College of Lake County hosts Veterans Day ceremony

College of Lake County held its annual Veterans Day ceremony Friday that featured a keynote address from a retired naval hospital corpsman.

Members of the Great Lakes Naval Station band also participated in the patriotic gathering in the auditorium on the flagship Grayslake campus.

Debra D. Lewis, a retired Navy hospital corpsman first class, anchored the ceremony with her speech. She reminded the crowd of those who served in the military and made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the United States.

"To all the men and women who made this great country safe, I salute you, from one veteran to another," Lewis said. "I thank you, I honor you and will continue to fight for you."

CLC added a twist to this year's Veterans Day event. It was the debut of the four-hour Veteran and Military Welcome Home Benefit Fair co-sponsored by the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

Participants in the benefit fair included Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, Lake County Veteran Assistance Commission, Health Net-Tricare, Lake and McHenry Counties' Veterans and Family Services and Evanston Veteran Center Mobile Clinic.

On Sunday, Wauconda's Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Post 911 will host a Veterans Day breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to noon. It'll be at Post 911, 515 S. Main St.

Several Veterans Day ceremonies are scheduled Tuesday across Lake County. Lindenhurst, Gurnee, Fox Lake and Antioch are among the towns that will honor the country's military veterans.