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Gurnee Community Church continues Thanksgiving tradition

About 75 Great Lakes Naval Station recruits enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and hospitality from volunteers Thursday at Gurnee Community Church.

The church started offering the Thanksgiving meal to the sailors in training about 20 years ago. Similar to previous years, Thursday's menu featured turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberries, soft drinks and desserts.

Church member Ken Roscher, who helped organize Thursday's festivities, said fewer naval recruits are at Great Lakes now, which accounted for the dip from last year's 230 guests.

Roughly 100 Gurnee Community Church volunteers helped stage the holiday dinner - a task that included the purchase of three dozen 22-pound turkeys. Roscher said the church offered the meal to any visitor who stopped in.

As part of the day, the church provided video games for the recruits to play and telephones for them to call loved ones. Great Lakes recruits generally are disconnected from the outside world while in training.

  Gurnee Community Church Senior Pastor Chris Stephens greets recruits from Great Lakes Naval Station Thursday during the church's annual Thanksgiving event. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Great Lakes Naval Station recruit Nathan Throckmorton strikes up a conversation with Hannah and Josiah Goering during Thanksgiving dinner at Gurnee Community Church. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Volunteer Erin Coburn of Libertyville serves food to recruits from Great Lakes Naval Station Thursday at Gurnee Community Church. It's the second year Coburn has volunteered at the annual event. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Gurnee Community Church held its annual Thanksgiving event for Great Lakes Naval Station recruits. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
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