The Air Force Association has honored the Civil Air Patrol with the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of 70 years of helping to secure America, with special mention of its World War II service.
The Civil Air Patrol will be recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal honoring the service that the CAP gave to the country during World War II. The medal was signed into law on May 30 and will be presented in Washington, D.C., in December.
The Civil Air Patrol was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, only a week before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The first CAP members helped support the war effort with patrols of the American coastline. They assisted in locating German submarines that were trying to sink American ships full of cargo and supplies bound for Europe.
The CAP reported 173 suspected submarines, performed 5,684 special convoy missions; the pilots reported 17 floating mines, 36 bodies, 91 ships in distress and 363 survivors in the water.
By the end of World War II the CAP, as the auxiliary force of the Army Air Forces, had flown more than 750,000 hours on all missions, with a loss of 65 members and 150 aircraft.

Madison Auxiliary hosts pork dinner
The Ladies Auxiliary Unit of American Legion Post 112, 6671 Middle Ridge Road in Madison, will host a pork dinner 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the post home. Dinners are $10 per person. For details, call the post home at 440-428-7893.

Mentor Senior Center hosts breakfast for vets
The Fifth Annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast will be at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 8 at the Mentor Senior Center, 8484 Munson Road in Mentor.
The meal is free for veterans and $4 for guests. Registration in advance is required by Nov. 4 in person or by calling 440-974-5725. The event is co-sponsored with Perkins Pancake House in Painesville.

Nonfiction author to speak at Notre Dame
Geauga County Library Foundation’s Distinguished Speaker series will feature Alex Kershaw, author of acclaimed World War II nonfiction, at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 8 at the Sisters of Notre Dame Education Center Auditorium, 13000 Auburn Road in Munson Township.
Tickets for the program are $5 and are available at all Geauga County libraries and at the door. Patrons may bring their books to be signed and books will be available for purchase before and after the program courtesy of Barnes and Noble.
For details, call Kristen Haskell at 440-286-6811 ext. 131.

Legion Auxiliary raffles basket
American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 678 is hosting a basket raffle.
The basket contains $50 gift certificates from Petie’s Family Restaurant, Cala’s Pizza and Rudy’s Meats. The drawing will be held during the intermission of Sunday bingo on Nov. 9.
Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. If interested, call Maribeth Shankman at 216-408-6284.

Catholic War Veterans recruiting members
Catholic War Veterans of the United States will be actively recruiting the week of Nov. 8-16 at Catholic churches throughout the Cleveland area.
Organized in 1935, the Catholic War Veterans received an apostolic blessing from Pope Pius XI and a Congressional Charter from President Reagan in 1984.
For details about National Recruitment week, visit www.cwv.org.

Sub Zero Mission collecting warming items
The Painesville Police Department will host a stuff the bus event to benefit Sub Zero Mission from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 9.
Warming items such as gloves, scarves, fleece garments, hoodies, sleeping bags, tents, blankets, new socks, boots, hand warmers and flannel are all welcome. The bus will be parked in the police and fire lot off of East Erie Street next to Arby’s.

Madison Library helps to rename football field
The Madison Public Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road in Madison, will help local veterans in a project connected with the naming of the high school football field.
The field will be renamed “Dick Hamblin Field.” Hamblin was the first local casualty of the Vietnam War.
Funds collected, through a donation jar at the library the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 10 through 15, will be used to purchase a sign for under the scoreboard. The dedication will be at the first home football game of 2015.

Poor man’s raffle at Willowick Legion
The Sons of the American Legion will host a poor man’s reverse raffle beginning at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at American Legion Post 678, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick.
Tickets are $15 each. After the raffle, entertainment by Alex Bevan will take place in the canteen. For details, call the post home at 440-943-9659.

PLAV hosts Fisher House fundraiser
The Polish Legion of American Veterans, U.S.A. Ladies Auxiliary Chapter 31, will host a benefit for the Greater Cleveland Fisher House from 4 to 10 p.m. Nov. 15 at Tizzano’s Party Center, 1361 E. 260th St. in Euclid.
Tickets are $30 each and include a buffet dinner served from 5 to 6:45 p.m. and live music. To purchase tickets or donate a raffle basket or item, call 216-337-8997.

Veterans Hospitality dinner in Kirtland
A Veterans Hospitality Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Old South Church, 9802 Chillicothe Road in Kirtland.
The family event is designed to bring area veterans together in appreciation of their service. This will be the last dinner sponsored by the Ghost Rider Foundation.

Catholic War Veterans host reverse raffle
Catholic War Veterans of Lake County will host its first reverse raffle at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Patrician Party Center, 33150 Lakeland Blvd. in Eastlake.
Tickets are $65 per person or $35 for a dinner-only ticket. All proceeds benefit Lake County veterans. Tickets must be purchased in advance, as none will be sold at the door.
For tickets, call Bill Varga at 440-352-2314.

Fairport VFW serves fish fry
VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, will host a fish fry dinner Oct. 24 at the post home.
Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner 4 to 7 p.m. For details, call the post at 440-352-1123.

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