The tours scheduled to take place in April would have been at various locations throughout the northeastern United States.
For questions about the cancellation, call Stambaugh Auditorium Box Office at 330-259-0555.
 
Rolling Thunder appears
at Piston Power
Rolling Thunder, Ohio Chapter 1 will be at the Piston Power show at the I-X Center in Cleveland Friday through Sunday. Their mission is to have a full accounting of our nation’s POWs and MIAs
Rolling Thunder volunteers will be collecting donations for the Wounded Warrior Ohio Monument that will be place at Medina Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5137. The volunteers also will be gathering signatures for the POW/MIA Ohio specialty license plates.
Rolling Thunder also will offer military specialty products including pins, patches and shirts for purchase.
Please visit and witness the Missing Man Table ceremony that will be performed several times each day.
For details, call 440-655-1501.
 
Fairport Ladies
host Lenten breakfast
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, will host Lenten breakfasts from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday and March 24 at the post. Cost is $6.
For details, call 440-352-1123.
 
Men’s Auxiliary hosts breakfast
The Men’s Auxiliary of VFW Post 8548, 7604 Lake Road E. in Madison Township, will host a sausage gravy and biscuit breakfast with potatoes, eggs, coffee and juice from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at the post home. Adult breakfast will be $5 and breakfast for the children will be $3.50. All are welcome.
Call 440-428-3050.
 
Veterans Informational
Seminar in Chardon
Geauga County Veterans Services presents a 2013 Veterans Informational Seminar from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the Geauga County Department on Aging, 12555 Ravenwood Drive in Chardon.
All veterans, active-duty service members and dependents are welcome.
Please bring records showing military status and résumé if requesting assistance in seeking employment.
For details, call 440-729-1860.
 
Burton Legion
hosts pancake breakfast
American Legion Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a pancake and sausage breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 7 at the post home.
For details, call 440-343-1478.
 
Reverse raffle at St. Vitus
St. Vitus Post 1655 of the Catholic War Veterans will host a reverse raffle April 16 at the Slovenian National Home, 6409 St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland.
Only 175 main board tickets will be sold for a chance at $2,500 in total cash prizes. The event also includes dinner and an open bar.
Cost for the main board tickets are $60, with additional dinner tickets for only $20. Consolation prizes and side boards also will be available.
Call Mike Blau for tickets and details at 440-954-1426.
 
Walk for Fisher House scheduled
American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 343 of Euclid will sponsor a Walk for Fisher House on May 11 at Euclid High School’s Sparky DiBiasio Stadium.
The event will consist of a one-mile walk, a wellness clinic and representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Fisher House to answer questions about benefits.
For details, call 216-531-5344 after 3 p.m. or email walkforfisher@roadrunner.com.
Greater Cleveland Fisher House will provide free housing for families of hospitalized veterans. An integral part of a veterans healing is having their families nearby.

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.

I can remember watching the news reports of the Paris Peace talks on our little black-and-white television set — you know, the ones with the rabbit-ears antenna.
In the early 1970s President Richard Nixon wanted an end to the Vietnam War in a manner he described as “peace with honor.” Most of my friends in high school just wanted the war to end.
On January 27, 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed, immediately followed by a complete cease-fire and immediate withdrawal of troops. Our brothers, fathers, uncles and cousins began coming home.
This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the withdrawal and end of the war. Commemoration ceremonies are planned March 26-29 in Columbus. The commemoration is a joint effort between the Ohio Department of Veterans Services and Vietnam Veterans of America, Buckeye State Council.
The traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall will be at the Ohio History Center on March 24, panel discussions are planned and Vietnam veterans will be able to record their experience in living-history interviews.
All events are open to veterans and the public. For details, visit dvs.ohio.gov/home/vietnam_veterans_commemoration.aspx

Eastlake post serving corned beef Saturday
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake, will serve corned beef dinners and sandwiches from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the post home. Dinners are priced at $8 each and sandwiches will be $5. Reuben sandwiches will be $6.
Sandwiches also will be served between noon and 5 p.m. March 16 at the same price. Tickets are available in advance or may be purchased at the door. For details, call 440-942-3980.

AMVETS Post 109 a busy place
AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will be jumping after the Friday night fish fry with a disc jockey and karaoke. Stop in, have dinner and stay to dance. Dinners are served 5 to 8 p.m. followed by music.
The Ladies Auxiliary will be serving breakfast from 9:30 a.m. to noon  Saturday. Breakfast is $5 per person. For details, call 440-257-9217.

Madison Auxiliary hosts craft bazaar
The Annual Craft Bazaar of the Ladies Auxiliary of Madison VFW Post 8548, will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Stratton Place, Main Street, Madison Village. A portion of the proceeds of the sale will benefit the Madison Food Bank. All are welcome.

Oink and Squeal party annual event
The Annual Oink and Squeal Party Raffle and Chinese Auction, presented by the Burton American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 459, will be 5 p.m. March 23 at the Burton American Legion Hall, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton. Tickets for the raffle are $2 each and Chinese auction tickets are 10 for $1.
Admission will be nonperishable food items, bath items or a cash donation.

Lakeland celebrates Women’s History month
Lakeland Community College in Kirtland will host retired U.S. Army Col. Margaret McDevitt as a Women’s History Month speaker from noon to 1 p.m. March 20.
The luncheon is free to the first 25 student veterans to RSVP. The luncheon for others will be $5 for choice of veggie, turkey or roast beef wrap.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be on the second floor of Breakers Dining Hall.
She will discuss her careers, pathways to success and military transition. McDevitt is a native Ohioan who served more than 25 years in the Army as a nuclear biological and chemical defense specialist and an Army lawyer in various positions throughout the world. McDevitt retired in 2008 and returned to Ohio, where she was associated until 2012 with the firm of Amourgis and Associates in Akron, practicing in civil litigation, real estate and consumer law.
She will speak about both her military and civilian careers.
The event is sponsored by the Veterans Support Program.

Honor Flight now in seventh season
Honor Flight Cleveland is beginning the seventh year of flying World War II and Korean veterans to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials. Applications for veterans and guardians wishing to sign up for 2013 flights can visit HonorFlightCleveland.com to get an application.
All flights are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Veterans fly free and guardians pay $250 for the day trip. Nine flights are scheduled between May and November of this year.
Guardians also attend must an hour and half of training. Training sessions are at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Mentor VFW Post 9295, 8682 Mentor Ave. in Mentor.
For details, call Jan Merrick at 440-639-9368 or email jmerrick7@aol.com

Breakfast in Fairport Sunday
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, will host Sunday breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon through March 24. Price is $6. Proceeds will benefit veterans projects. For 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.

George Yano of Willowick thought the letter from the White House would be a request for more tax money. He could not have been more wrong.
The letter was a thank you from the president of the United States for his World War II service and it caught him by complete surprise.
Yano, who will be 90 years old in April, was a farm boy who moved to Cleveland from Pennsylvania. He began working almost as soon as he could walk and has seen the world.
He joined the Navy in 1942 and after boot camp was sent to California as a Naval armed guard. Only a few sailors were chosen for the duty as a ship’s compliment usually consisted of 12 to 25 Naval armed guards. The duty was hazardous on Merchant Marine vessels carrying supplies to the troops stationed around the globe as they were high priority targets for the Axis powers.
Yano’s travels aboard ship took him to Australia then sailing on to Calcutta through the Bay of Bengal. The ship went on through the Suez Canal, crossing the Mediterranean and finally across the Atlantic Ocean and into New York. He had shore duty for a while at the Armed Guard Center in New York, before receiving orders for California. He was preparing for the invasion of Japan when word came that the atomic bomb had been dropped.
“Truman dropped the bomb, saved my life,” Yano said.
He was discharged in 1945 and returned home to start his businesses. He built homes, including the one he lives in. He sold real estate and owned gas stations, five at one time.
Beginning as Gulf Gas Stations, he owns two repair shops, one at Vine Street and Lake Shore Boulevard in Willowick that has been there since 1949, and the other just west of Andrews Road on Lake Shore Boulevard in Mentor.

Honor Flight Cleveland begins seventh year of flights
Honor Flight Cleveland will begin the seventh year of flights for World War II and Korean veterans to Washington to see their memorial.
Applications for veterans and guardians wishing to sign up for the 2013 year can be found at www.HonorFlightCleveland.com. All flights are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Veterans fly free and guardians pay $250 for the day trip. Nine flights are scheduled between May and November. Guardians must also attend a 11⁄2 -hour training session which are 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month beginning in April at the Mentor VFW Post, 8682 Mentor Ave. and no reservations are required.
For details, call Jam Merrick at 440-639-9368 or email jmerrick7@juno.com.

CPAs volunteer for
military personnel
The Ohio Society of CPAs is offering free tax preparation services to Ohio military families this tax season.
Now through April, Ohio Certified Public Accountants will prepare 2012 tax returns for military personnel who are permanent residents of Ohio and currently deployed outside of the state.
To find an Operation CPA volunteer in your area, call The Ohio Society of CPAs toll free at 888-959-1212 or email cpanswers@ohio-cpa.com.

Madison VFW Auxiliary
craft show
The annual craft bazaar of the Ladies Auxiliary of Madison VFW Post 8548, will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 9, at Stratton Place, 126 W. Main St. in Madison Village. The public is invited.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Madison Food Bank.

Annual Oink and Squeal
at Burton post
The Oink and Squeal Party with raffle and Chinese auction will begin at 5 p.m. March 23 at the Burton American Legion Hall, 14052 Goodwin St.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. and raffle will begin at 7 p.m. Raffle tickets are $2 each and auction tickets are 10 for $1.
Prizes for the evening include cash and 20 hams. Admission is nonperishable food items, bath items or cash donations for the local food bank.
Food will be available for purchase through the Legion kitchen.
For tickets, contact an American Legion Ladies Auxiliary member.

Abbey Rodeo to appear
at Willoughby post
Willoughby VFW Post 1500, 38295 Pelton Road, will host a fundraiser spaghetti dinner followed by a performance of Abbey Rodeo beginning at 6 p.m. March 23.
Tickets are $18 a person and due to advance sales, tickets may not be available the night of the event.
For tickets, call 440-951-9233 or go in person to the post home.
All proceeds will benefit “The Littlest Heroes” as well as the VFW National Children’s Home, Cleveland Area VA Hospital treats and care packages for the troops.

Ladies serve breakfast
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, will host Lenten breakfasts from 8 a.m. to noon, Sundays through March 24, at the post home.
Proceeds will benefit veteran projects.
For details, call the post at 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.