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.