advertisement

Arlington Heights hosts homestyle Thanksgiving for Navy recruits

Suburban veterans honored recruits from the Navy's only boot camp Thursday with a homestyle Thanksgiving experience.

The Arlington Heights American Legion Post 208 hosted 84 recruits for the entire day, which included a family-style dinner, movies and bowling.

"I'm with my family," said Torrey Gardiner, 21, of Lafayette, Louisiana, speaking of his shipmates. "We've been living together for seven-plus weeks."

It's the first time in nearly two months of training the recruits have left base - the Great Lakes Naval Station near North Chicago.

Gardiner said it's nice to see the outside world again and enjoy everyday pleasures like seeing a dog for the first time in a while.

He added, he is most thankful for "another day being alive" and being able to break bread with his military brethren.

"These people don't know us and they have done this for strangers," Gardiner said. "I'm thankful there are people out in the world who actually care."

World War II veteran Edwin Landow, 91, said he drove 17 miles from Streamwood to be with the recruits.

"We appreciate what our service people do," said the former chaplain of the Arlington Heights Legion post.

"We want to show them our respect and thanks," Landow said.

More than 1,800 sailors were invited to spend Thanksgiving in communities throughout the suburbs.

This year, 23 community organizations are participating in the Adopt-A-Sailor program and numerous families have opened up their homes to recruits, officials said.

"This is a great day for the U.S. Navy," said Rear Admiral Stephen Evans, commander of Naval Service Training Command, who surprised the recruits at Legion Post 208.

"These sailors who have volunteered to serve our country have the opportunity to meet and talk with the community that they are defending. The U.S. Navy is America's away team. Many times when we are doing our jobs we are really far away from home. The American people can see just how good these young people are, and they are good," Evans said.

Evans thanked Arlington Heights and the Legion for welcoming sailors into their city.

"Today the chain has been formed because they have a bond here with the veterans," he added.

To the recruits, he advised, "Don't leave today without talking to a veteran, learning about their experiences, what they have done ... it's what you are going to be doing."

Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes, an Army veteran, said the village is proud of its support of the military, veterans and their families.

It takes roughly 60 volunteers to make the day happen, from the police escorts to the businesses opening their doors to the sailors, to the Thanksgiving turkeys and meal prepared by American Legion cooks.

"We're very happy to be hosting them," Hayes said.

It's the 16th year the Legion has sponsored recruits, said post Cmdr. Don Horn.

"This is our day to say thank you to them," he said. "The Navy entrusts them to us ... at least we can give them a family-style Thanksgiving."

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park, who is facing a contest in the Republican primary, also made an appearance.

A Navy veteran, Kirk lauded Arlington Heights for being a pro-military town.

"Now with the war on terror, we need you guys more than ever to protect us," he told the recruits.

  Members of American Legion Post 208 in Arlington Heights greet sailors from Great Lakes Naval Station as they arrive for Thanksgiving dinner. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@@dailyherald.com
  Rear Admiral Stephen Evans greets sailor Meaghan Davenport of Dayton, Ohio, as she and fellow recruits from Great Lakes Naval Station prepare to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Arlington Heights American Legion Post 208. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@@dailyherald.com
  Rear Admiral Stephen Evans along with U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk and Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes prepare to cut the turkey as sailors from Great Lakes Naval Station filed into the Arlington Heights American Legion Post 208 for Thanksgiving dinner. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@@dailyherald.com
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.