In 1978 in this small town known as Mentor Headlands, there was a community of mostly young families many of whom seemed interested in sharing a similar goal. It seems as if those fathers and mothers wanted a good life for their children with worthwhile moral values and a friendly neighborhood where everyone looks out for the welfare of others. Many of the men were blue-collar workers and after a hard days work still had the energy to invest in things that mattered. These same people developed friendships at the baseball fields, PTA meetings, the library, Scout meetings, Union meetings and the network of activities that stemmed from membership at the Mentor Headlands Community Center. Many of them had also proudly served their country in the military.
There came a time when BINGO was a means to help many needed groups in the area. People volunteered their time for this project through their association with the Community Center. When this was no longer feasible, a new venue needed to be planned. The state laws continued to change and it seemed as if a veterans's organization could legally run BINGO and donate the profits to select groups. The idea spread like wildfire and Mentor-on-the-Lake AMVETS Post #109 was involved in our creation. Some wanted to join because they believed it would give them a chance to play cards with "the boys".
The purpose at the time seemed vital, but once the community understood what this Veteran Organization was really about, it opened endless possibilities. In the beginning the small group rented a room at the Community Center. Weekly meetings were held and plans were made to make a future for this group. An AMVETS' motto "We fought together, now we will build together" seemed to fit.
Service and friendship became a group effort. It would be impossible to list all the activities and community projects that have been undertaken by the growing group of men and women. On September 7, 1978, AMVETS Post #40 was organized.
