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Two Gold Star parents welcome 48 Navy recruits at Christian Liberty Academy for Christmas Day

Forty-eight recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes were greeted with smiles, hugs and a parade line of flags Christmas Day at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights.

Gold Star parents Bob and Linda Stack facilitated the gathering for the 10th year.

The Navy recruits received a full day of food, fun, support, entertainment and phones to call home while at the Arlington Heights school.

Surrounded by sailors, Paige Burgess of Sunnyville, California, shared her time and some stories with the young men. Burgess' son is at the Naval Academy.

Seaman Morgan Bean of Texas smiled ear to ear as he described his experience at boot camp to Linda Stack before the short program started.

The Naval Station Great Lakes is the basic training site for all Navy sailors from across the nation. Recruits are usually 18- to 20-year-old men and women who are “sequestered” for eight weeks while they receive their training.

This is often the first Christmas that many of these young recruits will spend away from home and family. The tradition of hosting them was started by Bob Stack, a teacher at Christian Liberty, and his wife in honor of their son.

James Bray Stack of Arlington Heights was a child on Sept. 11, 2001, but he lost his life in the war that followed. Stack, 20, a lance corporal in the Marines, was killed Nov. 10, 2010, in Afghanistan.

The Navy's Adopt a Sailor Program gives them a day back in the civilian world with all the connections that we all take for granted. Adopt a Sailor invites area organizations to host these young people on Christmas and Thanksgiving.

  Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes greets some of the 48 recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes as they arrive at Christian Liberty Academy on Christmas Day in Arlington Heights. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Bob Stack, organizer and a Gold Star father, waits for 48 recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes to arrive Sunday at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes get snacks Sunday at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Seaman Recruit Steve Santana of Colorado, from the Naval Station Great Lakes, talks with Vietnam veteran Keith Renner of Chicago at Christian Liberty Academy on Christmas Day in Arlington Heights. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Organizer and Gold Star mother Linda Stack talks Sunday with Seaman Morgan Bean of Texas from Naval Station Great Lakes at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Paige Burgess of Sunnyville, California, talks with a group of recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes on Christmas Day at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights. Burgess' son is in the Naval Academy. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Organizer and Gold Star mother Linda Stack waits for 48 recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes to arrive for Christmas Day at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Bob Stack, organizer and a Gold Star father, talks to 48 recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes at Christian Liberty Academy on Christmas Day in Arlington Heights. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
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