VIDEO: Navy Recruits’ Christmas 2014 day’s events (Warrior’s Watch Riders/Arlington Heights Police Department escort and settling in) at Christian Liberty Academy.
Following a police escort and Warriors’ Watch Riders escort, 25 Navy Recruits (040) from Naval Station Great Lakes enjoyed a day with great meals, telephone banks for calling family and friends, Internet access, video games and relaxation. The event was organized by Bob and Linda Stack, parents of Marine Lance Cpl. James Stack, who was killed in Afghanistan in November 2010, leaving behind his 19-year-old widow, Katie, and a 1-year-old daughter.
Supporters lined the main hallway on the east side of Christian Liberty Academy from the Main Office to the school cafeteria on the opposite side of the building — cheering, thanking the recruits and wishing them a Merry Christmas. The recruits had been isolated from television and the Internet since early November and are set to graduate in January.
PHOTOS: Navy Recruits’ Christmas 2014 …
The recruits were welcomed by Warriors’ Watch Riders, Bob Stack, and John Hersey High School grad Pastor Chuck Wilcher of Northwest Bible Church.
The polite group of men and women were grateful for the day. They enjoyed a breakfast, main lunch, and a Chicago-style dinner. The main lunch was preceded by a Continental Breakfast, and was followed by a Chicago-style dinner complete with Chicago-style Vienna hot dogs, pizza, chopped salad, and brownies with ice cream.
In between meals, the recruits (from all over the United States) spoke with community members, and enjoyed group photos, private telephone access, Internet access, Skype access, video games, foosball, Chicago Cubs baggo games, and basketball court access. First access on the Internet was unanimously pointed to Facebook, where computer workstations were set up in a second floor science room, which was dominated by former Arlington High School teacher John Harth during the Arlington High School Cardinals era at the school building.
The Christian Liberty Academy library was converted to a game arcade for a day with a main projection screen and multiple monitors attached to XBox consoles.
The event was a joyous event that Bob and Linda Stack have made an annual tradition in honor of their son. As in previous years … just below the surface of the successful event was an emotional surge of Christian strength and energy in honor of their son Marine Lance Cpl. James Stack.
SUPPORTERS
Christian Liberty Academy
Naval Station Great Lakes Recruit Training Command
Brian Walsh
Overhead Door Solutions, Palatine, Michael Bauer, Rich Terzo
Warriors’ Watch Riders … Ride Captains Tom VanGundy (TVG) & David Fjeldheim (Cager Dave); Matt Charlier (Matter)
Village of Arlington Heights
City of Prospect Heights
Daily Herald Newspaper
ABC 7 Chicago
NBC 5 Chicago
CBS 2 Chicago
Arlingtoncardinal.com, Mark Bostrom
Gordon Food Service, Marsha Blum
Panera Bread, Arlington Heights
Costco, Mount Prospect Matt
Sam’s Club, Wheeling Justin
Sam’s Club, Naperville
Jewel, Palatine, Dave Kross
Arlington Heights Corner Bakery, Ruther
Greg Padovani
Pastor Calvin Lindstrom
Chef Tim Almy & Family
Alex Kania, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
David Bergquist
PENS Communications Systems, Greg Padovani
Christian Liberty Academy, Pastor Calvin Lindstrom
Thad & Isabelle Bennett
Morrison Family
Dan Hartsaw
Kott Family
Kania Family
Wesner Family
Aiello Family
Karr Family
Garlick Family
David & Missy Bergquist
Jed Bennett
Robbie Patricelli
Caleb Graham
Sammie Brown
David Olsen
Dulinsky Family
Andy & Becky Bennett
Paul Kramer
Jake Kramer
Frankie Bautista
Wojciech Mastella
Diana Janicke
Heather Janicke
Savanna Schulatz
Victor
Yang
Larry & Alice Hovde
K & G Specialty Sales, Inc, Glenn Garlick
U.S. aval Sea Cadet Corps, John F. Kennedy Division & Carl Stockholm Battalion, Alex Kania, Paul Wesner & Jacob Jimenez
… and the many veterans, friends and neighbors who welcomed our brave recruits this day.
See also …
CNIC Naval Station Great Lakes (Official Navy website)
Naval Station Great Lakes is the United States Navy’s only boot camp, located near the city of North Chicago, Illinois, in Lake County. Naval Station Great Lakes is the second largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training station in the Navy. Important tenant commands include the Recruit Training Command, Training Support Center and Navy Recruiting District Chicago. Approximately 40,000 recruits pass through the training center annually with up to 7,000 enrolled at the Naval Station Great Lakes at any time.
Naval Station Great Lakes, located between North Chicago and Lake Bluff functions as a small city, with its own fire department, Naval Security Force, and public works department.
Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) is the authority responsible for shore installation management under the United States Navy; it is responsible to the Chief of Naval Operations. CNIC was established on October 1, 2003.