“Sarge's Meet and Greet” brings together families of graduating Navy recruits

"Sarge's Meet and Greet" for families of recruits graduating from boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes was nothing fancy when retired Army veteran John Spadaro started the event seven years ago.

"Just a little thing - pizza, information gathering," says Spadaro, who spent 20 years active service before retiring as a sergeant first class. "I felt the need for parents to be informed what to expect, what not to expect."

The weekly gatherings by their nature have become a form of advertising for his online taxi company but that wasn't the objective when they debuted, he said.

"We never looked at it as advertisement," he said. "We looked at it as bringing the Navy families together." The idea is for Navy families, in a relaxed setting, to meet the families and loved ones their sailor has bonded with during their stay.

Great Lakes is the Navy's only boot camp. Between 500 and 1,100 recruits graduate each week, 48 times a year. Each graduate is allowed four guests and more than 100,000 people travel here each year for the ceremonies.

The meet-and-greets at the Lakehurst event center (former Sundance Saloon) in Waukegan, now average 300 to 400 guests each week and feature a buffet dinner.

"I was blown away by the number of people there. The camaraderie in the room was really special," said Paula Carballido, co-founder and president of Lake County Honor Flight. "What he's able to provide is tremendous for the families."

Forty-eight times a year, Spadaro and his wife cover the expenses for catered food, labor, incidentals and cleaning. Families are not charged and there is no funding from the Navy, Department of Defense or other organization or charitable institution.

"We ask for a contribution, not a donation," he said. "For the most part, we normally almost cover all the expenses."

Spadaro said he believes in paying it forward, and the voluntary contributions and raffle ticket sales allows the next batch of Navy families to experience the event. Last year, the couple provided more than 17,000 meals.

"Sharing is caring and giving back is good karma," he said.

The Brooklyn native settled in Gurnee years ago.

"I was stationed all over," said Spadaro, who is known as "Sarge" by all. "My last duty assignment was Fort Sheridan. Back then, it was an active Army base."

He started mynavitaxi.com, an online business that employs a core of fellow vets who make their livelihood as independent drivers working for Spadaro.

"I try to keep it restricted to the team we have," he said. "Strategically, we accomplished a mission."

As he has in the past, Spadaro in August will be up early to drive a veteran within a 60-mile radius to where they need to be for Lake County Honor Flight No. 13. He doesn't charge them or get reimbursed.

"Sarge is one of Lake County Honor Flight's most helpful and enthusiastic supporters and he never asks for anything in return other than to know he helped another veteran," said Linda Rockwell, an Honor Flight board member.

Do you know of veterans helping other veterans, doing good things for their community or who have an interesting story to tell? Share your story at veterans@dailyherald.com