Thanks for helping out the veterans

On behalf of the Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission, I want to extend a public thank-you to the many organizations who helped in the past month to bring a Christmas cheer to our veterans.

These include the Vernon Hills Police Department, Jim and Helen Heier, for providing us with 45 new winter coats, and $1,000 donation to the VFW and American Legion Canteen Fund at North Chicago Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Also, the Fifth District Veterans of Foreign Wars and Lake Zurich VFW Post 11020 for providing 340 Christmas boxes to the patients at North Chicago VAMC. They took time to make up Christmas boxes with more than 40 items in each box (phone cards, canteen books, candy, fruit, clothing and books) and deliver them on the wards with musical entertainment.

At Winchester House, the American Legion and VFW worked together to provide a breakfast Christmas party for the 40 vets who are residents.

The Veterans Assistance Commission and American Legion Post 867 assisted the Carmel Catholic High School students in mailing Christmas packages to Carmel graduates stationed in Iraq.

I know I am missing the good deeds of many individuals and groups. In speaking with Kenny List, volunteer coordinator at North Chicago, I need to add the efforts of the Salvation Army, Swing Club, Gurnee Brownies, Motorola, Marine Corps League and the AMVETS.

The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Lake County.

Michael Peck

Superintendent,

Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission