May is starting out with a wide selection of events at posts and detachments in the area.
Spring may be taking its time to get here, but the posts are not waiting around for nicer weather. Many are pushing ahead, hoping the weather catches up with them.
This is also Poppy Month and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 214 from Willoughby will have poppies at the Willoughby outdoor market in the City Hall parking area.
The program is one of the oldest and most widely recognized American Legion Auxiliary programs.
The poppies are assembled at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky and are distributed throughout the state.
Proceeds from the poppy sales go exclusively for the rehabilitation of veterans, welfare of the families of veterans, and the rehab of hospitalized military service personnel returning home and awaiting discharge.
The red flower is a symbol of freedom and of the blood sacrificed for that freedom. When you see a poppy being offered, please help by donating generously.

Mentor-on-the-Lake 
parade May 25
AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will host the annual Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 25. Some mailers were sent out with an incorrect day.
The event on May 25 will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a lineup at Rice Elementary School, 7640 Lake Shore Blvd., and will be led by local motorcyclists leaving at 1 p.m.
The parade will follow at approximately 1:05 p.m.
For details, call Rob Burnham at 440-354-0867 or Joe Kirkpatrick at 440-728-4635.

Madison plans solemn march for Memorial Day
Madison Village invites any youth group to march with veterans in the Memorial Day parade.
Music will be provided by the Madison High School Marching Band. Also invited are war re-enactors and anyone who has a military vehicle. The parade begins at 11 a.m.
If you are interested in participating in this solemn occasion, call Mike Evangelista at 440-417-4804.

Grilling equipment 
to be raffled
American Legion Post 214, 4304 Center St. in Willoughby, will raffle off a top-of-the-line Weber Grill, grilling tools, two bottles of wine and a gift certificate for steaks at 1 p.m. on Memorial Day.
Winner need not be present to win.
Tickets are six for $5 and available at the post home. For details, call 440-942-7762.

Gunny's Hall will  host pasta dinner
Gunny’s Hall will host a pasta dinner from 4 to
7 p.m. May 3 at the hall, 8720 Twinbrook Road in Mentor.
Tickets are $10 each and the evening also will include a 50/50 raffle and sideboards, with the drawing at 7:30 p.m. For details, call 440-974-9380.

Annual Auxiliary spaghetti dinner at Willoughby Hills post
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4358 Ladies Auxiliary will host a spaghetti dinner from 3 to 5 p.m. May 4 at the post home, 29412 White Road in Willoughby Hills.
Proceeds benefit the Ladies Auxiliary annual projects.
Reservations are requested by calling Rosina Drenski at 440-944-4903 or the post home at 440-944-1642.

Painesville post offers breakfast before the run
American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville, will host a breakfast buffet from 9 to 11:30 a.m. May 4, prior to the Louie Run. All are welcome to attend. For details, call the post at 440-357-7711.

Burton Auxiliary 
hosts plant sale
The American Legion Post 459 Ladies Auxiliary Unit will host a Mother’s Day Plant Sale. It will be held from noon to 7 p.m. May 9 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 at the post home, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton.
This sale will take place rain or shine, with all proceeds benefiting the School Scholarship Fund.

Work party to raise the flags
The Eastlake Boulevard of 500 Flags volunteer committee will host a work party at 9 a.m. May 10 to sort and raise the flags.
Please bring gloves and pliers if you plan to volunteer.
The work parties are open to anyone.
The committee operates completely on donations
 and with the help of volunteers.
For more information on volunteering, call Joe Strand at 440-942-9344.

Steak dinner at 
Mentor AMVETS
AMVETS Post 40, 9141 Jordan Drive in Mentor, will host a steak dinner from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 10 at the post.
Dinners are $12 each and open to the public.
For details, call 440-527-1911.

Junior AMVETS host spaghetti dinner benefit
Department of Ohio Junior AMVETS State President Jonathan Kirkpatrick will be on hand to help at the spaghetti dinner that will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. May 17 at AMVETS Post 40, 9141 Jordan Road in Mentor.
Only 100 tickets will be sold.
Tickets are available at Post 40 and at Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake.
Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Ghost Rider Foundation. For details, call Joe Kirkpatrick at 440-728-4635.

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.