VAC recognizes volunteers who have helped veterans

Posted December 14, 2015 10:00 pm

Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County submission

Twenty-two volunteers received their Lifetime Achievement Awards for more than 7,000 hours of volunteer service at the recent Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County appreciation luncheon Courtesy of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

The Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County recognized its volunteers at an appreciation luncheon Dec. 13 at Dover Straits in Mundelein. President Nicholas Konz Jr. presented outgoing President Norman Arnswald with the Eagle Award for his eight years as president and 40 years of service to the commission.

Konz, Medal of Honor recipient Al Lynch and Dr. Stephen Holt, director of the Lovell FHCC, presented the President's Lifetime Achievement Award to 22 volunteers who have accumulated more than 7,000 hours of volunteer service.

The following recipients received a White House Pin, letter from President Obama and a White House Certificate to recognize their service: Al Zelent, Allan Ayers, B.J. Voit, Donald Nickerson, Jim Reynolds, John and Virginia DeReu, John Patterson, John Petrillo, John Shebenik, Lisabeth Risley, Mary Ann Kornau-Bandurski, Michael Hiley, Michael Kozar, Nicholas Konz, Norm Arnswald, Richard Johnson, Sherry Kruse, Tom Marciciak and Stan Villarreal.

Konz presented the Johnny Allen Award to the top six posts with the most reported hours. The posts recognized were: Winthrop Harbor VFW Post 7448 with 9,313 hours; American Legion 867 (Mundelein) with 6,101 hours; American Legion Post 329 (Sharvin) with 2,573; American Legion Post 865 (Zion) with 1,506 hours; American Legion Post 964 (Lake Zurich) with 1,364 hours; and Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 25 (North Chicago) with 1,344 hours.

Superintendent Peck presented the Governor's Report to the commission and noted, with the addition of the Lovell FHCC branch office, Lake County will earn more than $100 million in compensation for veterans in 2015. The VAC processed 3,479 claims and assisted 1,297 veterans with emergency assistance.

Peck noted that the $100 million does not include the compensation for dependents of deceased veterans and that, with the increasing number of deceased Vietnam veterans, the VAC will increase its outreach to veterans.

Peck also noted that more than 2,500 Lake County veterans are eligible for the disabled veterans homestead exemption, but as of this date, only 900 veterans have applied. The VAC is doing outreach to the qualified veterans.

Dr. Holt thanked the veterans for their volunteer work at Lovell. Konz noted the generosity of the Lake County community in their support of the VAC, Midwest Veterans Closet and the recent Thanksgiving Dinner program supported by Smokin T's, in which 80 families of veterans had a meal for 10 delivered to their homes.

The Johnny Allen Award, for the six posts with the most volunteer hours, is presented to John Patterson (VFW - Winthrop Harbor), Oliver Davidson (American Legion - Sharvin) and Richard Johnson (American Legion - Lake Zurich). Courtesy of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

VAC President Nick Konz and Medal of Honor recipient Allen Lynch present the Eagle Award to previous VAC president Norm Arnswald for eight years as president and 40 years of service to the Veterans Assistance Commission. Courtesy of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

Richard Johnson, John Patterson and Nick Konz present Mike Peck, superintendent of the VAC, with an award for his committed service in growing the success of the VAC over the past eight years. Courtesy of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

Dr. Steve Holt, director of the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, expresses his thanks for the more than 160,000 hours of annual volunteer service provided by veterans helping veterans at the recent Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County luncheon. Courtesy of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

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