The end of the Vietnam War was 40 years ago on March 30, 1973, the day that many of the troops arrived back in the United States. The troops returning were not acknowledged, but they are being recognized now.
It has taken 40 years for these men and women to be officially welcomed home. Ohio began the commemoration Tuesday at the Ohio History Center in Columbus with the Traveling Wall, panel discussions and a remembrance ceremony. Other commemorations and ceremonies have been planned statewide.
In my humble opinion, the most important is the small one that happens when you see a Vietnam veteran and just say, “Thank you and welcome home.”

Attention: World War II Geauga County veterans
The Geauga County Historical Society is attempting to identify all current Geauga County residents who are veterans of World War II.
Each Geauga County World War II veteran and a guest will be invited to attend a dinner in their honor. If you or someone you know is a veteran of World War II and a resident of Geauga County, call the Geauga County Historical Society and Century Village Museum office at 440-834-1492 or email info@geaugahistorical.org.

Local companies receive awards for their support
Three local companies were recognized for their support of National Guard and Reserve members with the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
Nominations of employers were made by employees and members of the National Guard and Reserves.
Local companies honored were Progressive Insurance Corp.; FedEx Freight and Northeast Ohio Vascular Associates Inc.

AMVETS will offer after-dinner entertainment
AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will serve a fish fry dinner followed by a disc jockey and karaoke entertainment from 5 to 8 p.m. today. For details, call the post home at 440-257-9217.

Catholic War Veterans membership drive in Perry
John Paul II Post 1959 Catholic War Veterans will host a membership and poppy drive at St. Cyprian Catholic Church, 4223 Middle Ridge Road in Perry, at the 5 p.m. Mass on April 6 and at the 9 and 11 a.m. Masses April 7. There also will be a 50/50 drawing to support the troops. For details call Ken Kirchner, second vice commander, at 440-257-2156.

Leathernecks Nation spaghetti dinner
Gold Star Chapter of the Leathernecks Nation MC will host an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner at 5:30 p.m. April 6 at American Legion Post 678, 579 E. 328th St. in Willowick.
Adults’ dinners will be $15 and children ages 10 and younger will be admitted free with a paid adult ticket. For tickets or more information, email leathernecksmc@sbcglobal.net.

Ladies Auxiliary hosts flea market
American Legion Post 678 Auxiliary Unit will host a flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 13 at the post home, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick. This is a fundraiser for the veteran causes supported by the Ladies Auxiliary. For details, call the post home at 440-943-9659.

Eastlake auxiliary celebrates 25 years
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863 Ladies Auxiliary will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the auxiliary from 3 to 6 p.m. April 28 at the post home, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake. Tickets are $10 per person with a cash bar and a dinner catered by Koumbaro’s Catering. Reservations must be made and paid for by April 19. Call Jean Powali at 440-944-8943 for details or to make reservations.
 
Red Stocking Revue honors America
Western Reserve Junior Service League will present the annual Red Stocking Revue “Yankee Doodle Salute!” at 7:30 p.m. May 3 and 4 at Harvey High School, 200 W. Walnut Ave. in Painesville.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $35 reserved seating. To thank those who have served our country, all veterans and active duty personnel with a military ID will be admitted free the night of the performance, based on available seating.
For details or tickets, call Bev Wallace at 440-256-1547.

Walk for Fisher House
The Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center is one of the largest veterans hospitals in the United States. One of the most important parts of the veterans’ healing process is the support of nearby family. To help build a Greater Cleveland Fisher House, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 343 of Euclid will sponsor a Walk for Fisher House on May 11 at Sparky DiBiasio Stadium in Euclid. For details, call the Euclid American Legion Post after 3 p.m. at 216-531-5344 or email walkforfisher@roadrunner.com.

Indianhead Division members wanted
The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who ever served in the Army’s 2nd Infantry division at any time. For details about the national association or the annual reunion in Columbus, Ga., on Sept. 17 through 21, call Secretary-Treasurer Bob Haynes at 224-225-1202 or email him at 2idahq@comcoast.net.

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.

Stories from the men, women and children who lived during World War II and the years that followed are being accepted for the War Era Project at the Ohio Department of Aging.

This is a great way to document the stories of the families left behind during that war. Stories from the children and wives of the men who fought the war would give a full picture of what the homefront was like at the time.

Submissions should be 500 to 1,000 words long and include the name, location and current age of the subject. Submissions will be accepted until Aug. 20.

Photographs submitted will not be returned. Stories can be emailed to WarEraStories@age.state.oh.us or mailed to Ohio Department of Aging, Attn.: War Era Story Project, 50 W. Broad Street, Ninth Floor, Columbus, OH 43215-3363.

Forty and Eight welcoming new members
The Forty and Eight of Lake County is welcoming new members. For details about the group, its mission and eligibility call Amos Bartrug at 440-812-3396; Joseph Milmont at 440-275-1249 or Bill Smith at 440-585-9682.

Honor guard volunteers time
American Legion Post 459 of Burton-Middlefield has an honor guard available to perform a full military funeral service to honor any serviceman or woman at their passing.
The honor guard is led by Newell Beaumier, sergeant-at-arms, and is available 24/7 with only a few days notice. For details, call Bo at 440-834-8764. Please leave a message if no one answers — the call will be returned. This is a free service to all who have honorably served.

Salute to veterans at University Circle
The annual University Circle Salutes Veterans Community Festival and Rib Burnoff will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 4 at Mount Zion Congregational Church, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Western Reserve Historical Society History Center at the intersection of 108th Street and Magnolia Drive in University Circle.
This event, which is free and open to the public, is a special tribute to veterans, featuring a ceremony with local dignitaries, live musical entertainment, classic cars, community service booths and children’s games. For details, call Mount Zion Congregational Church at 216-791-5760.

GI gathering Aug. 11
A GI gathering for coffee and doughnuts at American Legion Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will be 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 11. For details, call 440-897-2396.

Dinner at Gunny’s Hall
Col. J.M. Chambers Foundation “Gunny’s Hall,” 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, will serve a steak or chicken dinner by reservation at 6 p.m. Aug. 11. For reservations, call 440-974-9380.

Golf Outing benefits Wounded Warrior Project
Join in the World’s Largest Golf Outing and help support the Wounded Warrior Project at more than 100 courses nationwide.
Golf at Briardale Greens Golf Course in Euclid beginning at 4 p.m. Aug. 13. There will be chances to win a trip to the PGA Championship, a set of custom Nike golf clubs and more. Registration is $25 per person. To register visit worldslargestgolfouting.com.

Legion hosts steak dinner
The annual steak dinner at American Legion Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will be 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 18. Tickets are available in advance from any post member or call 440-834-8764 for details.

Mini golf outing benefit
Red Mill Golf Practice Center will host a charity miniature golf outing to benefit WAGS4WARRIORS, an organization based in Northeast Ohio that provides service dogs to veterans affected by their combat experience.
The dogs are found at local rescue shelters, trained, and matched to veterans at no cost to them. For details, visit wags4warriors.org.
Play 18 holes of miniature golf, from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 25, with 100 percent of the money donated to Wags 4 Warriors. Donations are $5 per golfer.
Businesses interested in hole sponsorship by providing prizes are welcome. Red Mill Golf Practice Center is located at 4243 Red Mill Valley Road, Perry. For details, call 440-259-4211 or email redmillgolf@gmail.com

Indianhead Division alert
The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who served in the 2nd Infantry Division at any time. For information about the national association and the annual reunion in Reno, Nev., from Aug. 23-26, visit the website at www.2ida.org; call Bob Haynes at 224-225-1202; or email 2idahq@comcast.net.

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.