I am not sure where this month has gone, but November has just flown by. December will begin with the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Dinner at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at Hellriegel’s Inn, 1840 Mentor Ave. in Painesville Township.
The event is a tradition for some who have attended since it was first organized in 1965. The Pearl Harbor Remembrance dinner is a local effort to “Remember Pearl Harbor” and the Japanese attack that launched America into World War II. The dinner honors both the living survivors and those who were killed during the attack.
After the death of Hellriegel’s owner Bill Kochevar in 1995, the Remembrance dinner was discontinued. After Army veterans Albert DiIorio and Silvio Trifiletti purchased the inn, they began the dinners again in December 2000.
The rules have been relaxed and now anyone is welcome to attend the event in uniform or not. To reserve a seat for the annual tradition or for more information, call Hellriegel’s Inn at 440-354-9530.

Pearl Harbor Day event in Burton
Burton-Middlefield American Legion Post 459 will host a Pearl Harbor Day Service at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 at the Burton Village Square Gazebo. The public is encouraged to attend. For details, call 440-834-8765.

Pearl Harbor Day event in Willowick
American Legion Post 678 and Eastlake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863 will co-host a ceremony in honor of Pearl Harbor Day at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 inside Eastlake City Hall Council Chambers.
The public is invited to attend.

Football party at Painesville Post
American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville, will host a football game party beginning at noon Saturday at the post home. Come in for the Ohio State vs. Michigan game. Comes as the best dressed or spirited OSU fan and win $25. Food and raffles also will be available. Proceeds will benefit the Auxiliary Adopt a Family Program. For details, call 440-357-7711.

Elementary students hope to stuff the bus
Sub Zero Mission will team with Heritage Middle School, 135 Cedarbrook Drive in Painesville, to Stuff the Bus from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at the school.
Donations of gently used or new adult men’s and women’s coats, sleeping bags, tents, blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, snow pants, fleeces, sweatshirts and hoodies will help with Sub Zero’s mission: “Nobody should freeze to death in America.”
Sub Zero Mission will distribute the items directly to the homeless and financially destitute with a concentration on America’s homeless veterans.
For details email Sub0Mission@aol.com.

Fundraiser for Boulevard of Flags in February
Boulevard of 500 Flags will host a fundraiser from 6 to 11 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Patrician Party Center, 33150 Lakeland Blvd. in Eastlake.
Tickets are $30 per person or $55 per couple. Tickets are available at Eastlake City Hall or by calling Ed Doherty at 440-796-5047; Dennis Morley at 440-951-3934 or Joe D’Ambrosio at 440-946-4861.

Bonus deadline nears
Ohio veterans who served during the Persian Gulf War have until Dec. 31 to apply for the Ohio Veterans Bonus and receive the thank you for their service awarded them by Ohio’s citizens.
The bonus continues for veterans of the Iraq War, who have until Dec. 31, 2014, to apply. No deadline has been announced for veterans of the Afghanistan War and all veterans who served after Oct. 7, 2001.
For details call toll free 877-OHIOVET, option 2; or visit www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov.

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.

Imagine being married only two months and then not seeing your husband for almost four years. That is how marriage began for Marilyn Johnson of Perry Village.
Vaughn and Marilyn Johnson of Perry were married on April 5, 1942, and just two months later Marilyn was living alone in the young couple’s home. Vaughn had left for the Army and would be gone 41 months.
Marilyn is typical of thousands of World War II wives who kept the country going while the men were off fighting.
“Now and then he would come home before he left for Europe, the worst part was being by myself, I missed him terribly,” Johnson said. “The days were long, the nights were long.”
The two corresponded while Marilyn spent her days as a weaver at the Industrial Rayon Plant in Painesville Township. She left the job in 1944, when many of America’s men were returning home.
Many of the women who went to work in the industrial plants of this country returned to being wives and mothers full time when the war ended.
Vaughn Arthur Johnson completed 41 months of service and was awarded two bronze stars and several other medals. He came home and resumed his life, working at the Rayon plant until his retirement in 1985.
The couple have been married 71 years.
Sentiments for Soldiers now in 10th year
Kirlin’s Hallmark is pleased to announce the 10th year of the Sentiments for Soldiers program. Your local Kirlin’s Hallmark store will be accepting donations to help purchase boxes of Christmas and holiday cards for our troops. The assorted boxes regularly retail for $9.99, but will be sold for a $5 tax-free donation when purchased for Sentiments for Soldiers, which runs through Aug. 31. Through your generous donations, Kirlin’s has collected more than 2.75 million Christmas cards that have been sent to Iraq, Afghanistan, and to military hospitals in the United States, and with your help, Kirlin’s hope to add to that number.
Kirlin’s Inc. will accept financial responsibility of sales tax, packaging and shipping of the cards.
For more information, please visit the website www.kirlinshallmark.com.
GI get-together in Burton
Atwood-Mauck Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a GI get-together from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the post home. The event is free to veterans, and coffee and doughnuts will be served. For details, call Bo at 440-834-8764.
Veterans Day at Lake County Fair
Veterans Day at the Lake County Fair will be Wednesday. There will be free admission for all honorably discharged veterans, and please make sure you sign in at the Veteran Service Commission booth.
A special program to honor veterans will be at 1800 hours, or 6 p.m., and normally lasts about an hour. Color guards are invited to participate in the presentation of the colors. Colors will be retired in place.
This year, the program will memorialize the ending of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. All veterans will be honored.
World War II quilts to be displayed
Conneaut Quilters Guild will sponsor a vintage World War II quilt show Aug.16-17 at the D-Day Conneaut event. Sue Reich, a national authority on quilts of the era, will bring 40 vintage quilts from 1941 to 1945 with patriotic and military themes.
The quilt display will be part of the annual D-Day re-enactment in Conneaut. For more details, visit www.coveringquilthistory.com or www.ddayohio.us.
Burton Legion offers annual steak dinner
American Legion Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host its annual steak roast from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at the post home. Tickets in advance are $17 per person and available from any post member. Tickets are $21 per person at the door. For details, call 440-834-8764.
Free veterans dinner
A Veterans Hospitality Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 at Old South Church, 9802 Chillicothe Road in Kirtland. The dinner and dessert are free and families are welcome. This is a family event to bring area veterans together in appreciation of their service.
Register in advance at ghostriderfoundation@gmail.com to assure adequate food and staff.
Golf outing benefits Wags 4 Warriors
A charity golf outing with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Wags 4 Warriors will be 3 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at Red Mill Golf Practice Center, 4243 Red Mill Valley Road in Perry. Hole sponsors are also needed for the event. For details, call Joyce or Bob at 440-259-4211.
Cornhole tournament at Gunny’s Hall
Col. J.M. Chambers Marine Corps League Detachment 555, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, will host a cornhole tournament fundraiser beginning at 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at Gunny’s Hall.
The tournament is open to the public and is $10 per person to enter. ($5 fund raiser and $5 tournament) To register in advance or for more information, call 440-974-9380.
Sampson vets gather for 24th year
The 24th annual reunion of Sampson Air Force Base Veterans will be Sept. 22-25 at the Clarion Inn and Conference Center in Hudson.
This year, the reunion will be three days and include short day trips as well as the traditional evening dinner.
For more information, call Walt Steesy at 607-532-4204 or email SAMAFBvet@aol.com.
To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.,: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, 44094.