VFW provides sailors with touch of home for holidays

Sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Station experienced a little touch of home Thursday when they celebrated Thanksgiving with turkey and calls to loved ones at Villa Park VFW Post 2801.

Members of the VFW said they spent days preparing for the annual event in which 165 sailors arrived by bus early in the morning from North Chicago and spent the day playing video games, making free calls home and, of course, eating and then eating some more.

“In years gone by we would have anywhere between 40 and 50 (recruits), but as the economy got worse and worse, some organizations and churches started dropping out,” said Terry Mullin, chaplain for the Post’s Men’s Auxiliary. “We kept volunteering to take more and more (sailors) and we max out at about 200. We are very grateful.”

“It’s really nice to talk to people who want to get to know you. It’s huge for all the veterans, too,” said Recruit Andrew Wagner of Sultan, Wash.

This year the VFW partnered with AT&T to provide smartphones for the sailors to reach out to loved ones.

“Thanksgiving is a time to connect with loved ones,” Dave Fine, AT&T vice president, said in a statement. “We are proud to support our active military and veterans by helping them connect with family and friends during this Thanksgiving.”