The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been all over the news in the past few weeks.
In my opinion, no matter how veterans health care and claims are handled, processing will never be done fast enough for those who fought for the rights we all share and enjoy. The men and women who served deserve the best care that is available and should have been getting that sort of care from the beginning.
I am sure there are improvements that need to be made, and technology and the aging veteran population demand that those changes are made. Perhaps a faster processing time, shorter wait times in the emergency rooms or more outpatient clinics for easier accessibility. Whatever is needed should be done and done as quickly as possible.
There is not a place or a person that is perfect and there will never be a 100 percent effective health care system. What disappoints me is the fact that this country’s heroes are paying the price for the inadequacy of that system.

Burton Legion fifth annual 
golf outing
American Legion Post 459 in Burton will host its fifth annual golf outing beginning with registration at 10:30 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Golf Course in Chardon. For discounted tickets in advance or further information, call Bruce at 440-897-2396. Proceeds will benefit scholarships, Americanism and various American Legion programs.

Ohio POW-MIA Vietnam 
Memorial Wall in Painesville
Painesville American Legion Riders Chapter 336 will host “A Remembrance Tribute to Ohio Veterans” at 1 p.m. June 7. The event will feature the traveling Ohio POW-MIA Vietnam Memorial Wall and a ceremony dedicated to veterans will be presented by Rolling Thunder Inc. Chapter 5 Ohio. The event is open to the public and will be at the post home, 60 Chester St. in Painesville. For details, call Steve Anderson at 440-413-1055 or Mike Bodnar at 440-346-2141.

Legion Riders’ third annual 
flea market
Madison Post 112, American Legion Riders will host the third annual flea market and craft sale at the post, Middle Ridge Road and Route 528 in Madison. The flea market will start at 9 a.m. and is open to the public. Lunches will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Space is still available. For details, call 440-724-6871 and leave your name and phone number. All money raised will benefit Veterans Helping Veterans.

Father’s Day pancake 
breakfast
Blue Star Mothers Geneva No. 57 will host a pancake breakfast from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 15 at Geneva Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 76 on Depot Road in Geneva. Tickets will be available at the door.

Rummage sale in Chardon
The Ladies Auxiliary Annual Rummage Sale will be June 20 and 21 at VFW Post 6519, 752 Water St. in Chardon. There will be an eclectic mix of goodies and a bake sale on site. Donations will be accepted.
For more information, call 440-567-0748 or 440-834-1753.

Military Night with the Captains
Military Night with the Lake County Captains will be June 21 at 7 p.m. against the South Bend Silver Hawks. The night is open to current military personnel and veterans. Rolling Thunder will be a large part of the evening festivities. There will be fireworks after the game. For discounted tickets, call 440-975-8085, ext. 116.

VFW hosts Swiss steak 
dinner
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 4358, 29412 White Road in Willoughby Hills, will host a Swiss steak dinner from 3 to 5 p.m. June 29 at the post home. Dinners are $9 per dinner. For information or tickets, call VFW Post 440-944-1642 or Rosina Drenski at 440-944-4903.

Rotary ride benefits veterans
Burton-Middlefield Rotary will sponsor an escorted motorcycle run on June 29 at the Geauga County Fairgrounds, 14373 N. Cheshire St. in Burton, beginning at 10 a.m. sharp. The ride will be led by Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland with his dog Midge. The sheriff will take the participants on a 55-mile ride through Geauga County. Cost is $25 per motorcycle, which includes a rider for free.
The ride will benefit Burton-Middlefield Rotary Veterans Housing and Assistance Fund. To date, the Rotary Club has raised more than $100,000 for Geauga County veterans through various projects, including the Geauga County Veterans Memorial, Veterans Giant Eagle Gift Cards, and veterans housing, along with providing veterans’ assistance with heating oil this past winter.
Registration forms are available online at bmrmotorcyclerun.com. Registration the day of the ride will begin at 8 a.m.

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.