More than 400 students at Training Support Center, Great Lakes were invited by more than 160 local hosts to their homes and the McHenry VFW Post 4600 to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal as part of the annual Adopt A Sailor program Nov. 24.

The program has been an ongoing tradition at Great Lakes since World War I. The program allows families within a 50-mile radius to adopt a few Sailors.

"This is an awesome opportunity for our Sailors to get outside of the gates and meet the outstanding members of the community who have gratefully opened up their homes to our newest men and women of the Navy," said Capt. Mark Meskimen, commanding officer, TSC. "One of the hardest things about joining the Navy is being away from families during the holiday season, and we are glad that so many Sailors will be able to be with a host family during this particular special holiday."

Host families planned an entire day's worth of activities for the students, as well as a home-cooked holiday meal to which the students greatly anticipated.

"Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday; everyone is celebrating with family and friends on this one special day," said Susan Rush, from Northbrook, Illinois, and Thanksgiving host for the past nine years. "Since these men and women are being trained to serve our country, unable to travel to their own home, I am honored to have them in my home. It has been mentioned from the other Sailors in the past, it was the next best thing to their own homes."

After spending the entire day with a host family, Seaman Slade Hunt and his shipmates returned to the base in the evening and were grateful for the opportunity to spend the holiday with a family.

"We had a great time eating good food, playing board games, and watching football," Hunt said. "We really appreciated being treated like we were at home. I am very thankful to the families that invite us into their homes, making being far from family a bit more manageable during the holidays."

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit http://www.navy.mil/.