Mentor-on-the-Lake AMVETS Post 109 seeking help in replacing outdoor sign

Dec. 16—AMVETS Post 109 in Mentor-on-the-Lake is reaching out to the community for help raising funds for a new digital sign to replace the current one outside the building, which has become difficult and dangerous to update.

Ted Makse, the post's commander, said most of the veterans, and even many subordinate members, are unable to safely change the signage. In order to change messages on the sign, they have to use a 10-foot ladder and try to support it on very uneven ground, climbing while holding a series of lettering, to replace previous notices.

"As an 80-year-old veteran, I can no longer risk a fall to make these changes, and asking others to risk injury is just unforeseeable," he said. "Our one veteran that was doing this, said he won't do it any more due to fear of injury. This is extremely dangerous."

Makse said the current sign is about 30 years old. He had the facing replaced about 10 years ago due to storm damage.

Makse said he has been quoted about $27,000 for a new digital sign. So far, the post has raised about $4,500.

They will have a member that runs the digital sign trained plus a couple members.

"We really need this sign to announce upcoming events we do to help our veterans and community," Makse said. "Several members have said they just don't feel safe climbing a ladder and a pole takes forever."

Donations are tax deductible and receipts are available upon request.

"We have been working hard at the post and we started this sign fund just two months ago, but no one wants to climb," Makse said. "And I have been trying to remodel inside just to get new younger members. Functions are hard when we can't advertise.

"We started raising funds about three months ago and we have really gotten a good start through the hard work of our members and several generous donations."

AMVETS Post 109 is located at 7847 Lakeshore Blvd. Call 440-257-9217 for more information.