A motorcycle run and a visit to the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2011 changed Adam Cook’s life.
Cook promised he would be back to visit the veterans at the hospital who were patients of the spinal cord injury floor. The run and the visit gave birth to Operation S.T.A.T. (Standing Tall for American Troops).
“The most disturbing stories we heard were that we were the only people some of them had seen in weeks, months, and some, even years.” Cook said. “This news was absolutely unacceptable to me.”
Operation S.T.A.T. has returned each year since then to help brighten the holidays for the patients at the medical center.
Operation S.T.A.T. is in need of volunteers to help fill Christmas stockings for the patients at the medical center. Stop by American Legion Post 678, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick, between noon and 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. If necessary, volunteers will return noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 20 to finish packing the stockings. Cook hopes to fill 3,000 stockings for the patients. Volunteers are asked to show up and lend a hand.
Stockings are filled with donated items, such as playing cards, dominoes, individually wrapped cookies and crackers, notepads and stationary items.
Volunteers who want to help with the delivery are asked to meet at American Legion Post 678 at 7 p.m. Wednesday for details about the process. The filled stockings will be delivered to the patients at the medical centers by volunteers after a short briefing at 11 a.m. Dec. 22.
For details about Operation S.T.A.T., call Adam Cook at 440-413-6225 or Coletta Hribar at 440-474-0082.
Donations may be mailed to Operation S.T.A.T., P.O. Box 38, Chardon, OH 44024

Gunny’s Hall hosts toy raiser
Col. J.M. Chambers Marine Corps League Detachment 555, Gunny’s Hall fundraiser for Toys-for-Tots will be 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Road, Mentor.
The event will include music, a Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle. Please bring a new unwrapped toy to donate or a cash donation.
For details, call 440-974-9380.

Stockings for Soldiers a smash
DeJohn Funeral Homes & Crematory’s “Stocking for Soldiers” program saw tremendous community support in the fifth year of the program. More than 900 stockings will be sent to returning American military troops and veterans for the winter holidays.
The community effort involved schools, churches, senior groups and the general public and is sponsored by the funeral home. The stockings will be turned over to the USO Office of Northern Ohio, which will distribute the stockings during various events and at local armories leading up to Christmas.

Help warm the homeless and stuff the bus
Sub Zero Mission will host the stuff-the-bus event at Mentor Plains United Methodist Church, 7271 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
Donate gently used men’s and women’s winter coats, sleeping bags, tents, blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, snow pants, sweatshirts and hoodies and help stuff the bus.
Items collected will be delivered to the homeless during the 2013-2014 winter months. On any given night, there are tens of thousands of homeless on the streets of America, and one in five of them are veterans.

Frog leg dinner hops into Painesville post
The Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 336, 60 Chester St. in Painesville, will host a frog leg dinner 5 to 8 p.m. today at the post home. Dinner is $10 and includes frog legs, french fries, hush puppies, slaw and dessert. For details call 440-357-7711.

Fish on menu in Willoughby
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, hosts fish fry dinners every second and fourth Friday of the month. Lunch will be served 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinners from 4 to 7 p.m.
The public is welcome. For details, call the post at 440-352-1123.

Steak dinners offered at AMVETS
AMVETS Post 40, 9141 Jordan Drive in Mentor, will serve a steak dinner from 5:30 to 8 p.m. the second Saturday of each month at the post home. Dinner will be $12 and includes steak, salad, corn, baked potato and roll. The dinner is open to the public. For details, call 440-527-1911.

Ohio Military Reserve host Open House
Alpha Company, 1st Battalion of the Ohio Military Reserve will host an open house for Ohio citizens wanting to serve their state and country in a disaster response unit locally.
Ohio Military Reserve is a part of the Ohio Adjutant General’s Office and serves only in the state of Ohio responding to natural and other disasters. The unit drills one weekend each month and attends a one-week annual training camp at Camp Perry in Port Clinton.
No prior military experience is required and ages 17 to 62 are accepted. The open house will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the National Guard Armory, 1175 W. Vine St. in Alliance.

Gunny’s Hall breakfast AWOL for holidays
Breakfast at Gunny’s Hall will not be served Dec. 22 or Dec. 29 because of the holidays. Breakfast will be served as usual after the new tear. For more details, call 440-974-9380.

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.

In the past week, the weather has taken a turn into winter, as the sunshine and breezes of the weekend turned to high winds and colder air in a matter of 24 hours. The holidays cannot be far behind.
It seems that Christmas is already here, judging by the retailers in the area. Please remember to pick up that new unwrapped toy for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots collection.
This time of year also lends itself to cleaning out closets. You will be looking for that lost glove or the winter coat that has migrated into the depths of the hall closet.
Why not donate some of those gently used coats and gloves to Sub Zero Mission? The mission’s purpose is to help keep the homeless from freezing injury because of extreme temperatures.

Boulevard of Flags Thank You
“Thank you to all the volunteers who came out to the Boulevard of Flags to take down the flags on Nov. 16,” said Joe Strand, chairman of the Boulevard of Flags committee.
Strand also reported that it was the biggest turnout ever and the committee truly appreciated the help from everyone who participated.
The committee is now planning a dinner fundraiser for the end of February 2014. Details will be announced as soon as they become available. For information about volunteering, call Joe Strand at 440-942-9344.

Students hope to stuff the bus
Sub Zero Mission is a charity established to help prevent injuries caused by freezing in extreme weather to the homeless and financially destitute Americans, with a special focus on military veterans.
Heritage Middle School, 135 Cedarbrook Drive in Painesville, is helping with the mission. The students are preparing now for the drive that will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6.
Donations of adult men’s and women’s coats, sleeping bags, tents, blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, snow pants, fleeces, sweatshirts and hoodies will all be welcome. Donate any school day between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. to help stuff the bus on Dec. 6. On that date, the community is also welcome to help stuff the mission bus.
In addition, students will be making fleece blankets and donating them to Sub Zero Mission.
The donated items will be delivered to the homeless during the winter months of 2013 and 2014.

Fairport community party aims to fill the cruiser
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7754 and the Fairport Harbor Police Department will host a Christmas Community Party “Fill the Cruiser” event from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 at the post home, 540 New Street, Fairport Harbor.
Help fill the cruiser with new unwrapped toys to benefit Toys for Tots and then join in the activities inside. The afternoon event will include games, crafts, music, prizes and a visit with some very special guests.
Photos with Santa between 2 and 4 p.m. will be followed by Jungle Terry at 4 p.m. and Officer McGruff also will make the party special.
For details, call the post home at 440-352-1123.

Stockings filled with Christmas cheer
DeJohn Funeral Homes and Crematory is participating in the fourth annual Stockings for Soldiers and Shelters initiative. The program is for anyone who would like to pick up a free Christmas stocking to take home, decorate, stuff with Christmas cheer and return to the funeral home by Dec. 2.
The funeral home will ship the stockings at its expense to troops abroad or to area organizations in time for Christmas.
The stockings may be picked up at either funeral home location, 4600 Mayfield Road in South Euclid or 28890 Chardon Road in Willoughby Hills. Pickup can be made between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, concluding Nov. 29.
For details call 440-278-7101. `

Red Roof Inns toy drop off sites
Red Roof Inns are official toy drop-off locations for the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots annual collection. The annual toy collection benefits families who are in need of a little extra help during the holiday season.
Toy donation boxes will be available in the hotel lobby through Dec. 15 for donations to be made. The Red Roof Inn is located at 4166 Route 306 in Willoughby.

Bonus deadline nearing
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.

Cost of life membership to change 
Marines wishing to take advantage of the life membership rates that are currently in effect with the Marine Corps League must have the dues in to the detachment office, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, by Dec. 28. Dues will increase after Jan. 1.
The age ranges for life membership and the amount will both change. For information about the changes, call the Col. Justice Chambers Detachment 555 at 440-974-9380.

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.

Geauga County Recorder Sharon Gingerich and Geauga County Veterans Service Commission will be helping to make obtaining veterans benefits a little bit easier.
The new Geauga County Veterans I.D. Card program will kick off 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, at the Recorder’s Office, 231 Main St. in Chardon.
Veterans Service officers will be available to answer questions about veterans benefits and to help a veteran obtain a certified copy of their DD-214.
Enjoy hot coffee and doughnuts, while you are waiting for the I.D. card and ask questions of the Veterans Service Officers about benefits you may have earned while serving your country.
The cost of the card is $1 and will be made while you wait. A veteran will need an original DD-214 and two forms of identification. If the DD-214 is already on file with the Recorder’s Office all that is needed is the I.D.
The card is about the same size as a driver’s license and will make proving an honorable discharge easier, this on going program will be available for veterans anytime during business hours. Many stores and restaurants offer discounts to veterans if the discount is requested, and this will help make it easier to obtain those.
For details about the Geauga County Veterans Card, call 440-279-2020.
If you are a local establishment that offers discounts to veterans, send the details to the Staff of At Ease at lgaler@news-herald.com, we can include them at a later date.

Sub Zero Mission
wants to stuff the bus
The Crossroads Plaza Fair and Sub Zero Mission are sponsoring Stuff the Bus, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday at 34500 Euclid Ave. in Willoughby. Gently used adult men and women’s coats, sleeping bags, sweatshirts, fleece, hats, gloves, scarves, blankets and New socks are needed to help the sheltered and unsheltered homeless this winter. One-fifth of homeless are veterans.
Sub Zero Mission is dedicated to the idea that “Nobody Should Freeze to Death in America”

Tri-C military friendly school for fifth year
G.I. Jobs has named Cuyahoga Community College a Military Friendly School for 2014. This is the fifth consecutive year that Tri-C has ranked in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide that demonstrate strong efforts in recruiting and retaining military and veteran students.

Fairport fish fry open to all
VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor, hosts fish fry dinners every second and fourth Friday of the month. Lunch will be served 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinners from 4 to 7 p.m.
The public is welcome. For details, call the post at 440-352-1123.

Rock-A-thon
benefits hospice
The annual Rock-A-Thon in front of the Perry AMVETS Post 1971, 4129 Main St. in Perry, will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The rockers will rock to raise money for Hospice of the Western Reserve.
This will be the 17th year that the Ladies Auxiliary of the Post has rocked to raise money for the hospice. The Rock-A-Thon has raised nearly $60,000 in the past 17 years.

Meet Gunny’s Hall
new chef
Meet the Chef Dinner Party at the Col. Justice M. Chambers Det. 555, will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, at Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor. The party will introduce new Chef Thomas Boothe and will be an evening of fun.
Tickets are by advanced sale only and are $25 each. For tickets, call 440-974-9380.

Auxiliary hosts
spaghetti dinner
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville will host a spaghetti dinner beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday at the post. The public is welcome. For details, call 440-354-9090.

Salad buffet card party
The annual auxiliary salad buffet card party will be 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 4, at the American Legion Post 7, 29919 Euclid Ave. in Wickliffe.
Tickets are $9 each and may be obtained by calling Lucille Greig at 440-944-9732.

Eastlake post hosts
annual clam bake
The third annual VFW Post 3863 Ladies Auxiliary Clam Bake will be 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5, at the post, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake.
Chicken dinner will be $19; steak dinner will be $21 and an extra dozen of clams is $7. For details, call the post at 440-942-3980 or Jera at 440-477-8301.
Tickets must be purchased at the post by today.

Flag Burial Ceremony
AMVETS Post 40, 9141 Jordan Road in Mentor, will host a flag disposal ceremony at 2 p.m. Oct. 12, at the post home. If you have old American Flags that need to be disposed of drop them off at Post 40 for proper disposal. For details, call the post home at 440-257-5825.

VFW hosts annual
clam bake
Chardon VFW Post 6519, 752 Water St. in Chardon, will host the annual clam bake, 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26, at the post home. Tickets are $25 per person and $10 for extra clams. The event is presale only before Oct. 20. For information or tickets, call 440-285-3699.

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.

The weather is cooling off, but events at area posts are heating up. The calendars are beginning fill with all sorts of dances, dinner specials and fund raisers.
These events are the perfect opportunity to reach out to a younger veteran and his or her family. Ask that veteran to an event, introduce him to other members and make him or her feel welcome.
The posts offer something for everyone, and making that new member feel an immediate part of the post home is important in building membership and maintaining active members.
If a member does not feel like a part of the event, then a return visit is unlikely. If your post is using some creative ways to introduce veterans to membership, please email me at lgaler@news-herald.com and let me know what you are doing to gain and keep members.
 
‘Connected Warriors’ in Chagrin Falls
Vietnam vet Bob Conway, U.S. Marine Corps, and his wife, Betsy, have started an Ohio Chapter of “Connected Warriors.” All vets and immediate family members are invited to attend free yoga classes taught by Betsy, a certified yoga instructor, starting at 2 p.m. today at Federated Church in Chagrin Falls. Mats and T-shirts will be provided. For more information, call 561-926-4886 or by email at indigo1950@gmail.com.
 
Pancake breakfast benefits Sub Zero
Sub Zero Mission will host a pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Kirtland Community of Christ church, 9017 Chillicothe Road in Kirtland. A “freewill” donation will help Sub Zero Mission prepare for the winter months by helping with the purchase of warming items for the area homeless. For details, call Liz Cimaglio at 440-452-4947.
 
Breakfast at Gunny’s Hall is back
Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, is again serving an all-you-can-eat Sunday breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon between Labor and Memorial Days. The cost is $7.50 per person and special orders can be taken for an additional $1.50. The detachment also serves lunches daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu will include a daily special and regular menu items. Both meals are open to the public. For information, call 440-974-9380.
 
Flag retirement ceremony Sunday
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9295 of Mentor and Boy Scout Troop 75 will perform a flag retirement ceremony at noon, Sunday at Veterans Park, 5730 Hopkins Road in Mentor. The public is welcome to attend.
 
Veterans Memorial Park Day at Progressive Field
Ohio Veterans Memorial Park Day at Progressive Field will be Sunday. The Cleveland Indians will play the New York Mets beginning at 1:05 p.m. Use code OVMP to get the discount pricing. Lower reserve seating will be $29 and mezzanine seating will be $24, $5 from each ticket sold will be donated to the Veterans Memorial Park.
A special veteran will throw out the first pitch. A picnic lunch is also available at an additional cost. Visit www.ovmp.org to order tickets or call 330-773-2385 for more information.
 
Madison post hosts golf outing
American Legion Post Jay Wilson 112 of Madison will host a golf outing for members and guests at 1 p.m. Sept. 14. The golf outing will raise funds for the charities program, benefiting the Madison Food Bank and other community programs.
Donations of door prizes, and hole sponsorships for $25 each, are needed. Sponsors’ names will be posted on the post website at www.americanlegionjaywilsonpost112.org with links to sponsor websites.
Tickets are $65 per person and include a steak dinner, hot dog and pop at the turn. For details call the post at 440-428-7893 or Frank Magda Jr. at 440-796-3562.
 
Auxiliary hosts spaghetti dinner
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 4358, 29412 White Road in Willoughby Hills, will host spaghetti dinner 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at the post home. The dinner is $8 per person and reservations by Sept. 11 are requested. Please call Rosina Drenski at 440-944-4903 or the post at 440-944-1642. Proceeds will benefit needy families through the Auxiliary Christmas Projects.
 
Poor man’s reverse raffle at Willowick Legion
Sons of the American Legion Squadron 678, 579 E. 328th St. in Willowick, will host a poor mans reverse raffle at 7:45 p.m. Sept.. 20 at the post home. Tickets are $10 each and only 200 tickets will be sold.
The first ticket will be drawn at 7:45 p.m., and food, beverages and side boards will all be part of the fun. Proceeds will benefit American Legion charities. Tickets are available at the canteen or from any SALs member.
 
Golf outing benefits Sub Zero Mission
The Second Annual Sub Zero Mission charity golf outing will be 11:30 a.m. Sept. 21 at Madison Country Club, 6131 Chapel Road in Madison. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit Sub Zero Mission, a charity to prevent freezing and injury caused by extreme weather exposure to homeless and financially destitute Americans, with a special focus on military veterans.
For details, call Del Bethel at 440-286-1387 or 440-622-4157 or email to del@subzeromission.org.
 
Cornhole tournament at detachment
Col. J.M. Chambers, Marine Corps League Detachment 555, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, will host a cornhole tournament fund raiser 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.
 
Ohio Women Veterans Conference Sept. 28
The Aladdin Shrine Center in Columbus will be the site for the Ohio Women Veterans’ Conference. Registration will be 8 to 10 a.m., followed by the conference from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28.
Advance registration is recommended by visiting www.ohiovet.gov click on the link “Women Veterans Advisory Committee”
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.

A new American Legion Post is starting at Lake Erie College in Painesville. The post will not have a building, a bar or a hall. What it will have are members who are dedicated to helping one another and the community that they live in.
This new post will meet in a classroom on campus, where I am certain that the members are spending a lot of time studying for their new careers. The new American Legion members will be able to concentrate efforts on community projects and not on maintenance of a post home.
The fact that younger veterans are not feeling a connection at established posts is not new, it happened once before. Veterans returning from Vietnam experienced the same feelings. How do I know this? I witnessed that disconnect first-hand at a post I belonged to at the time.
The product of that general disconnect became Vietnam Veterans of America. The VVA has grown over the years and taken a place in the veteran community. The VVA helps provide a greater public awareness to issues unique to the Vietnam veterans.
Congratulations to the 25 young veterans who will be the charter members of the post.

School supply donations accepted
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 214, 4304 Center St. in Willoughby, will collect school supplies for needy students that will be delivered to the schools on Wednesday. Help a student and donate a few school supplies. For details, call 440-942-7762.

Fish dinners at Willoughby Post
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1500, 38295 Pelton Road in Willoughby, is hosting fish fry dinners the first and third Fridays of the month at the post home. For details, call 440-951-9233.

Gunslingers at Gunny’s Hall
The 2013 Northcoast National Gunslinger championships will be Saturday and Sunday at the Marine Corps League, 8720 Twinbrook Road in Mentor.
The event will be at Gunny’s Hall and include the Buckeye Rangers Fast Draw Club. This event is sanctioned by the Ohio Fast Draw Association-International. For details, call Brian “Doc” Hric at 440-478-7480 or Rich Enneper at 216-396-1586.
Contestant fee is $15, with the championships being an elimination style event.

Catholic War Veterans membership drive
Catholic War Veterans Post 1959 of Lake County will be at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1730 Mount Carmel Drive in Wickliffe, for all Masses Sept. 7 and 8 for a membership and poppy drive. For details, call Ken Kirchner, second vice commander, at 440-257-2156 or email him at cpd2195@yahoo.com.

Willoughby post offers annual cabbage roll dinner
Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214, 4304 Center St. in Willoughby, will host its annual cabbage roll dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at the post home. The dinner will be served as long as there is food. Tickets are $7 per person and takeout orders will be available. For details, call the post home at 440-942-7762.

Mentor VFW serving clambake
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 9295, 8682 Mentor Ave. in Mentor, will host a clambake and Chinese auction on Sept. 14. Tickets must be purchased in advance before Sept. 10. The full clambake is $21 and a chicken dinner is $12. No tickets will be sold after Sept. 10.
For tickets or more details, call 440-255-3473 between 1 and 10 p.m.

SALs host poor man’s raffle
Sons of the American Legion Squadron 678, 579 E. 328th St. in Willowick, will host a Poor Man’s Reverse Raffle at 7:45 p.m. Sept. 20 at the post home. Tickets are $10 each and only 200 tickets will be sold. The first ticket will be drawn at 7:45 p.m. Food, beverages and sideboards all will be part of the fun. Proceeds will benefit American Legion charities. Tickets are available at the canteen or from any SALs member.

Golf outing benefits Sub Zero Mission
The Second Annual Sub Zero Mission charity golf outing will be 11:30 a.m. Sept. 21 at Madison Country Club, 6131 Chapel Road in Madison. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and the shotgun start will be 1 p.m.
The outing will benefit Sub Zero Mission, a charity to prevent freezing and injury caused by extreme weather exposure to homeless and financially destitute Americans, with a special focus on military veterans.
For details, call Del Bethel at 440-286-1387 or 440-622-4157 or email to del@subzeromission.org.

Cornhole tournament at Marine Corps League
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 details, call 440-974-9380.

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.