Veterans Day at the Lake County Fair once again proved to be a fun and informative time for my husband and me.
The ceremony hosted by the Lake County Veterans Service Commission was packed full of information.
Assistant Director Gini Geffert and Veterans Service Officer Jami Abel did a wonderful job explaining to the audience what the Commission does and how they can help veterans obtain benefits they may be eligible for.
Guests included Tricia McKinnon of the Ohio Veterans Home; Rachael Oberlander, director of the Painesville VA Clinic; and greetings from U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce and Ohio Sen. John Eklund.
The presentation of a Purple Heart to Sgt. Willie Long was an emotional moment. The medal was earned while he as in the Army serving in Vietnam.
If you are a veteran and have not applied for benefits or are not sure if you are eligible for benefits, call the Lake County Veterans Service Commission at 440-350-2904, they can help with the paperwork to obtain the benefits you have earned.

Madison High football named in honor of Vietnam Veteran
Madison High School’s Football Field will be renamed the “Dick Hamblin Field” during ceremonies at the field beginning at 6 p.m., Aug. 28. Hamblin Field was named for the Madison High school graduate who was killed in action in Vietnam Sept. 21, 1967.
The original football field behind the old Madison High School on West Main Street was known as the Dick Hamblin Field  but the structure was removed to make way for the new South Elementary School. The new field behind Madison High School on Burns Road will also be named in honor of Hamblin.
The Alumni Night game at 6 p.m. is Geneva v. Madison. The Class of 1966 will host a get-together to coincide with the ceremony. The game and the ceremony are open to the public and all are welcome.

Painesville Legion offers roast beef dinner
American Legion Post 336, will host a roast beef dinner 5 to 8 p.m., Aug. 29, at the post home, 60 Chester St. in Painesville. Dinners are $8 each. For details, call the post home at 440-357-7711.

Painesville VFW hosts remembrance ceremony Sept. 13
Painesville VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St., will host a 9/11 Remembrance, POW/MIA Recognition and Flag retirement program at 6 p.m., Sept. 13, at the post home. Everyone is welcome to participate and refreshments will be available after the ceremony. For details, call George or Jill Householder at 440-352-9522.

Operation Sub Zero golf outing
Operation Sub Zero will host a golf outing at Madison Golf and Country Club beginning at 10:30 a.m. Sept.19.
Tickets are $100 per golfer and include 18 holes, cart, goodie bag, lunch, steak dinner, keg beer, Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and a shotgun start will be at noon.
Hole sponsors and donation of items for the auction would be gratefully accepted. Hole sponsors are $100. For details, contact Del Bethel at del@subzeromission.org.

Sixth annual post clambake
The sixth annual Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863 Ladies Auxiliary clambake will be 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the post home, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake (behind the Save a  Lot store).
Chicken dinner is $21; steak dinner is $23 and an extra dozen clams will be $8.
All tickets must be purchased by Sept. 18, at the post home. For information or further questions, call the post at 440-942-3980.

Patriot Day program in Burton
Atwood-Mauck Post 459 of Burton-Middlefield will host a Patriot Day program in Burton Village Park at 11 a.m. Sept. 11.
The ceremony is open to the public. For details, call 440-834-8765.
Veterans Appreciation Day Event
Veterans Appreciation Day will be 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 18 at American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville. This is a celebration for veterans, with food, prizes, benefit information and more.
For more information, contact the Painesville Veterans Affairs Clinic at 440-357-6740.

Toys for Tots golf outing
The Col. Justice M. Chambers Marine Corps League Detachment 555, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, has rescheduled its annual Toys for Tots golf outing.
The event will be Sept. 12 at Madison Country Club, 6130 Chapel Road in Madison.
Tickets are $80 for players and $20 for the dinner only. Hole sponsorships and tickets for the golf outing are available. Call Gunny’s Hall at 440-974-9380 or Joe Brooks at 440-477-1810.

Newbury Legion farmers market
Newbury American Legion Post 663, 11008 Kinsman Road in Newbury Township, hosts the Community Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through Sept. 12. Vendors are supplied with a table under the pavilion and easy access for $5 per day.
For information, email bob810@windstream.net, or call 440-564-7441 or 440-567-9061 to reserve a space.

Swiss steak dinner pre-sale only
The Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4358, 29421 White Road in Willoughby Hills, will host a Swiss steak dinner from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at the post home.
Dinners are $10 each, with tickets sold in advance only. Tickets may be purchased through Sept. 4. Call Rosina Drenski at 440-944-4903 for tickets and information.
To submit items for this column or the online listings, send to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or email LGaler@News-Herald.com.

The Lake County Fair begins Aug. 18; I’m looking forward to attending Veterans Day at the Fair on Aug. 19. Admission is free all day for veterans with identification. This is one time that the county Veterans ID card would come in handy.
My husband and I usually attend the veterans program at Belcher Pavilion and then make the rounds of the fair, taking in the sights and sounds and usually some of the fair food.
The veterans program is always interesting, and I usually hear another story about my husband’s time overseas.
The Lake County Veterans Services staff is on hand to answer questions for veterans about what benefits they may be eligible for or how to sign up for benefits they have earned.

Veterans Appreciation Day Event
Veterans Appreciation Day will be 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 18 at American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville. This is a celebration for veterans, with food, prizes, benefit information and more.
For more information, contact the Painesville Veterans Affairs Clinic at 440-357-6740.

Newbury post hosts BBQ chicken dinner
Newbury American Legion Post 663, 11008 Kinsman Road in Newbury Township, will host a barbecue chicken dinner in the Hunter Pavilion behind the post from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15. Dinner is $12 in advance or $15 at the door.
An adult egg hunt scramble will be held at 7 p.m., with great prizes available for a $10 entry fee. For more information, call 440-635-6390 or 440-269-3184.

Fast Draw Championship 
at Gunny’s Hall
The 2015 Northcoast National Gunslinger Championships will be Aug. 29 and 30 at the Marine Corps League, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor. Contests begin at 9:30 a.m. both days.
This is a sanctioned event of the Ohio Fast Draw Association-International and is hosted by Gunny’s Hall Marine Corps League and the Buckeye Rangers Fast Draw Club. No live ammunition is used. For details, call Gunny’s Hall at 440-974-9380.

Buckeye Boys Golf Outing
American Legion Post 214, 4304 Center St. in Willoughby, will host the Third Annual Boys State Golf Outing beginning at noon Aug. 28 at Lost Nation Golf Course in Willoughby. Tickets are $50 per person and include golf, cart and a steak raffle.
Please sign up at the post home by Aug. 26 or sponsor a hole for $20 each. For more information or to sign up, call the post after 3 p.m. at 440-942-7762.

Learn to ride at dealership
Western Reserve Harley Davidson, 8567 Tyler Blvd. in Mentor, is offering Operation Personal Freedom Ride Free through Sept. 13.
All current and former U.S. military personnel can learn to ride for free through the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy.
Learn more about this program by stopping at the store or by logging onto H-D.com/militarylearntoride.

Toys for Tots golf outing
Col. Justice M. Chambers Marine Corps League Detachment 555, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, has rescheduled its annual Toys for Tots golf outing.
The event will be Sept. 12 at Madison Country Club, 6130 Chapel Road in Madison.
Tickets are $80 for players and $20 for the dinner only. Hole sponsorships and tickets for the golf outing are available. Call Gunny’s Hall at 440-974-9380 or Joe Brooks at 440-477-1810.

Newbury Legion farmers market
Newbury American Legion Post 663, 11008 Kinsman Road in Newbury Township, hosts the Community Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through Sept. 12. Vendors are supplied with a table under the pavilion and easy access for $5 per day.
For information, email bob810@windstream.net, or call 440-564-7441 or 440-567-9061 to reserve a space.

Auxiliary Swiss steak dinner pre-sale only
The Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4358, 29421 White Road in Willoughby Hills, will host a Swiss steak dinner from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at the post home. Dinners are $10 each, with tickets sold in advance only. Tickets may be purchased through Sept. 4. Call Rosina Drenski at 440-944-4903 for tickets and information.

Homecoming scheduled for Legion district commander
American Legion 9th District will host a homecoming for Commander Kevin Carroll at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at American Legion Post 678, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick.
The evening will be “Margaritaville Style” with barbecue, drinks and music. Tickets are $20 per person and will be sold in advance. Call Commander Carrolll at 440-567-1847 or Kim Carroll at 440-567-9751 for tickets.

To submit items for this column or the online listings, send to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or email LGaler@News-Herald.com.