On Dec. 7, 1941, the United States was attacked and from that day forward the date would be remembered with books, stories, songs and movies.
Over the years I have been fortunate to speak with survivors and learn of their experiences that day, but many are gone now and the ranks of those survivors are dwindling.
How many millions of lives were changed forever on that day?
For those of us born a decade or two after the attack we learned of the war and the sacrifices made by every American. Each year at our family reunion my uncle’s name comes up and for those of us who never knew him, we hear the stories from parents and older cousins.
His name and a bit of his story appear in a book by Dick Camp “Battleship Arizona’s Marines at War.”
But that doesn’t begin to replace the days we lost with him. Even 72 years later we wonder what he was like, was he really as fun as the cousins say?
Was he really that good of an athlete?
What would he have been like all these years later?
History made 16 years before I was born continues to affect me.


Pearl Harbor Day events
Burton-Middlefield American Legion Post 459 will host a service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Burton Village Square Gazebo. The public is encouraged to attend. For details, call 440-834-8765.

 American Legion Post 678 and Eastlake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863 will co-host a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday inside the Eastlake City Hall Council Chambers. The public is welcome to attend.

A dinner at Hellriegel’s Inn, 1840 Mentor Ave. in Painesville Township will be 6 p.m. Saturday at the Inn. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
The cost is $35 per person.
This event is open to the public. For details, call 440-354-9530.


Toys-for-Tots locations, events
 Local Tavern Mentor, 9470 Mentor Ave., will offer a free concert with Alex Bevan from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Please bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys-for-Tots. Monetary donations also will be accepted. For details, call 440-392-6022.

The Rogers Company, 7550 Tyler Blvd. in Mentor, will serve as a U.S. Marine Corps Toys-for-Tots drop-off location. Toys can be donated between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays through Dec. 13. The location is closed weekends.

Toys-for-Tots celebration at the Central Y, 933 Mentor Ave. in Painesville, will be 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Help the Lake County YMCA celebrate the season of giving at a Toys-for-Tots Christmas Party.
Families can make holiday-inspired crafts, play games and enjoy snacks. Free for everyone to attend. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate this holiday season. Registration is required so please call 440-352-3303 or email abasco@lakecountyymca.org.

 VFW Post 7754 and the Fairport Harbor Police Department will host the annual Community Christmas Party “Fill the Cruiser” noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor. Help fill the police cruiser with a donation of a new unwrapped toy, and then join in the activities inside.
The event will feature games, crafts, music, prizes and visit from Santa, Jungle Terry and Officer McGruff. For details, call 440-352-1123.

 Red Roof Inn, 4166 State Route 306 in Willoughby, is an official Toys-for-Tots drop off location. A collection of new unwrapped toys to benefit children who may not otherwise have a Christmas will continue through Dec. 15.

Cell Phones for Soldiers, 
Honda dealers team up
Northern Ohio Honda dealers will accept used cellphones to help Cell Phones for Soldiers through Sunday.
The mission of Cell Phones for Soldiers is to provide troops with free calls home. Each gently used cellphone provides the troops with 2.5 hours of free talk time according to Cell Phones for Soldiers. Each dealership will have two collection bins, one in the showroom and one in the service center. For more information and to find your nearest Northern Ohio Honda Dealer, visit www.NorthernOhioHondaDealers.com.

AMVETS annual food basket 
drive underway
AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lakeshore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will host the annual food basket drive for the holiday season, donations are gratefully accepted or if you know of a family in need please call the post at 440-257-9217, the deadline is Thursday.
Please have the full name, address, and a current phone number of the family.

Frog leg dinner 
at Painesville post
American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville will serve a frog leg dinner 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at the post home. Dinners are $10 each. For details, call the post at 440-357-7711.

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.