Elmhurst American Legion and the Villa Park VFW welcomed 183 recruits from Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago for Thanksgiving Day.
Charter buses picked them up at the base Thanksgiving morning and brought them, with a police escort, to the American Legion Post at 310 W. Butterfield Road in Elmhurst.
The recruits, along with about 100 volunteers, spent the entire day together in Elmhurst. They had breakfast and dinner, and were able to call their family and friends back home, watch football and generally relax and enjoy the day.
The annual event is traditionally held at Villa Park VFW Post 2801, but a major fire in May left that building uninhabitable. Construction is nearing completion, and the building is expected to be open again in December.
The VFW has been collecting donated turkeys, and food also was provided by many local businesses, according to a Nov. 16 article in Suburban Life.
Special thanks to Bud Jason for providing these photos.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you A grateful Mom