Remember the First

Day of Infamy

For some of us, we can still answer "Where were you on December 7th?" (I was in a crib in New York City!)

Happy Holidays

As we approach a season with important holidays in virtually all faiths, let's pray for the wisdom to work through the enormously complex issues the world is confronting. Let's also pray for those who live in the most troubled parts of the world and ask for the ability to provide them with food, shelter and medical care as we struggle to resolve all the surrounding challenges.

Happy Birthday

U. S. Space Force

December 20, 2019

Veteran Memorials

Around Lake County -

Mundelein

Thanks and prayers to all our

Gold Star Families

If you live outside of Lake County and would like to include your town's memorial, please send a reasonably high resolution picture to us at Veterans@lakecountyil.gov with a subject line of "memorials".

Dates for Veterans Assistance Commission Meetings in 2024

The VAC Commissioners meetings for 2024 will be held on the following dates

March 13, 2024

May 8, 2024

September 11, 2024

November 13, 2024

At the Gurnee American Legion Post 771

(749 Milwaukee Ave).

Meetings begin at 10:30 am. Visitors are welcome.



You can also use the link below to log into the meeting: https://meet.goto.com/754472005

OR dial in using your phone.

in United States, call: +1 (312) 757-3121

and use Access Code: 754-472-005

Midwest Veterans Closet is hosting a Pre-Holiday Grocery Give-away

TODAY - December 1. 2023!

12:00 - 1:30 pm

2323 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago

847-354-2108

See flyer below

The Veterans Day Celebration at College of Lake County out did itself this year. Colonel Paul Hettich was the keynote speaker with Congress-man Schneider acting as moderator. VAC Superintendent Andrew Tangen then presented the Congressman with an award as the Federal Legislator of the Year from the Illinois Association of VACs.

Left to right - Nick Konz, President of the VAC, Mike Peck, Former Superintendent, Cong. Schneider, Col. Hettich, George Gandara, VAC Board Member.

Lake County Veterans History Project Added 17 Veterans to the Library of Congress Living History Files.

Friday morning (November 10th), county lawyers, county recorders and all sorts of others to get together for breakfast and then for the veteran interviews that were to record their personal histories for submission to the Library of Congress.

The Waukegan Young Marines pitch in supporting the History Project every year!

Members of Marine Corps League's Tri-County Leathernecks (Detachment 1395) celebrated their 248th birthday and served SOS and other goodies for breakfast as they do every year.

VFW Ramps Up Efforts to Combat 'Claim Sharks' (from VFW Magazine)

Predatory Claim Shark companies are engaging in illegal activities and there is no gray area here, no matter how much money they want to throw at it

November 08, 2023

A message from the VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento:

For more than a century, your VFW has been on the forefront of advocating for veterans and their earned benefits. In the last year alone, more than 550,000 veterans received more than $13 billion in benefits from VA through the diligence and professionalism of the VFW’s global network of VA-accredited service officers. Not a penny of this $13 billion went to line the pockets of the VFW. It all went to the veterans, as the law requires.

The VFW has been a vocal opponent of predatory “Claim Sharks” – companies who charge veterans illegal fees for sub-par VA benefit claims assistance. Make no mistake, the proliferation of these illicit organizations is a threat, not only to the VFW’s cornerstone National Veterans Service (NVS) program, but an even greater threat to the VA benefits system as we know it. 

Since their emergence, the VFW has ratcheted up the pressure on these companies by passing legislation to crack down on their practices at the state level and are working to help veterans bring litigation against them. We have trained our more than 2,300 VFW Accredited Service Officers on how to handle Claim Sharks, and we continue to seek out veterans who need help getting out of these predatory contracts. Click to read the full article.

Click for a detailed explanation of what makes a "Shark".

Assorted Benefits Documents

There's a plethora of documents describing veteran benefits both at the federal level and for veterans within the State of Illinois (and probably other states, but we don't see them here). We have assembled several below.

Click to see a PDF with details and an electronic link to the actual documents.

Now's the time to make a donation and ask your friends to do the same.

Click here for website

Congratulations to American Legion Post 964 - Lake Zurich, IL on 74 years!

Help Wanted to Lay Wreaths!

Bring you friends (or organization members) to Fort Sheridan to provide help on December 16 including young people like the Boy Scouts, civil air patrol or JROTC and give them some help in putting out wreaths and attending the ceremony.

The ceremony will be 12/16 at 0900 with a color guard and bagpipes and the wreaths will be placed following the ceremony.

All organizations are encouraged to come out, and there is no sign up or need to contact anyone to notify of your participation. For more information, contact:

Christopher Hill

Program Specialist

Fort Sheridan National Cemetery

Office: (224) 610-7296, Cell Phone: (708) 901-6789

A new telephone guide from James A. Lovell FHCC

So, Maybe This Is Something To Share...

    I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time..

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard one soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.'   

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.  'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.  Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.' 

Northern Illinois Food Bank provides food through a network of 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth and senior centers, and has a number of other direct distribution programs to assist hungry neighbors. The Food Bank acquires donated food directly from manufacturers, as well as retail stores through our Food Recovery and Direct Connect programs.

You might have noticed the schedule of mobile food pantries further down in this newsletter. In the newsletter, these only cover Lake and McHenry Counties. However, there are also mobile pantries in 9 additional Counties. In addition there are "Pantry Express" sites where you can order food to be picked up at one of the Pantry Express locations, or, if you meet to mileage requirement, have the food delivered to your home.

If you are interested in supporting Northern Illinois Food Bank by volunteering (as I do), Click here to see the types of volunteer opportunities you can sign up for and where they are.

If you have any questions, contact Allan Ayers at 847-377-3344

In all the situations below, you can always contact the VAC (847-377-3344) directly for further assistance. If you are struggling with rent or mortgage payments with the elimination of pandemic forbearance programs, Call the VAC immediately!

• Rent or Mortgage payments or Emergency Housing
• Utility payments
• Food - Northern Illinois Food Bank - See Schedule or
• Midwest Veterans Closet (See the calendar below)
• Medical Care - Contact VAC when civilian benefits lost - Do not go to VA if not registered with them. Contact the VAC to get you registered.
• Family problems - In Lake County, contact 211 for referral to proper resource.

Click here for a fun evening in Rockford, IL

When registering for the "Honorable Night Out" on the A J Lynch website,

Enter each guest as a separate "item" so you can select different menu items for each.

Northern Illinois Food Bank

There are three types of resources within NIFB

-- My Pantry Express

Pre-register at the link and order from list of items - limited locations and times -

See below for all county locations and times, or click on the link below for all the counties.

-- Mobile Food Pantry and CLC Pop-up Pantry

t Helps to Stay In Touch With the

James A. Lovell FHCC

To stay in touch with the James A. Lovell FHCC, subscribe to the “Launch”, the Lovell Newsletter.

To get a subscription, – click here. 

Here is a directory of the resources at James A. Lovell FHCC. To access the electronic directory, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Herre are the available hot links to some of the various VA Resources available. The actual hot links can be accessed at the

bottom of the welcome kit.

Click here to subscribe to the Weekly VA Newsletter.

VA Benefits - November 2023

• This Benefits Bulletin provides links for vets of all to understand veteran benefits they might be eligible for.

Other Benefit topics:

• Veteran's Student Loan Payments & Debt Relief

On October 4, President Biden announced that an additional 125,000 Americans have been approved for $9 billion in debt relief due to the U.S. Department of Education changing income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). They have also started granting automatic relief for Veterans with total and permanent disabilities. This announcement does not impact GI Bill benefits. However, for many Veterans, Service members, caregivers and survivors', this new plan may mean relief from the burden of student loans. For more information on student loan repayment, visit the Department of Education Federal Student Aid online.

• Burial and Memorial Benefits for Veterans

Preparing for a funeral can be a difficult and confusing process. Veterans, service members, and their families may be entitled to VA burial benefits to help plan and pay for burial, funeral service, and transportation costs. Learn about end-of-life planning for Veterans benefits.  

VA News - 11/1/23 -

• Leashes of Valor: Discover How One Leash Can Save Two Lives

Leashes of Valor (LOV) is a national nonprofit organization that supports Veterans by pairing them with service dogs from local shelters at no cost to the Veteran. 

• Find Support From Online Gaming Community for Veterans

StackUp's Overwatch Program is an online gaming community where Veterans can get away from life’s difficulties and everyday problems, and find support for PTSD, depression and other emotional distresses.

VA News –11/8/23 –

• Ramsey Solutions Offers Financial Peace University for Free to Veterans

Ramsey Solutions is offering its nine-week Financial Peace University free to up to 10,000 Veterans, now through Nov. 13, 2023.

VA News –11/15/23 –

• Do You Know a World War II Veteran? They’re Eligible for Free VA Health Care

Veterans who served in the U.S. military between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946, are now eligible for VA health care benefits—including nursing home care—but Veterans must apply because VA cannot automatically enroll them.

• How Veterans Can Cope with Holiday Loneliness

Having the right tactics and strategy can be a real help for Veterans who face holiday loneliness. Here are some tips to help get you through the next few months.

VA News –11/22/23 –

• Help Support Your Mental Health as an Ambassador Athlete

Through Operation Vet NOW, Veterans compete in sports like kickboxing to support their mental health conditions. Click here to become an Ambassador Athlete with Operation Vet NOW!

• Insights from the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report

Suicide is a complex public health issue, and there is no single cause and no single solution. To end Veteran suicide, we need to understand all facets of the problem. See VA's annual National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report to learn more about efforts, strategies and resources available to prevent Veteran suicide.

Insights from MOAA

(Military Officers Association of America)

MOAA – 11/1/23

• Here Are Your 2023 Post Office Holiday Mail Deadlines

Some gifts enroute to military addresses should be on their way by early November. To see the full list, click here.

• Over the Hill at Age 42? Not for Air Force, Space Force Recruits

A new policy raises the enlisted age limit by three years. It comes after the Air Force fell short of its 2023 recruiting goal.

MOAA – 11/16/23

• Know Your Benefit: Check Out MOAA's TRICARE Guide

From coverage options to costs, from MOAA advocacy work to pharmacy "disruptors," our annual guide keeps you informed.

• Are You Prepared to Move From an Officer to a Civilian?

MOAA – 11/22/23

• How MOAA Is Pushing Back on TRICARE Pharmacy Copay Increases

New DoD authority could mean higher costs for your medication. Find out how MOAA is working to protect your earned benefit.

• MOAA Event Series: Dare to Dream

Leaving service? Looking for a new career challenge? Military spouse on the move? This four-seminar session is for you.

• What You Should Know About IRS Changes for the New Year

From tax rates to retirement account limits and more, get up to speed before it's time to file.

If you are still working and thinking about changing jobs, check out the

Veteran Jobs @ at military.com

Here're some sample articles I found recently:

•  No Plate Left Behind: A Response to Military Families and Food Insecurity

• If you are still working and are looking for tips, insights for your next job, be sure you sign up the Military.com’s “Veteran Jobs Insider” issue. Click here for a copy in mid-November

• Most Military Retirees Will See Medicare Costs Increase in 2024
• The 10 Most-Asked Questions Veterans Have About Salary Negotiation

+ + + + + + +

There is far too much in the various issues of Military.Com to write or even extract from them. The trick is to find the pieces that are important to you. Therefore, we have provided a graphic that shows the various dropdown choices. As you will see, there is information on general news – with the choice to see the news for your own branch, service benefits, Job and transition support, military life and family issues. I get several versions, and then I’ll scan for titles that seem to be related to me. For example, I decided to try the the Veteran Jobs tab for Lake County. It provided over 400 postings for Lake County and Northern Cook County. See the dropdowns below. Then you can click on military.com to set up a subscription and select versions that you are interested in.

In addition, there are a wide assortment of resource links (including discounts for vets and families) to find other specific information. You might want to give the magazine a look.

If you need a complete set of your military records

If you need a set of your military records for any reason, you can obtain them by faxing or mailing a request to the National Personnel Records Center. While they will accept a letter (if you get all the right information into it) it is best to use the standard form SF-180 to request it. You can download that form at Standard Form 180

Mail the completed form to:

National Personnel Records Center

1 Archives Drive

Saint Louis, MO 63138.

OR

Fax the form to 314-801-9195

If you need the records in emergency circumstances, contact our office (847-377-3344) and we can help you expedite the process.