May is a month to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Memorial Day, May 27, will be marked by ceremonies in cemeteries across the area and the customary parades on main street.
A lack of volunteers to help prepare the cemeteries and ready for the parades has been mentioned to me several times over the past few weeks.
If you can help before the holiday, ask your post officers what you can do, even if it is only for an hour or two, I am sure the help would be appreciated. Remember, many hands make light work.

Volunteers for coupon program needed
Palmer-Roberts American Legion Auxiliary Unit 214 of Willoughby is throwing in the scissors, so to speak.
The coupon program will officially end June 30. The ladies thank all of the kind people who have contributed to the unit’s coupon program for the military over the past nine years.
This ongoing program has provided $3.49 million worth of coupons to military families in Germany.
At this time, no other group that has stepped forward to take over. If this sounds like a project for your group, please call American Legion Auxiliary Unit 214 at 440-942-7762 and let them know.

Painesville post hosts breakfast before Louie Run
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville, will host a breakfast buffet from 9 a.m. to noon at the post home before the Louie Run on Sunday. Cost of the breakfast is $5 per person. For details, call the post at 440-357-7711.

Loyalty Day assembly in Jefferson
A Loyalty Day Assembly will be 8 a.m. May 6 at Jefferson Area High School Auditorium, 206 W. Mulberry St. in Jefferson. The guest speaker will be Chuck Keller, department commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Everyone is welcome.
For more information, call Durward A. Newhard at 440-576-8205.

Mother’s Day Plant sale in Burton
American Legion Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a Mother’s Day Plant Sale from noon to 7 p.m. May 10 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11. The sale will include flats, baskets and pots, and will take place rain or shine.
All proceeds raised will benefit the school scholarship fund. For details, call 440-834-4532.

Walk for Fisher House
Euclid American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 343 will host a Walk for Fisher House on May 11 at the Euclid Sparky DiBiasio Stadium. Walkers may register for $20 and are encouraged to collect sponsor donations. For details or registration, call Karen Kilkenney at 216-407-1286 or email walkforfisher@roadrunner.com

Junior girls wash cars
Painesville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Unit 2595 Junior Girls Unit will host a car wash from 1 to 3 p.m. May 11 at the post home, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville.
The girls are ages 5 through 16 and are the daughters, sisters and granddaughters of men and women eligible to join the VFW. Funds raised will be used in support of veterans, active duty military, their families and the community, including “Appreciation Baskets for Military Families.”
For details about the group, call Jill Householder at 440-352-9522.

Mother’s Day breakfast served in Eastlake
Eastlake VFW Post 3863, 33641 Vine St., will serve a Mother’s Day breakfast from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 12 at the post home. Breakfast is $5 per person and mothers eat free. For details, call the post home at 440-942-3980.

Rib Burn-Off benefits USO
The Second Annual Downtown Willoughby Rib Burn-Off will be noon to 8 p.m. on Armed Forces Day, May 18. Proceeds from the event will benefit USO Northern Ohio. Erie Street will be closed. Ribs, beer and wine will be available for purchase on the street. There will interactive activities provided by the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corps.
Two stages will provide continuous entertainment.

DAV hosts Run for the River
Disabled American Veterans Chapter 42, Lake County will host the Sixth Annual Run for the River on May 18. The 70-mile run will begin at Western Reserve Harley Davidson, 8567 Tyler Blvd. in Mentor and end at the Wagon Wheel, 1388 Hubbard Road in Madison. Staging will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. and bikes will pull out at 11. Tickets are $8 per bike in advance and $10 the day of the run. All proceeds raised will benefit Fisher House and DAV Chapter 42. For tickets, call Mandi at 440-382-6818.

Geauga County veterans wanted
Geauga County Historical Society is attempting to identify all current Geauga County residents who are veterans of World War II.
The Historical Society will host a tribute dinner for the veterans on May 25 at Century Village Museum’s Bond Building in Burton. The dinner is part of a major weekend-long event to commemorate the World War II era.
If someone you know is a veteran of World War II and a resident of Geauga County, please contact the Geauga County Historical Society and Century Village Museum office at 440-834-1492 or email info@geaugahistorical.org.

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.