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Veterans group to host 'Stories of War' presentation

Daughters of a heroic veteran will be featured in a free presentation Wednesday, Aug. 13, as part of a series of presentations organized by the Lake-McHenry Veterans and Family Services program affiliated with the Lake County Health Department.

Called "The Stories of War as Told by the Families of Those Who Have Been There," the program is designed to promote awareness of how to honor the service of combat veterans and their families.

The public is welcome to attend the event from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee.

The daughters will explain their father's experience in World War II, which included being part of the Bataan Death March in the Philippines. About 72,000 American and Filipino soldiers, already starving and suffering from disease in the jungles of Bataan, were taken by the Japanese forces as prisoners of war and forced to march more than 55 miles in the heat with little food and water, no bathroom breaks and suffering random acts of brutality by their captors.

They will also talk about how their father's experience affected their family and provide a deeper understanding of what families go through as the result of a loved one's experience.

Founded in 2010, the Lake-McHenry Veterans and Family Services program is designed to honor veterans and promote conversation among veterans, their loved ones and the public about the long-term effects of military experiences.

Currently, there are approximately 40,000 veterans in Lake County alone and, of those veterans, 20 to 25 percent struggle with mental health issues. Veterans are often reluctant to seek help on issues ranging from job and benefit issues to emotional stress caused by deployment, reintegration, and family issues.

The Lake-McHenry Veterans and Family Services program helps veterans, current military members and their families face challenges before, during and after deployments.

No reservations are required. For information, call (847) 377-8386 or visit www.lmvfs.org.

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