Huntley Church Host Navy Recruits for Thanksgiving

Dan and Michelle Stewart spent four years away from their families while the two were serving in the Air Force and each knows the Thanksgiving holiday can be hard for servicemen and servicewomen.

So the Huntley couple has spent the last eight years organizing Thanksgiving dinner _ through their church, Springbrook Community Church _ for Navy recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes.

This year, Springbrook church expects 38 recruits who’ve been in boot camp for weeks.

Church members will pick up the sailors at 9:30 a.m. today then have Thanksgiving lunch ready at noon. The guest list totals 120 people, including Boy Scouts and church members.

The Stewarts coordinate the lunch, from making sure there’s enough turkey to planning the rest of the menu. Dan Stewart said Springbrook families will bring seven turkeys to the church for lunch. This year, Indian food and pasta will be on the menu.

“I’ve got it down to a good system, but it still takes a lot,” he said. “The key is communication.

After lunch, Stewart, guests and the recruits watch videos, play games or go online. The sailors have not had Internet access while in boot camp so many like to log onto Facebook and chat with friends.

One of the first things recruits want to do is call home, Stewart said.

“We lend them our phones,” he said. “It’s the one thing they want to do. We also have computers so people can use Facebook to chat with friends.”

“Boot camp is a scary time. It’s a big change for them. It takes time for them to warm up. Half way through the day, they are all warmed up and laughing. By the end of the day, they are not wanting to go,” Dan Stewart said.

Community members are invited to stop by the church to greet and talk with sailors from 2 to 5 p.m.

The recruits return home at 5:30 p.m.

This year, the Stewarts will be missing one volunteer, their son Hunter, who is an Air Force recruit. He is in boot camp in San Antonio, Texas.

“We are hoping they are doing the same program (as the Naval Base Great Lakes) down there,” Dan Stewart said.