The War Dog Memorial at 35576 Lake Shore Blvd. in Eastlake will be getting a makeover on Aug. 16.
The memorial honors the four-legged heroes of this country’s conflicts.
At 9 a.m., members of Rolling Thunder Chapter 1 will begin cleaning up the memorial. The group will be clearing out weeds, removing overgrown plants and replacing them with new plants and mulch.
A new donated flagpole will replace the existing pole and new emblems for Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan will be installed.
Rolling Thunder plans to host a flag-raising ceremony once the work is completed.

90 years old, still flying high
Russell M. Schupp of Grand River Village is one of the “Greatest Generation.”
He was classified a 4-F — unfit for military service — after attempting to join the armed forces during World War II. Since he was not able to join, he became a civilian volunteer with the American Field Service. He drove an ambulance in Italy.
Nothing keeps him down. After the war, he raised a family, traveled and has loved adventure. He has tried parasailing, hot air ballooning and camel riding in Egypt.
Since he had tried just about everything, his daughter, Rachel Parsons, asked if there was anything left on his “bucket list.” The answer was to ride in a helicopter.
On Aug. 7, in honor of his 90th birthday, Schupp boarded a helicopter and toured the fair skies of Cleveland. As I said before, nothing keeps him down.

Fundraiser helps build Fisher House
The Lake County Veterans Service Office and the Men’s and Ladies’ Auxiliaries of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7754 in Fairport Harbor have teamed up to raise funds for the Greater Cleveland Fisher House.
A reverse raffle and dinner will be Sept. 6 at the VFW post, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor. Tickets are $30 per person and include dinner, open bar, and a ticket on the main board. Any donations for the auction would be greatly appreciated.
The Fisher House is hoping to break ground in spring 2015. For details on the event, to make donations or to get tickets, call Gini Geffert at 440-289-5699 or the VFW post at 440-352-1123.
For more information about Fisher House, visit www.greaterclevelandfisherhouse.org.

Willoughby Legion hosts golf outing
The annual American Legion Post 214 golf outing will be at noon Aug. 22 at Lost Nation Golf Course, 38890 Hodgson Road in Willoughby.
Tickets are $45 per person and include 18 holes of golf, a steak dinner and prizes at the post following the outing.
Put together a foursome, they do not need to be a Post 214 members. All profits will benefit Buckeye Boys State and Americanism and Government Testing. For details, call the post at 440-942-7762.

Willoughby VFW serves fish fry dinners
VFW Post 1500, 38295 Pelton Road in Willoughby, hosts a fish fry every first and third Friday of the month from 5 to 8 p.m. A full menu is offered. For details, call 440-951-9233 or stop in at the post for a meal.

Fairport fish fry returns Sept. 12
VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, will begin serving fish fry lunches and dinners Sept. 12 at the post home. Lunch will be served 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. For details, call the post at 440-352-1123.

Gunny’s Hall hosts clambake
A clambake will be served at Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Road in Mentor, on Sept. 13. Reservations are needed by Sept. 6.
The bake will begin at 3 p.m. and offer side boards and a 50/50 raffle.
Dinner will be served at 4 p.m. Dinners are $28 per bake and extra clams will be $7. For reservations, call 440-974-9380.

Shannon McBride Scholarship fundraiser Sept. 13
A fundraiser for the Shannon McBride Scholarship endowment at Lakeland Community College (Jim McBride basic police academy scholarship; Fairport Harbor Police Association and CPD Pipes and Drums Band Uniform Fund) will be 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Fairport VFW, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor.
The event will include country and western bands, and the Cleveland Police Pipes and Drums. Tickets are $20 per person. See Jim McBride or Fairport Harbor Police Chief Mark Kish for tickets or email chiefjtm@aol.com

Remembrance ceremony Sept. 14 at Painesville VFW
VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a 9/11 Remembrance, POW/MIA Recognition and Flag Retirement Program at the post home, at 6 p.m. Sept. 14.
The public is welcome. For details call George or Jill Householder at 440-352-9522.

Civil Air Patrol serves up spaghetti
Painesville Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron 252 will host a spaghetti dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville.
The public is welcome. Proceeds will benefit Civil Air Patrol programs.
For details, call Ken Voyticky at 440-655-6600.

Day for Appreciating Veterans 
A Veterans Appreciation Day is planned for Sept. 26 at American Legion Post 336, Chester St. in Painesville.
The event will be hosted by the Painesville Veterans Affairs Clinic and will include prizes, food, guests, a Color Guard, benefit information and flu shots.
All veterans are welcome. For details, call the Painesville VA Clinic at 440-357-6740.

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.

Middlefield VFW Post 9678 Awards Scholarships To Local Students

Middlefield VFW Post 9678 has announced the winners of the 2012 Voice of Democracy Essay Contest.  Special recognition goes to Eleni Timas from Cardinal High School who scored the highest points locally and was awarded second place in VFW District 7.  Eleni’s district win will be acknowledged at the VFW’s District 7 Award’s Dinner where she will receive a $500 scholarship.  She won $750 from the Middlefield VFW as the first place winner from Cardinal.

Four students representing two local school districts, Berkshire and Cardinal, were awarded scholarships for their winning presentations.  In addition to Eleni Timas, Rebecca Wolfe also from Cardinal high school, received $250 for her second place win.  Rosebelle Easthom from the Berkshire School District and a student at Agape Christian School was the first place winner receiving a $750 scholarship.  Laura Lasich, also from Agape Christian Academy was the second place Berkshire School District winner receiving $250.

Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, more than 50,000 high school students compete for more than $2.3 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording a broadcast script on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme (2012) was, Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?

Prizes and scholarships are awarded at the local, district, state and national level. Department (State) winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., March 2-6, 2013, to tour the city, meet our nation’s leaders, be honored by the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary and receive their portion of $152,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $30,000.

The Middlefield VFW would like to thank the panel of judges: Sherriff Dan McClelland, Mayor Ben Garlich, and Chelsea Gardner and acknowledge all of the students for their participation. Representing the Berkshire School District and students at Agape Christian School: Billy Maschek, Jessica Sole, Tina Elliott, Breanna Rhodes, Laura Lasich, Abbie Maschek, Liam Ferraby, Rosebelle Easthom and from the Cardinal Local School District, Cardinal High School: Elaine Warren, Marie Mahoney, Rebecca Wolff, and Eleni Timas.