The temperatures began the climb toward 90 degrees in the past week and summer has finally arrived.
Summer came officially for me on Sunday with a visit to the Gathering of Eagles air show. I saw a lot of familiar faces from the aviation community and got to take a look at the beautiful airplanes on the ground. The show never fails to please, even with soaring temperatures.
Members of various veteran groups were there in an effort to reach out to the public and offer membership in their organizations.
Beginning today, Painesville Party in the Park will offer music all weekend for those who choose to visit and listen. Once again members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be there to offer information and membership opportunities for those veterans who meet eligibility requirements.
Veterans Day at the Lake County Fair will be Aug. 14. On that day, the fair is free for all honorably discharged veterans. In addition, the Lake County Veteran Service Commission will host a booth and a ceremony marking the end of both the Korean War in 1953 and the Vietnam War in 1973. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. (1800 hours).
No matter what the venue, there always seems to be a veteran involved.

Painesville post at Party in the Park
Painesville VFW Post 2595 will host a booth Friday through Sunday at Painesville Party in the Park. Post members will have information on all of the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary programs.
The programs include youth scholarship and volunteer opportunities as well as community recognition. Membership information for the VFW, Ladies Auxiliary, Men’s Auxiliary and Junior Girls Unit will be available. This year, a second year’s membership will be free for any eligible veterans or Ladies Auxiliary member joining at Party in the Park.
The post will offer a free drawing for a flag set.
Please call Jill or George Householder at 440-352-9522 for information.

Willoughby Legion offers steaks on the grill
Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214, 3404 Center St. in Willoughby, will again be offering steak dinners on Friday evenings 5 to 7:30 p.m. through Sept. 6. The dinners are open to the public. For details, call 440-942-7762.

VFW offers fish fry dinners
VFW 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 the post home at 440-951-9233.

Sons of the AMVETS serve up burgers
AMVETS Post 109, Sons of the AMVETS, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will be serving sirloin steak burgers every Friday during July. The burgers, with several toppings available, will served from 5 to 8 p.m. All burgers will include fresh cut fries and are $6.50. For details, call the post at 440-257-9217.

24th annual golf classic July 27
The annual Col. J.M. Chambers Detachment 555 of the Marine Corps League will host its 24th annual Golf Classic beginning at noon July 27 at Madison Country Club.
Entrance fee is $120 per player and includes 18 holes of golf in a scramble format, lunch, cart and a steak dinner at Gunny’s Hall immediately following the golf. Trophies will be awarded to the first-place team and numerous skills prizes, such as long drives, closest to the pin, etc., also will be awarded.
To play or be a sponsor, call Gene Deka at 440-668-8777.

Euclid Vets host Classic Car Cruise-In
The Euclid Veterans Association will host a Classic Car Cruise-In from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 28 at Tizzano’s Party Center parking lot, 1361 E. 260th St. in Euclid, just south of Route 2.
Any and all classics up to 1979 are welcome. There is no charge for the show, but donations for the wounded will be gratefully accepted. Dash plaques will be given to the first 100 cars.
Donations will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and Veteran’s Best Friend. For details call Al Nagy at 216-289-1632.

Ladies Auxiliary hosts Chinese Auction and Bake Sale
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 6519, 752 Water St. in Chardon, will host a Chinese auction and bake sale from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Aug. 3. There will be more than 100 items to bid on. Tickets are priced six for $4; 12 for $7 or 20 for $10. Winner need not be present. Just put your name and phone number on the ticket.
For details, call Paula Geiss at 440-625-0192.

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.

How many ties or pairs of socks does the veteran in the family really need? Why not get the family together and give that special grandfather, uncle or dad a seat in one of two flying B-25D Mitchell medium bombers?
Yankee Warrior, a B-25D Mitchell medium bomber, will land at Lost Nation Airport in Willoughby at about 10 a.m. Saturday to participate in the Gathering of Eagles air show.
“A lot of families have pooled their money to give a flight to an older veteran,” said Jerry Lester, Yankee Air Museum member, speaker and volunteer crew member.
The ship was built in Kansas City in 1943 and is a survivor. She survived combat in Corsica in 1944; training missions throughout Canada as a part of the Lend Lease Act during the war, and after the war was sold to a private owner and stripped of military armament and paint. The Yankee Air Museum bought and restored the Warrior to her former glory during a four-year process beginning in 1986.
One of three flyable aircraft the Museum has, she again survived when a devastating fire left the museum without a permanent home in 2004. The museum is located at the Willow Run Complex in Belleville, Mich., just outside of Detroit.
The bomber will offer rides at the show for $400 per person. When the seven seats are full, the bomber will take off for a 30-minute ride. Proceeds from the flights will benefit the rebuilding of hangar facilities for the Yankee Air Museum and the aircraft.
For details and information about rides, call 269-250-0783.

Air Show at Lost Nation
The Gathering of Eagles XVII Air Show will be Saturday and Sunday at Lost Nation Airport in Willoughby. The show features aircraft that have protected our freedoms and served our country.
Included in the show will be the B-17 bomber, Tuskegee Airmen, World War II re-enactors and a classic car show.
This year a Hangar Dance, featuring the Concord Community Band takes place from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday and the Erie Heights Brass Ensemble performs from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Adult admission is $13; juniors ages 4 to 12 years old admitted for $7; and couples will be admitted for $25. Children under the age of 4 will be admitted free.

Lake County History Center a Blue Star Museum
The Lake County History Center will again be a Blue Star Museum from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2013. All active military with up to five immediate family members (spouse and child) and the proper identification will be admitted at no charge. For details, call 440-639-2945, ext. 14, or email events@lakehistory.org.

Korean War veterans seeking members
Korean War veterans and Korean service veterans are encouraged to consider membership with the Korean War Veterans Association. The group meets the last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1056, 580 E. 200th St., Euclid. For membership information, visit the Korean War Veterans Association website at www.kwva.org to obtain a membership form or call the national membership office at 217-345-4414.

Burial detail available
American Legion Post 459, 14059 Goodwin St. in Burton has a full military funeral detail available to any honorably discharged veteran for full military honors. The Honor guard, led by Newell Beaumier, sergeant at arms, is available 24/7, with a few days’ notice. For details call “Bo” at 440-834-8764. Please leave a message if no one answers.

Burgers on Fridays in July
AMVETS Post 109, Sons of the AMVETS, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will be serving sirloin steak burgers every Friday during July. The burgers will served 5 to 8 p.m. Several toppings are available and all burgers will include fresh cut fries and are $6.50. For details, call the post at 440-257-9217.

4th Annual Pig Roast Saturday
American Legion Riders Post 112, 6671 Middle Ridge Road in Madison will host its 4th Annual Pig Roast beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at the post. Tickets are $15 and available at the door or from any Post 112 Legion Rider. Raffles also will be part of the fun. For details, call 440-724-6871.

24th Annual Golf Classic scheduled
The annual Col. J.M. Chambers Detachment 555 of the Marine Corps League will host its 24th Annual Golf Classic beginning at noon July 27 at Madison Country Club.
Entrance fee is $120 per player and includes 18 holes of golf in a scramble format, lunch, cart and a steak dinner at gunny’s Hall immediately following the golf. Trophies will be awarded to the first-place team and numerous skills prizes, such as long drives, closest to the pin, etc., also will be awarded.
To play or to be a sponsor, call Gene Deka at 440-668-8777.

Classic Car Cruise in Euclid
The Euclid Veterans Association will host a Classic Car Cruise-In from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 28 at Tizzano’s Party Center parking lot, 1361 E. 260th St. in Euclid, just south of Route 2.
Any and all classics up to 1979 are welcome. There is no charge for the show, but donations for the wounded will be gratefully accepted. Dash plaques will be given to the first 100 cars.
Donations will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and Veteran’s Best Friend. For details, call Al Nagy at 216-289-1632.

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.

Confused about Lake County Veterans Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs? Ever wonder what benefits you may be entitled to as a veteran?
The Lake County Veterans Service Commission will present an informational meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26 at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor.
The presentation will explain what the Veterans Service Commission is and what services are offered.
The agency offers a link between Veterans Affairs and veterans and their dependents. The commission may be able to aid with emergency temporary assistance in some cases and assist in identifying what benefits the veteran, spouse and dependents may be entitled to.
The informational meeting is free and open to the public.
The event is sponsored by VFW Post 7754 and the Ladies Auxiliary.

Need help locating a monument
At one time, an honor roll stood in front of McKinley School on Lost Nation Road in Willoughby. The names of those who were in the armed forces or those killed in World War II were listed on the honor roll. The memorial was in three sections and had three eagles carved into the stones on top.
This stood in an area that has been used as a parking lot. Does anyone know what happened to the monument or where it might have been moved to?

Reverse raffle to benefit
Fisher House Cleveland
A $1,000 grand prize reverse raffle and Chinese auction to benefit the Greater Cleveland Fisher House will be 5 p.m. Saturday at VFW Post 7754, 540 New St. in Fairport Harbor.
Tickets are $25 per person and include food, open bar and side boards. All proceeds will benefit the construction of a Cleveland Fisher House, where families of veterans can stay for free while their veteran is undergoing treatment at veterans facilities in Cleveland.
Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The drawing begins at 8:30. For details, call the post at 440-352-1123.

Ladies serve breakfast
Ladies Auxiliary of Painesville VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday at the post home. For details, call the post at 440-354-9090

Cabbage roll dinner in
Willoughby Hills
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 4358, 29412 White Road in Willoughby Hills, will host a cabbage roll dinner from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the post home. Donation is $8 per dinner. Call 440-944-1642 or Rosina Drenski at 440-944-4903 for reservations.

Annual Rock-a-Thon returns
AMVETS 20th District Ladies Auxiliary will host the Annual Rock-a-Thon at Perry Post 1971, 4128 Main Street in Perry, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 29. This is a fundraiser benefiting Hospice of the Western Reserve. The 20th District includes Mentor Post 40; Mentor-on-the-Lake Post 109, Maple Heights Post 80, Richfield Post 176 and Perry Post 1971.
Rockers are needed to rock in the rocking chairs and sponsors are also welcome. For details about rocking or donating, call Gertie Rorabaugh at 440-259-4242.

Young Marines Garage Sale
Gather all the unwanted items around the house and donate them to the Young Marines Garage Sale, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 29 and 30 at 1295 South Broadway in Geneva. Call 440-812-0126 to arrange for donation. The sale will be open to the public and proceeds will help support the Young Marines’ trip to Washington, D.C., scheduled for Oct. 10.

DAV chapter meets in Mentor
Lake County Chapter 42 Disabled American Veterans meets on the second Saturday of each month at the Marine Corps League Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor. Meetings begin at 11 a.m. and last about an hour. All disabled American veterans are welcome.

Incoming
The 237th USMC Birthday Celebration sponsored by Marine Corps League Detachment 782 will be 6 p.m. to midnight Nov. 10 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall, 133 S. Spruce St. in Jefferson.
The event is open to the public. Dress is business casual. Tickets include dinner, beverage, dancing, ceremony and more.
Tickets are $45 per couple and $25 a single.
Come and help celebrate the birthday of America’s Marines with your local Marine Corps veterans and members of the Pvt. Henry Kalinowski Marine Corps League Detachment 782.
For details, call Tom Lucas Jr. at 440-992-5861 or 440-813-3914.

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.

Palmer Roberts American Legion Auxiliary Unit 214, of Willoughby hosted Poppy Days on four Saturdays in May at the Farmer’s Market in Willoughby. The unit set up tables with poppies, membership applications and other American Legion Auxiliary brochures and patriotic wrapped candy. 

Mayor Anderson stopped by the first Saturday and made a donation to the poppy fund and got poppies for his staff to wear in the Memorial Day Parade. 

The unit had a very profitable month at the market which helps with their assistance to veterans. Poppy funds may only be used for veterans and much of the money raised from the sale is used to support the VA hospitals, hospitalized veterans and homeless veterans. The unit hosts an annual cookout for homeless veterans from area shelters each year just prior to the Fourth of July Holiday. 

Donations to the fund are always graciously accepted and may be sent to the post home, Attn: Martha Setlock, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 214, 4304 Center Street, Willoughby, OH 44094.