Armed Forces Day, May 16, is a day set aside to honor all of the service personnel of this country.
One of the lesser known holidays, the day was created in 1949 after the unification of all the branches of service under the newly created Department of Defense.
Celebrated on the third Saturday in May, many businesses offer discounts with a military ID; and ceremonies are held in some areas to honor the soldiers, sailors and Marines with songs, speakers and tributes.
The day offers the common citizen a way to say thank you to those who have protected and are protecting our country.

Children’s Museum observes 
Military Appreciation Day
The Children’s Museum of Cleveland, 10730 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland, will offer free admission for veterans and their immediate family with a military ID on May 16 and 17, in honor of Military Appreciation Day.
Visitors will be able to make cards that will be sent to the troops each day. The museum is open daily 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Regular admission is $8 for children and adults, and free for infants 11 months of age and younger.
For more information about the museum visit clevelandchildrensmuseum.org.

Catholic War Veterans membership drive
The Catholic War Veterans of Lake, John Paul II Post 1959, will host a membership and poppy drive at St. Cyprians Church, 4223 Middle Ridge Road in Perry Township, after all Masses, May 16 and 17.
The post also will be selling tickets for the reverse raffle that will be held Oct. 24 at the Patrician Party Center. Tickets for the annual event are $65 for main board and $35 for extra dinner ticket. Only 175 of the tickets will be sold. For information about membership or questions about the reverse raffle, call Bill Varga at 440-352-2315.

Polish legion auxiliary hosts golf outing
Polish Legion of American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary Chapter 31 in Cleveland will host a golf outing May 16 at Briardale Greens Golf Course, 24131 Briardale Ave. in Euclid.
The outing will begin with a shotgun scramble at 8 a.m. Tickets are $70 per person and include coffee and doughnuts, lunch at the turn, green fees and cart, and a full buffet dinner to follow at PLAV Post 31, 850 E. 200th St. in  Cleveland. Call 216-337-8997 or 216-337-8996 for details.

Operation STAT open house in Eastlake
Operation S.T.A.T. (Standing Tall for American Troops) will host an open house on May 16, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake.
The event is open to the public and hamburgers and hot dogs will be available during the event. For details, call Adam Cook at 440-413-6225 or email him at Adam@operationstat.org.

Flag retirement ceremony 
at Veterans Park
Mentor VFW Post 9295 and Boy Scout Troop 75 will host a flag retirement ceremony at 1 p.m. May 17 at Veterans Park, 5730 Hopkins Road in Mentor.
Bring your old and worn flags for proper disposal. The public is welcome.

Blessing of the bikes in Hambden
Hambden Congregational Church, 13840 GAR Highway in Hambden Township, will welcome Rolling Thunder for a bike blessing and veterans tribute service on  May 17.
All motorcycles are asked to gather on Chardon Square at 9:30 a.m. for departure at 9:45 a.m. The service will begin by 10:30.
A picnic gathering will follow at Hambden Township Park, 9891 Old State Road, following the service.
 Please bring a dish to share. Hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided by Hambden Congregational Church, with cooking done by the Chardon VFW. Cleanup and other assistance will be provided by the Young Marines.

Legion will serve Big Boys
American Legion Post 678, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick, will host a Bob’s Big Boy Night from 5 to 7 p.m. May 18 at the post home.
The dinner is open to the public. For details, call the post home at 440-943-9659.

Painesville post hosts breakfast
VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. May 17 at the post home.
The public is welcome. For details, call the post home at 440-354-9090.

Medal of Honor Stories presented 
at Perry Library
Historian Harold George, in full Civil War Uniform, will present a program about the Medal of Honor at Perry Public Library, 3753 Main St. in Perry Village, at 7 p.m. May 19.
More than 3,000 Medals of Honor have been issued for acts of bravery and heroism “above and beyond the call of duty.” However, in a few cases, the medal was awarded for rather unique, strange and less than glorious reasons.

Legion Riders host Ohio POW-MIA Wall
The American Legion Riders of Painesville American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville, will host the Ohio POW-MIA Vietnam Memorial Wall on June 6 at the post. A ceremony will be presented by Rolling Thunder Chapter 5 Ohio.
The event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. The post will host a group of veterans from the Wade Park Veterans Affairs Medical Center for this event.
The public is encouraged to attend and to spend time with our veterans. For details, call the post home at 440-357-7711.

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