Thirty years ago this month, the bombing of U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, shook our nation, as the cowardly attack took American lives and served as a warning of things to come.
The War on Terror is still being waged against an enemy whose uniform consists of clothing worn on the street.
To honor the fallen, the annual Fall Veterans Memorial will be at 12:15 p.m. Saturday at Mentor Civic Center. The service will be about 45 minutes in length and commemorate the soldiers, sailors and Marines that served in Beirut and the invasion of Grenada.
While the greatest loss of life was Oct. 23, 1983, when 220 Marines, 18 sailors and 3 soldiers were killed in the barracks bombing, another 30 were lost in Beirut from the U.S. Peacekeeping Force and three were lost in Grenada.
The Lake County Marine Honor Guard will conduct the color guard details; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7754 in Fairport Harbor will handle the honor salute; and Beirut veteran Al Opra will play Taps.
Marine veteran Bill Sickles, commander of the Greater Lake County Young Marines and a Beirut veteran, will be the guest speaker.
The memorial service is open to the public.

Chardon VFW Post serving cabbage roll dinner
VFW Post 6519, 752 Water St. in Chardon, will host a cabbage roll dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the post home. Call the post for tickets at 440-285-3699.

Learn about benefits at Willoughby Legion
American Legion Post 214, 4304 Center St. in Willoughby, will host a registration for Veterans Affairs benefits (health information, etc.) from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the post home.
Please bring a copy of your DD-214, financial information for 2012, spouse information such as date of birth and Social Security number, as well as the date of marriage. Come and speak with a VA employee and learn about the benefits you are entitled to.
For details, call the post after 3 p.m. at 440-942-7762.
 
Flag disposal ceremony at AMVETS
AMVETS Post 40, 9141 Jordan Road in Mentor, will host a flag disposal ceremony at 2 p.m. Oct. 12, at the post home. If you have old flags that need to be disposed of, they can be dropped off at the post for proper disposal.
 
Clambake season
n The Annual Steam Engine Clambake will be Oct. 12 at Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor.
Dinner includes one dozen clams, chicken, sweet potato, corn, clam chowder, cole slaw, roll and butter, and homemade ice cream. Tickets are $20 per person and extra clams will be available. For details and tickets, call 440-974-9380.
n American Legion Post 214, 4304 Center S. in Willoughby, will host a clambake beginning at 4 p.m. Oct. 12 at the post. Steak and one dozen clams will be $24 and chicken with one dozen clams will be $22. Entertainment by D.J. Woody will be provided from 7 to 11 p.m. Call the post after 3 p.m. to place your order at 440-942-7762.
n AMVETS Post 40, 9141 Jordan Road in Mentor, will host a clambake, beginning at 4 p.m. Oct. 19, at the post home. Tickets are $20 each and a cash bar will be available. For tickets, call John McCallister at 440-521-7235.
n Chardon VFW Post 6519, 752 Water St. in Chardon, will host the annual clambake from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26, at the post home. Tickets are $25 per person and $10 for extra clams. Tickets are available only in advance before Oct. 20. For information or tickets, call 440-285-3699.

Fish dinners at Willoughby Post
VFW Post 1500, 38295 Pelton Road in Willoughby is hosting fish fry dinners the first and third Fridays of the month at the post home. For details, call 440-951-9233.

Gunny’s Hall serving all week
Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, serves an all-you-can-eat Sunday breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon between Labor and Memorial days. The cost is $7.50 per person and special orders can be taken for an additional $1.50.
The detachment also serves lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu will include the daily special and regular menu items.
Fish fry meals will be served 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday at the hall.
For details or questions, call 440-974-9380. Meals are open to the public.

AMVETS host holiday bazaar
AMVETS Post 40, 9141 Jordan Drive in Mentor, will host a holiday bazaar at the post from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 16. The event is open to the public. Tables are $15 or donate a gift basket to raffle and receive half price for the table. For details, call 440-257-5825.
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.