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May is Military Appreciation Month

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established an organization to be a conduit between the American people and military. He believed it was important for citizens to take responsibility for the recreation, morale and welfare of the U.S. military and members' families.

That is how the United Service Organization was established. The USO of Northern Ohio has been responsible for providing programs to 10,000 local military members and their families in the 29 counties of Northern Ohio. The group has sent an average of 600 care packages per month to deployed military. With recent heavy deployments, the USO needs to triple its efforts.

When a Reservist or National Guardsman deploys, it can create two problems. They give up their civilian jobs and their family must live on military pay, which in many cases is less than what their civilian job pays. However, the family's budget is based on the civilian pay. Financial hardship may ensue.

The USO of Northern Ohio helps in anyway it can. If anyone knows of a family with a deployed loved one, they can help acknowledge their sacrifices and offer to help by babysitting, mowing the lawn, helping with finances or bringing over dinner. People can donate online at www.usocleveland.org or mail a donation to: USO of Northern Ohio, 20637 Emerald Pkwy, Cleveland 44135. For donations to the care package program, call Bernice at 440-454-2537.

Entering the
'Summer of Superman'

The Summer of Superman kicks off on Mother's Day, May 11, with a celebration at the Crowne Plaza at 7230 Engle Road, Middleburg Heights 44130, and it is being conducted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There will be great opportunities for video as guests such as Eisner award-winning writer Sean McKeever ("Spider Man" and "Teen Titans"), Eddy Newell, ("Black Lightning"), Tom Batiuk, ("Funky Winkerbean"), Michael Sangiacomo ("Tales of the Starlight Drive-in") and actresses Robyn Griggs and Amy Lynn Best attend the event.

Comic writers and artists will sign their work and talk to fans. Comic dealers will display, buy and sell rare comics.

Admission is $5 for children, and moms get in free for the holiday.

The Summer of Superman is Cleveland's tribute to the 75th anniversary of the creation of "Superman" by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in Glenville in 1933. It also celebrates the 70th anniversary of the release of "Action Comics" No. 1, the first appearance of Superman, in 1938. One million dollars has been offered for a perfect copy of that comic, which cost 10 cents in 1938.

There will also be a kick-off party on May 10 at the Crowne Plaza starting at 7 p.m. with some of the Siegel and Shuster family members there to meet with people.