Families opened their hearts and civic organizations opened their doors to Recruit Training Command recruits for an extra special Thanksgiving meal during the annual Adopt-A-Sailor program Nov. 23.

Recruits had plenty of reason to be thankful as they were able to spend the holiday off base. The program offers families of recruits in Navy boot camp the opportunity to spend the day with their recruits. This year, 260 families took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy Thanksgiving with their future Sailor.

For those recruits whose families were unable to visit for the day, they were adopted by local civic organizations. In all, 23 organizations adopted more than 1,250 recruits from the command.

"This is my second year seeing Adopt-A-Sailor, and I am absolutely floored by the generosity of the families and organizations who support our recruits during the holidays," said Capt. Michael Garrick, commanding officer, RTC. "Saying 'thank you' to everyone, who got up early on Thanksgiving Day to give future Sailors a moment to pause their training and share in some fellowship, only begins to express our gratitude."

Recruits were grateful to receive visits from their families, who either live in the area or made the special trip for a holiday visit.

Seaman Recruit Nickolas Konecny spent the day with his mother, Micki; grandmother, Ruby Petrus; and his sisters, Kelsi and Charlsi; who made the trip from Stuttgart, Arkansas.

"It was great and it was a huge break in the routine," Konecny said. "To see them so excited to see me was the biggest thrill. I was obviously happy to be off base, but seeing them for the first time in seven weeks was pretty priceless."

The program often brings together an organization's community as hundreds of volunteers spend months planning the event and raising the necessary funds to feed the recruits.

The majority of the organizations and volunteers have continually supported the program over the years by providing a day of food, movies, video games, music, computer time, and most popular of all, phone calls home.

At American Legion Post 134 in Morton Grove, nearly 50 recruits were entertained by a magician and soloists before joining in an enthusiastic singing rendition of "Anchors Aweigh."

American Legion Post 690 hosted nearly 40 recruits, treating them to bowling and playing pool at Arlington Lanes in Arlington Heights before serving up a Thanksgiving meal in at the post in Palatine.

Organizations participating in this year's program included: American Legion Post; American Legion Post 159/974; American Legion Post 187; American Legion Post 208; American Legion Post 690; AMVETS Post 66; Chicago Ridge Police Department; Christian Fellowship Great Lakes; Grace Gospel Fellowship; Gurnee Community Church; Hammond Mohawks Athletic and Conservation Club; Israel Community Church; Moose Lodge 691; Moose Lodge 1969; New Life Lutheran Church; Nunda Masonic Lodge; Redeemer Lutheran Church; St. Margaret Mary Church/Knights of Columbus 11091; St. Michael's Episcopal Church; Sue H. Dufern Memorial Servicemen's Fund in Fox; Evanston Unitarian Church; VFW Post 2801; and VFW Post 2868.

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