Naval recruits enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in Palatine, Wheeling
Sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago couldn’t go home to enjoy the Thanksgiving with loved ones, so Palatine American Legion Post 690 did its best to bring home to them Thursday.
About 35 recruits traveled to the legion hall for a Thanksgiving meal, football on TV, games and other activities.
“With Great Lakes Naval Station being so close, we are bringing a busload of recruits to the Legion and providing them with a day of thanks,” Ed Grabowski, commander American Legion Post 690, said on the organization’s website. “Since they will not be able to enjoy their holiday with their loved ones, the Legion will be providing dinner, a day of activities and the ability to call home for however long they desire. It is our goal to provide to these young men and women a memory that will stay with them their entire life.”
As part of Thursday’s festivities, the sailors used smartphones provided by AT&T to call loved ones back home.
Elsewhere in the Northwest suburbs, another 60 recruits were being similarly feted at the AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling, according to Warriors’ Watch, which was planning to provide an escort to the sailors.