As families across Lake County gathered for Thanksgiving Day, recruits at Naval Station Great Lakes gathered with their new family.
One week away from graduating boot camp, 84 recruits spent the holiday at American Legion Post 208 in Arlington Heights as part of the “Adopt-a-Sailor” program, where local communities in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana “adopt” Navy recruits and sailors. Post 208 has been welcoming sailors for Thanksgiving for 16 years.
The post provided a Thanksgiving meal, phones for recruits to call home, playing cards and an Xbox to play games. Star Cinema Theater and Beverly Bowling offered the recruits a complimentary movie and bowling.
“It’s pretty awesome that they’re willing to take all of us sailors in. It makes you miss your family even more,” Meaghan Davenport, a recruit at Naval Station Great Lakes, said.
Police escorted the two buses of recruits down Douglas Avenue just after 9:30 a.m. Volunteers applauded as the recruits entered the hall through a tunnel comprised of the post’s color guard, members of local junior ROTC programs, Post Commander Don Horn, Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, Arlington Heights Mayor Thomas W. Hayes and village Trustee Mike Sidor.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) arrived around 10 a.m. and spoke at the opening ceremony.
“To get to the American people, the terrorists have to get through you,” Kirk said to the recruits. “We’re so proud that you decided to join the Navy.”
Recruits expressed their gratitude for Post 208’s hospitality and the break from boot camp.
“It feels good to get out of boot camp. It feels good to get away,” Jacob McCutcheon, a recruit at Naval Station Great Lakes, said.
For the first time in seven weeks, recruits could enjoy candy and caffeinated coffee.
Avael Atlas, a recruit, explained how having access to only decaffeinated coffee at boot camp was hard for her, as she used to work at Starbucks.
“You drink it sometimes in the morning just because it’s so freezing,” Atlas said.
A table was set up for the recruits to call home on 28 phones, and volunteers offered their cell phones to those who were waiting. There were tears and smiles as they talked to their loved ones.
Davenport called her mom to wish her a happy Thanksgiving and tell her she loved her and missed her.
Although Davenport and the other recruits were away from their biological families, they celebrated the holiday with their new Navy family. The recruits consider each other shipmates, a bond one described as that between brothers and sisters.
The family extended beyond the recruits, though. Veterans representing multiple branches of the military joined the young men and women at tables.
Evans described this opportunity as the “forming of the chain” between the military’s generations. During his opening remarks, he told recruits not to leave the day without having talked to veterans in attendance.
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“This audience is very understanding for where they’re going, and it’s a great opportunity for the sailors because they get the opportunity to talk to those who blazed the trail,” Evans said.
Additionally, Evans said, the day was a chance for those who will fight for the country to meet the community and the community to meet them.
“It’s incredible and an honor to be here,” Mary A’Damo, a recruit at Naval Station Great Lakes, said. “I would have never expected this. I’m beyond words, just very grateful.”
Angelica LaVito is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun