May is military appreciation month. The Friday before Mother’s Day was designated as Military Spouse Appreciation Day in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan.
This day honors the silent service of the many spouses who pick up and move when military orders say they must. These are the partners who keep the home constant for the military members and their children. These spouses are the ones who become both mother and father when deployment orders are issued and the military member must leave for a far-off place.
These silent partners support the military careers of their spouses with grace, courage and quiet perseverance.
So on this Friday before Mother’s Day, a tip of the hat and a salute to those who follow their military members all over the globe and supporting them in the military career that they have chosen.

Squadron serves spaghetti for Mom
Civil Air Patrol Squadron OH 252 of Painesville will host a Mother’s Day spaghetti dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. May 9 at American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville. Mothers will eat free, dine in only.

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. Cyprian’s Church, 4223 Middle Ridge Road in Perry Township, after all Masses on May 16 and 17.
The post also will be selling tickets for the reverse raffle that will be 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
The Polish Legion of American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary Chapter 31 in Cleveland will host a golf outing 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 May 16 at VFW Post 3863, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake.
The event is open to the public and hamburgers and hot dogs will be available. 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. The service will begin by 10:30 a.m.
A picnic gathering will follow at Hambden Township Park, 9891 Old State Road in Chardon, 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 done by the Young Marines.

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

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