JHN_SALUTE_TO_VETERANS

Salute to Veterans A division of Shaw Media

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Today is a day when we honor veterans

The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

| SALUTE TO VETERANS

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Maybe we’ll see more flags flying today than usual. And there’s likely to be men and women in military uniforms. For the past few days and especially today, there are ceremonies that pay tribute to veterans and all they gave.

Veterans Day was first observed as a holiday on Nov. 11, 1918, honoring the end of World War I. For nearly a century we have taken one day to say thank you and honor those who have put on a military uniform and served.

Think of what it’s like to join the military. You put your priorities aside. You join because you believe in something bigger than yourself. You believe in your country, and are OK with the idea that any sacrifices you make - time away from family and friends, perhaps, or missing important milestones like the birth of a child or a first birthday – are for a greater good and the benefit of millions of others. You understand that a country that demands freedom as

• Kate Schott is editor of The Herald-News, the Morris Herald-News and Herald Life. She can be reached at kschott@ shawmedia.com or 815-280-4119. Follow her on Twitter @Kate_Schott78.

What’s Inside...

PAGE 4 — This fall 2015 semester, four former Navy

PAGE 12 — Serving in the military and veterans charged

PAGE 6 — Army veteran Clifford Lauderdale, 80, of

PAGE 14 — Update on two housing projects specifically for veterans in Joliet.

Corpsmen will cross the bridge from military medicine to civilian medicine in an eight-week Medical Corpsman to Practical Nurse class at Joliet Junior College.

Shorewood, thumbed through his December 2015 edition of VIETNAM Magazine and stopped when he saw pictures of an all too familiar site. His face went still, eyes closed and he took a deep breath.

PAGE 8 — With a projected move-in date in December 2015, the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County has counted the days until more space is available to help the large number of veterans who have inquired about assistance.

PAGE 10 —

• Relevant information • Marketing Solutions • Community Advocates

an ideal requires some to to give up their freedom.

It’s not a job everyone signs up for. Singling out a day to honor them seems the least we could do for those who gave so much.

In this special section you will find the profiles of local veterans and how their experiences in war defined who they were to become. There are stories about the housing available to veterans - and the need for more of it, as well as services offered locally for veterans, including those at the Veterans Assistance Commission in Will County, the special veterans court offered by the State’s Attorney’s Office and the medical mobile unit that Hines VA Hospital brings to Grundy County twice a month.

As you read through this year’s section, we hope you take moment to remember the veterans you know. Maybe call them or offer a handshake or just a smile. At the very least, be grateful for their sacrifice.

And to our veterans: We thank you for your service, and your selflessness.

As the music scene on Rush Street in Chicago thrived, drummer Ron Gale and his band mates from the band “Turning Point” opened for established bands, and played the circuit as career musicians.

with a non-violent crime have had the option to attend the Veterans Court in Will County

PAGE 16 — The Hines VA Mobile Medical Unit visits

Grundy County a few times a month. The MMU offers a variety of health, social work, information and referral services to registered VA veterans, and veterans can register at the clinic as well.

PAGE 19 — Arborists and horticulturalists contributed

their efforts, skills and machinery across the country to improve the appearance at 27 of the national cemeteries where veterans are buried.

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For Serving Our Country and Protecting Our Freedom

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Happy Veterans Day Home of the free, because of the brave

The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

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Military medical corpsman to practical nurse Joliet Junior College offers program that uses military medicine background

By Allison Selk

Shaw Media Correspondent JOLIET — This fall 2015 semester, four former Navy Corpsmen will cross the bridge from military medicine to civilian medicine in an eight-week Medical Corpsman to Practical Nurse class at Joliet Junior College.

Debbie Fitzgerald, professor and Department Chair of Nursing, Allied Health and Emergency Services at JJC, said this program was born out of an initiative by former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn for Air Force and Navy Corpsmen who have gone through the METC Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program and wished to receive a practical nurse license.

According to www.Illinois. gov, this program saves veterans time and money. Tuition and fees are reduced from approximately $15,360 to $2,950 depending on which college the student attends.

Also, training requirements are reduced from approximately 1,600 to 250 hours, an 18-month reduction. The College of DuPage and Illinois Central College also offer the course.

“Our school was the first in the state to offer this program.

We have two core professors who teach this course and we are proud of the curriculum they have designed,” Fitzgerald said.

Kelly Tisdale, an assistant professor in Nursing, and Kathy Wolz, professor in Nursing, created and teach the curriculum. March was the first time the class held at JJC, with nine students enrolled, four men and five women. The fall semester class has four enrolled, three men and one woman.

Tisdale said after the eightweek course, the students are eligible to sit for the state National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX. If they pass, they will be titled a Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN. “We teach them how to transition from being a medic to a nurse, and add knowledge of the entire nursing process,” Tisdale said.

Tisdale said the students complete theory work from home Monday through Thursday, with all of their reading work and lectures online. The Friday class consists

Paul Schroeder, Nursing Technology support staff helped Leonard McLean of Brooklyn sign in to his new online testing account for the Military Medical Corpsman to Practical Nurse course. of skill training and simulations.

The students fulfill their clinical work on Saturdays and Sundays.

After the first course in the spring, Tisdale said she and Wolz made adjustments to the curriculum based on the knowledge they gained throughout the course.

For instance, she said because the students have a rigid military background, there are certain barriers that needed to be overcome to ensure their success.

“They wait to be told what to do instead of jumping into a situation and they need to overcome that barrier. The language used is also different as a military medic and in civilian nursing. The first class we were trying to figure out what everyone was saying,” Tisdale said. “It’s definitely a marrying of two cultures.”

The students will do their clinicals at the Manteno Veterans’ Home, which is a switch as the first semester the group performed clinicals at Salem Nursing Home.

“This is a neat opportunity. It allows our clinical vets to serve vets. In a sense they are giving back,” Tisdale said.

“It’s nice that they are keeping us with vets since we are all military ourselves. I like the old vets in particular because they just

Paul Schroeder, Nursing Technology support staff introduced the new candidates to the computer information and testing system on the first day of class. Students front to back are Arturo Martinez of Chicago, Rachel Welter of Tinley Park, Leonard McLean of Brooklyn, New York and Jervaughn Miller of Chicago. want to have a conversation and I can listen, which makes them happy,” student Rachel Welter of Tinley Park said.

On the first day of class, Paul Schroeder, Nursing Technology support staff at Joliet Junior College, explained to the new crop of students that in his nine years he has taught nursing students how to take state board exams online,

not one has failed to finish the 180 questions in 180 minutes. He demonstrated how to be a successful test taker through practice and how to soak up all of the information that is learned and how to successfully access all of the tools the Internet provides.

See NURSING, page 5

• NURSING

“I want you to do one question per minute, because that is how much time you are allowed when you take your state exam. I need you to understand the question first and only then read through the answers and don’t second

Schroeder said.

Student Leonard McLean of Brooklyn, New York, said he has wanted a career in medicine before he joined the Navy in 2004.

He has been attending college for Biology and pre-nursing when he joined, and was worked at a Corpsman with the Marines in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Spain and Italy.

“Since I’ve been out of the Navy, I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health and have been working with substance abuse patients, but I can’t fully care for them without having a Registered Nurse or LPN with me,� McLean said. “I want to work on my LPN and then move on to my RN certification so this is a good place to start.�

A Salute to Our Veterans Window World of Joliet is Veteran owned and is the proud partner of the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) providing free air transportation to post-9/11 combat wounded soldiers along with their families.

Thank you to all of our service people.

(815) 729-3100 www.windowworldjoliet.com

• Tuesday, November 11, 2015

Paul Schroeder, Nursing Technology support staff helped acclimate Military Medical Corps- Military Medical Corpsman to Practical Nurse course students Rachel Welter, right, of man to Practical Nurse course students Rachel Welter, left, of Tinley Park and Leonard Tinley Park, and Leonard McLean learn the computer testing and information systems McLean of Brooklyn, New York to the computer testing and information systems. needed for their eight week course.

5 SALUTE TO VETERANS | The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com

Continued from page 4

guess yourself,� Schroeder said.

The students will take their first NCLEX practice exam from home on Veterans Day, which will prepare them for the proctored exam at the end of the semester. “This practice test will get your feet wet with the knowledge of the NCLEX world. There is a Navy way of doing things and there is a NCLEX way to doing things,�

The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

| SALUTE TO VETERANS

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Clifford Lauderdale: Taking his tours of duties to heart

By Allison Selk

Shaw Media Correspondent SHOREWOOD — Army veteran Clifford Lauderdale, 80, of Shorewood, thumbed through his December 2015 edition of Vietnam Magazine and stopped when he saw pictures of an all-too-familiar site. His face went still, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He pointed to the magazine and said, “This battle was three days long. It was day and night and if you did sleep, it was during the day with a buddy next to you on lookout.

“After three days of going through the jungle, I only knew three things. One, I would get hit.

Two, I didn’t know how I would come out of this. And three, I didn’t know where I was going from here.”

Fifty years ago, Lauderdale was among those engaged in the first major battle of the Vietnam War between the United States and North Vietnamese forces, at the Battle of Ia Drang.

This three-day fight took the lives of hundreds of U.S. forces and over a thousand members of the NVA, or North Vietnamese Army.

Lauderdale said his regiment was brought in by helicopter and performed a sweep of the Ia Drang Valley. He said the infantry spread out and an NVA man was spotted and chased, which led to a small battle, but then progressed.

“Then the NVA had what we called a hornet’s nest [camp] in the mountains around the valley.

They wanted to come down and wanted to stop our helicopters and by the time the second wave was coming in, they were under fire as they got off the helicopter,” Lauderdale said.

“In the jungle of Vietnam I learned how to shoot in a different way. You find a bush where someone could be hiding and light it up or watch for smoke from their guns and shoot. The North Vietnamese Army was camouflaged so well, I couldn’t see anyone. At some points in the battle, the NVA was so close we were in hand-tohand combat,” Lauderdale said.

He said at one point, the helicopters would fly close and the door gunner would kick the door open and drop ammunition and take off.

“Air strikes were called in on our own position. It was the last

straw. We couldn’t do anything else,” Lauderdale recalled.

In his career, Lauderdale received many medals, but for this battle, Lauderdale said he earned the Bronze Star Medal, which is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight.

“Most guys got the Bronze Star Medal because they were fighting hand to hand. We never should have made it out alive,” Lauderdale said. “I think the guys flying the helicopters needed the highest medal there is because they would get shot and or killed when they would get close enough to throw us ammo.”

Lauderdale completed two, twoyear tours in Vietnam, the first being in 1965 to 1966 and the second in 1970 to 1971. His wife and five children were stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia, while he was deployed. The Vietnam War lasted from 1955 to 1975.

His son, Clifford Lauderdale Jr., who now lives in Maryland, said when his dad was deployed he was about 5, but he remembered the specific instructions his father gave him.

“When he left, he told me that I was the man of the house and I took that to heart. And when he returned, no matter what time it was, I was up and we would wrestle. That was my way to say, how have you been?” Clifford Lauderdale Jr. remembered.

Lauderdale Sr. joined the Army out of high school in 1955, and enlisted without anyone’s knowledge until the day before he left for training. After his first four years he came back to Chicago, but “found myself in the same condition, not knowing what I wanted to do for a career.”

He applied for jobs at the police and fire departments, and came back approved, but was scared to death of civilian life. He re-enlisted in the Army in 1959 and retired June 1, 1975, with the tours in Vietnam; three, three-year tours in Germany; and two, one-year tours in Korea.

“He was a humble and loving person. He always talked to us kids instead of spanking and he made you realize what you did wrong.

As a kid sometimes I wished my mom would just spank me instead of having to listen to my dad,” Clifford Lauderdale Jr. said. “But even if I wanted to get up, I didn’t.

There was something in me that wanted to listen.”

Army veteran Clifford Lauderdale, 80, of Shorewood, stands in front of a veterans memorial in his Shorewood neighborhood and holds a picture of himself while he was in the Army.

Army veteran Clifford Lauderdale,80, Shorewood, looked at an article about the Battle of Ia Drang he was in while he served in the Vietnam War. This year marked the 50th anniversary of that battle which was portrayed in the movie “We Were Soldiers.”

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• Tuesday, November 11, 2015

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The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

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Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County getting ready for move

By Allison Selk

Shaw Media Correspondent JOLIET – With a projected move-in date in December, the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County has counted the days until more space is available to help the large number of veterans who have inquired about assistance.

“In July of 2013 when I was put in charge, we saw 59 veterans that entire month. Last month, September of 2015, 362 veterans signed in,” VACWC Superintendent Kristi McNichol said. “We have three offices in this space.

That’s doable to see 59 vets, but almost 400? That’s crazy. We needed more room.”

McNichol said the new location has three times the space and offices that will allow the social workers of the VACWC, staff and outside services to all have private areas to work with the

veterans.

Department of Veteran Affairs Case Manager Tom Deegan said the lack of offices made it difficult to conduct interviews with the homeless veterans he helps each Tuesday.

“There were times where we would have to go out in the VA car and conduct the interviews right on the street because there wasn’t any space,” Deegan said.

McNichol said she sent in April to Will County Executive Larry Walsh Sr. a formal request letter for more office space. She pointed out that one to three outside services daily come into the office.

That’s on top of the VACWC social workers.

In the letter she stated that “for this fiscal year of 2015, our DVA claims service has brought $623,816.42 in federal monies to Will County Veterans, and the total fiscal year 2014, $1,033,902.62

were brought into the county.”

On Oct. 15, the Will County Board unanimously approved the request to move to a larger space at 2400 Glenwood Ave. from its current space at 128 N. Scott St. in Joliet.

Services provided by the VACWC in Joliet are financial assistance with utility, shelter, personal needs and transportation, employment assistance such as resume help and job searching, recreational therapy with arts, crafts and relaxation techniques, homeless veteran prevention, combat veteran counseling with licensed counselors as needed, and help with compensation and pension claims through the Department of Veteran Affairs.

VACWC Assistant Superintendent Erik Papineau said since McNichol has been in her position the office has witnessed a rise in veterans in the office because of

outreach and events.

“We have a lot of new veterans coming in, as there should be. I think a lot of them have a lack of knowledge of how to get help.

They may know the services are out there, but they don’t know how to use them,” McNichol said.

“We want them to come here and get hooked up.”

Veteran Keenen Brown said his transition from military life after two deployments in Afghanistan and six years in the Marines was tough. He said he was grateful he could come to the county’s VA to try to get back to a stable life.

“I am blessed to have these people because they are like my family. I have post-traumatic stress disorder and if I didn’t come here, there is no telling what I would do,” Brown said. “With my disorder I need to get out of the house

See ASSISTANCE, page 9

JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY A Tradition of Service

The JCA family is proud to salute our veterans and the fine young men and women who are serving our country by protecting and fighting for the freedoms we enjoy every day.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! 1200 N. Larkin Ave., Joliet, IL 60435

815.741.0500 www.jca-online.org adno=0342181

• ASSISTANCE

Allison Selk – For Shaw Media

WE THANK ALL WHO SERVED MAY GOD BLESS YOU ATTENTION VETERANS: THE AMERICAN LEGION –

THE WORLD’S LARGEST VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, war-time Veterans organization, devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is a community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members, men and women, in more than 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide. In Illinois we have 804 posts with over 105,000 Members. In Will County we have 16 Posts numbering more than 5,300 proud Veterans.

Each year we conduct numerous programs of interest and benefit to Veterans, their State and Local Community including: Homes for our Troops, Boy Scouts, Youth Police School, American Legion Baseball, High School Oratorical Contests, Blood Donor Donations, Child Safety and Operation Care Package sending numerous packages to help support out troops. Various scholarships are offered to local youth through one or more of our programs. This is only a sampling of the many excellent programs of the American Legion. More information on each of our programs are available at our website site at www.legion.org The Legion Riders are one of the newest and fastest growing activities within the Legion Family. They have raised over $6.4 million in the past 12 years in support of the American Legion Legacy Fund – a fund which provides scholarships to the children of active duty troops who died in the war on terrorism since September 11, 2001.

The Will County American Legion has been a leader in the resolution to obtain Silver Cross Hospital for an expanded VA Health Care Facility. Based on the fact there are 99,311 Veterans under 65 and 47,173 Veterans over 65 that live in Will County and the surrounding counties not including Cook County. The Will County American Legion was a key component in securing the new VA Health Care Facility which is opened in March, 2013.

WHETHER YOU’RE 92 AND SURVIVED PEARL HARBOR OR YOU’RE 18 AND BEEN TO BAGHDAD, THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS A PLACE FOR YOU! CONTACT YOUR LOCAL WILL COUNTY POST AT: Post 13 Plainfield 815-436-9231 Post 39 Braidwood 815-458-2692 Post 191 Wilmington 815-476-6836 Post 392 Peotone 708-258-9378 Post 935 Manhattan 815-791-4478 Post 1200 Monee 708-534-8833 Post 1291 Crete 708-672-9140 Post 2000 Frankfort 815-469-3993

Post 18 Lockport 815-838-4515 Post 52 Romeoville 815-823-3907 Post 241 Joliet 815-545-8119 Post 521 Steger 708-754-2610 Post 1080 Joliet 815-729-2254 Post 1288 Bolingbrook 708-516-1469 Post 1977 New Lenox 815-485-4651

Any questions please call Will County V. Commander Mike Meyers at 708-516-1469.

15052 Archer Avenue, Lockport, IL 815-838-4515 -GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND GOD BLESS AMERICA-

• Tuesday, November 11, 2015

Staff, case workers and vets from the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County. Back row left to right: Assistant Superintendent of VACWC Erik Papineau, Marine veteran Keenen Brown, VA work study Anthony Foster, Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans caseworker Matt Fazendin and MSHV intern Joe Oleck. Front row left to right: VACWC Superintendent Kristi McNichol, VACWC Administrative Chief Rhonda Northrup, Veterans service officer Becky DeGroate and VA social worker Val Starr.

and talk, and it gave me a place to help me deal with everything.”

The new office is in a building owned by John Bays at Bays Investment Corporation, who also owns the facility where the VACWC is currently housed. The rent and bills still come out of the same county funds as the current space, but the move is essentially at no cost.

“The move and renovations are offered free to us by John Bays,” McNichol said. “He is so easy to work with; he’s the type of building manager who waters the flowers, and has an amazing maintenance crew, it’s great.”

Along with the office space being expanded, McNichol said the new location puts the VA in a spot with other county, state and federal services, which will be convenient for the veterans.

“All of the resources they need are in our office, building or within walking distance, so this move really makes sense. It’s a one-stop shop for our veterans and families,” McNichol said.

SALUTE TO VETERANS | The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com

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The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

| SALUTE TO VETERANS

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Allison Selk – For Shaw Media

Ron Gale of Plainfield fought in the Vietnam War from 1968-1969 as a gunner and commander on an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle.

Ron Gale: From musician to soldier

By Allison Selk

Shaw Media Correspondent PLAINFIELD — As the 1960s music scene on Rush Street in Chicago thrived, drummer Ron Gale and his bandmates from “Turning Point” opened for established bands, and played the circuit as career musicians.

“In 1966 Ron and I quit Bradley University to make a career out of music. We did quite well and opened for ‘Ides of March’ and ‘The Five Americans.’ The crowds totally loved us, even though they didn’t know who we were,” Turning Point lead singer Gary Verne said.

“At one point on Rush Street, we played across the street from the band ‘The Big Thing’ which became ‘Chicago,’” he added.

The band and success came to a screeching halt in 1968 for Gale when he was drafted into the United States Army to fight in the Vietnam War. “At 20 it was not something I really wanted to do. I was a musician. But, I knew it was coming because I left college after two years, so I didn’t have that protection,” Gale said. “I wasn’t surprised; I just didn’t know when I would be drafted.”

After eight weeks of advanced infantry and armored training and a two-week leave, Gale found himself on his way to war. He said upon arrival he learned to drive an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle or ACAV or “track,” and was a machine gunner on the track for about two weeks until three men on the vehicle were killed.

“Since I had the training I was chosen to drive. I did that for six months and was promoted to sergeant and became a track commander,” Gale said.

Gale said it was a weird time in his life, being sent into the unknown at such a young age.

“How many of us 20-year-olds at the time knew what we were getting into? We were just kids, and not many of us were deep into politics to know what was going on 10,000 miles away from home,” Gale said.

Verne, Gale’s best friend and bandmate, said Gale wrote to him on a regular basis while in Vietnam.

“When Ron got drafted in 1968, and that was the peak of the war, Ron and I had serious discussions about it because it was brutal. He saw incredible horrible things and I could tell his

approach to life was different as the year progressed,” Verne said.

Gale said the hardest thing was not knowing if he was going to make it home.

“I also had the fear of being seriously wounded. I would rather die than be seriously wounded because my life would never be the same. If I died, I’m done,” he said. “I will never forget the sounds of people screaming, and watching limbs being blown off.

It’s not like what people see in the movies.”

In February 1969, Gale caught shrapnel on the left side of his body and hand, but after a week in recovery, he was back up and on duty.

Even though Gale never planned on going into the Army, he was determined and successful. He went from a musician in Chicago to commanding a track of men through dangerous terrain and battle.

And even though, at two years, his service was brief, he said he is proud of what he accomplished and the medals he earned.

He received a Purple Heart, which is awarded to armed forces members wounded by an instrument of war in the hands

of the enemy, according to purpleheart.org. He also was given the Army Commendation Medal, which is for a serviceman who “distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service,” according to veteranmedals.army.mil. His medal was awarded because of his position as track commander.

He also received three campaign stars.

In 1970 Gale was honorably discharged and moved back to Chicago where he began a family and worked as a logistics director at a manufacturing company.

Even though the original band never played after Gale left for Vietnam, Verne said in 1980 Gale, himself and Gale’s younger brother formed a band called “100 Proof,” and played the lounge circuit for more than two years.

“Ron in my favorite veteran and I always salute him on Veterans Day. He was on the front lines and saw the hell of war at a young age, and that’s big-time stuff,” Verne said. “He is such a wonderful human being.”

Gale is now retired, and lives in Plainfield. He is active with the Marne American Legion Post 13 as a bar and hall manager.

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SALUTE TO VETERANS | The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

| SALUTE TO VETERANS

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Will County Veterans Court offers options to area military

By Allison Selk

Shaw Media Correspondent JOLIET — For the past three years, those serving in the military and veterans charged with a non-violent crime have had the option to attend the Veterans Court in Will County.

The court was designed to help those who have committed nonviolent crimes and have post-traumatic stress disorder, or drug or alcohol abuse, to have the option for treatment and rehabilitation instead of jail time.

“These men and women have put their lives on the line in a way most of us cannot imagine. They were on the front lines and risked their lives so we can have our wonderful lives in this country,” Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow said. “It’s our obligation to make sure they are made whole again. Anything less is a crime.”

Glasgow said most veterans in the program have drug and alcohol problems as a result of their time in service, availability of drugs while deployed, or in conjunction with PTSD. Therefore, he said, it’s an obligation to give them five-star care while they deal with service-related issues.

Julie McCabe-Sterr, program coordinator of the Veterans Court, said the program has shown successful growth over the past three years, and 100 percent of the veterans who have enrolled into the program have graduated.

“We had three graduates in the first class, and seven graduates total since 2012. We currently have 15 veterans under contract right now and another four who have looked into the program,” McCabe-Sterr said.

Glasgow said once a crime is committed, a public defender or private attorney can apply for their client to be admitted into the program. There are other specialty courts such as drug and mental health court, but Glasgow felt a veterans court was necessary.

“These veterans have a status separate from any other defendant. It’s our responsibility to have a court suitable for vets, who are on another level. They have separate calls, meaning only vets are in the courtroom,” Glasgow said.

McCabe Sterr said the program

“Within the next year, we hope to have a recovery home in the Joliet area for those enrolled in our veterans court to keep them close to court and their case managers” Julie McCabe-Sterr

program coordinator of the Veterans Court

has three phases a participant must complete to graduate.

Phase one is the initial assessment of the problem, a signed contract, and a weekly court appearance and case manager visit.

Phase two included treatment, as well as court every other week and a case manager visit on off weeks.

Finally, in phase three, the veteran or service member must attend court every three weeks and visit his or her case manager one of the off weeks.

“The entire process is at least a year, but it usually takes 18 months to two years for the veteran or service member to complete the program,” McCabe-Sterr said.

McCabe-Sterr said the youngest member of the program was 25, with the oldest 69 years old. She said the staff sees alcohol abuse more than anything, but marijuana is next on the list, as well as cocaine, prescription drugs and veterans who suffered from PTSD. “The PTSD phenomenon is real. Think about a time in your life when you were scared and recovered. Now, take that one experience times 1,000 and that is what these veterans have experienced having been on the battlefield,” Glasgow said.

While in the program, veterans and service members have access to inpatient or outpatient treatment, mental health counseling either at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Joliet Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Joliet or outside resources if longer treatment is needed.

Glasgow said that along with the medications and counseling treatment, the program works with other government offices to help the veterans and service members with resumes, employment search and housing options.

As far as employment goes, Glasgow said the program has worked with Will County Workforce Investment and its Adult Redeploy Illinois program, which helps non-violent criminal of-

Provided photo

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow presents a signed petition to Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes to establish a Will County Veterans and Service members Court while Will County Public Defender Frank Astrella looks on.

Provided photo

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow talks with U.S. Army Veteran Dennis Mitzner about establishing a Will County Veterans and Service members Court. fenders to integrate back into the workforce.

Future Plans McCabe-Sterr said there are recovery homes in Joliet for those offenders enrolled in drug court and mental health court, but nothing for veterans court as of yet.

“Within the next year, we hope to have a recovery home in the Joliet area for those enrolled in our

veterans court to keep them close to court and their case managers,” McCabe-Sterr said.

Glasgow said he has been approached about using therapy dogs for veterans, especially those who deal with PTSD because “dogs are a tremendous stress relief and best friends.” He hopes to be able to work with the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County with this endeavor.

13 SALUTE TO VETERANS | The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com

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• Tuesday, November 11, 2015

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Housing needs in Joliet for veterans continue

By Allison Selk

Shaw Media Correspondent JOLIET — Army veteran Edward LaRocco went into the basement of 725 Wilcox Street in Joliet and took apart the furnace. Temperatures had plummeted into the 30s and the veterans in the home were without heat.

He fixed the furnace, and checked all of the vents in the home to make sure it warmed up.

Before that, he went out and fixed Jackie Carter’s car, which hadn’t been moved in two weeks because it was too expensive to be repaired.

LaRocco looked at the dining room chairs and noticed the springs had sprung out of the bottom, grabbed his toolbox and fixed them without hesitation.

“I want to give back to the people who have done

so much for me. I went through some hard times.

I couldn’t get back on my feet; it wasn’t easy to find a job for a vet, especially one in his 50s,” LaRocco said.

In 2013, LaRocco found himself in need of help, and Cathy Beavers and her team at Family and Friends Veterans Program took him into their transitional home. He lived in the home for a year until he received his Social Security benefits and was able to afford a home on his own. Now he is the volunteer handyman for the properties.

Many veterans come out of the military and return home to a different world than the one they left. People change and the communities change, which makes the veteran unsure and confused about his or her future.

Most veterans said it was

hard to come back to civilian life and if they had a stable home, it would have helped them to better transition.

Family and Friends Veterans Program located in Joliet is a transitional housing program that provides services to U.S. veterans to help them with their homelessness, according to Beavers. The team aids the veterans with furniture, clothing, food and job prospects, as well as services to get them back in a stable home situation.

The organization operates two homes: One at the Wilcox location and one on McDonough Street, both in Joliet. She said what she needs is $350,000 per year to run both homes, but her actual budget is $162,000.

“I’m frustrated,” she said. “Our program runs some federal aid and on

To all who have and are serving our country, you are appreciated.

Allison Selk – For Shaw Media

Army veteran Edward LaRocco of Joliet gives back to Family and Friends Veterans Homes by after they gave him a home in 2013 when he fell on hard times. He is now the handyman around the homes on a volunteer basis.

A heartfelt thanks to all our service men and women, from all of us at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center.

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The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

| SALUTE TO VETERANS

14

© 2015 Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center

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donations and we don’t get that many donations.

Our vets need more help than a pancake breakfast on Veterans Day. Other cities our size are help veterans any way they can, I feel as though we are an afterthought.”

One of the homes houses eight men, and the other six. According to The Family and Friends administrator, there is a waiting list of nine men on the list. Each home has a case manager who monitors the home for safety and the veterans are required to remain drug and alcohol free while in the home.

Program board mem-

ber Eddie Young and Beavers agree they need more funds and more homes.

With the cold months underway, they both hate to turn men away, but until they have more funds, and a way to acquire more homes, that is where the program lies.

True North Project to break ground soon Across Joliet, near the old Silver Cross Hospital building, a groundbreaking is scheduled for December to build a 67-unit family friendly Hope Manor 3 Joliet. It will be built by the True North Project,

See HOUSING, page 15

Continued from page 14 under the umbrella of the Volunteers of America.

Dazerie Woods, service coordinator for True North Project, said this is the third transitional home the organization has built in the area. Hope Manor 1 is on the West Side of Chicago and is a men’s-only facility. Hope Manor 2 is in Englewood and is a family oriented apartment and townhome combination facility.

“Hope Manor 3 will take after Hope Manor 2 in that it will offer one to

three bedroom housing and is family friendly. Hope Manor 3 will also provide in-house supportive services such as a case manager, and employment and life goal services,” Wood said.

Woods said the housing costs are determined on a case-by-case basis and background checks are performed before anyone moves in.

“Another nice feature to this location is that the Joliet CBOC, which is an Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Clinic, is next door and offers services to veterans as well as transportation to the Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital in Hines,” Woods said.

KNOW MORE • Family and Friends Veterans Homes, 105 McDonough St. and 725 Wilcox St. in Joliet Director is Cathy Beavers at 815-557-7010 or 815-280-5783, or visit www.2saveaveteran.org

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• Tuesday, November 11, 2015

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15 SALUTE TO VETERANS | The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com

• HOUSING

The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

| SALUTE TO VETERANS

16

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Hines Medical Mobile Unit offers convenience to Grundy County area veterans

By Allison Selk

Shaw Media Correspondent MORRIS – Army veteran Thomas Thorson walked recently through the doors of the American Legion in Morris to learn about his medical benefits through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Grundy County area veterans like Thorson visit the Legion on the first Monday of the month because that’s when the Hines VA Mobile Medical Unit is there.

The MMU offers a variety of health, social work, information and referral services to registered VA veterans, who can register at the clinic as well.

Health services include flu shots, physicals, check-ups, medication management, preventative care, primary care and women’s health care. Each mobile unit has a registered nurse and nurse practitioner on board to assist the veterans in these areas.

Navy veteran Thomas Fedash of Coal City said he attended the clinic last year and came back this year for his annual flu shot.

“This is convenient. I typically go to the clinic in Joliet, but this is easier for me to come here,” Fedash said.

Veterans also can take advantage of a social worker and benefit specialist to help in the navigation of hospital services, eligibility and service-connected benefits.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I wanted I came to find out about my VA benefit information in case I needed medical, dental or eye appointments. This mobile clinic is very nice and it made it easier to get information and it’s easy to find,” Thorson said.

Denise VanKoevering, acting Public Affairs officer for Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, said the MMU was purchased in 2011 with a rural health grant.

“The focus was to bring care to the veteran population in our rural counties,” VanKoevering said. “This originally includes social work services, flu shots, education and some wellness events.”

Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Staff Assistant Jane Moen said in 2012 the organization moved toward partnering with veteran-centered community agencies and began the first mobile clinic, which now operates 15 reoccurring clinics per month in rural Illinois.

Grundy County Veteran’s Assistance Commission Superintendent Ken Buck said he learned about the program through a social worker and inquired about the MMU being stationed in Grundy County once a month. He said the American Legions in Morris and Diamond have been gracious enough to host the county clinics.

Buck said this clinic is of great convenience to those in the county because if veterans from this area want to be seen at a Hines clinic for basic care they generally have to travel to Joliet or LaSalle/Peru satellite offices or at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital.

“The MMU is unique because these clinics are partnerships with the communities we serve. Often we work together to provide seamless services to the rural veteran population,” Moen said Buck said he MMU provides services to the veterans that the VAC in Grundy County cannot, so it makes a nice team effort.

See MOBILE MEDICAL page 18

17

SALUTE TO VETERANS | The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Tuesday, November 11, 2015

| SALUTE TO VETERANS

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• MOBILE MEDICAL Continued from page 16

He also stated that many veterans have transportation issues, and if they just need a flu shot, check up or have questions about VA services and benefits, the MMU can answer those questions instead of the veteran traveling a great distance.

“This is important to the veteran community because this is a tool to increase access for registration and primary care services right in the backyard of the veteran in our rural communities. Access on the MMU is available as walk-in and scheduled appointments,” VanKoevering said.

Along with the medical and benefit information, veterans can come to the MMU to receive information and referral services for housing, employment, transportation, addictions, HUD VASH, women’s health, senior and care giver benefits, suicide prevention and counseling.

IF YOU GO Grundy County Clinics: • MORRIS – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the American Legion, 212 W. Washington St. in Morris.

• COAL CITY/DIAMOND — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the third Monday of the month at the American Legion, 1752 E. Division St. in Diamond For information call 708-202-8387, ext. 20011

Shaw Media file photo

Veteran Bob Messel of Morris has his blood pressure taken at the Hines Mobile VA clinic in Morris at the American Legion on Aug. 3 by registered nurse Pamela Svec-Gansel.

Shaw Media file photo

Korean War veteran Jack Kutches leaves the Hines Veterans Mobile Medical Unit in Morris one morning in January 2014.

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By BOB OKON

bokon@shawmedia.com

• Companies providing people and equipment: The Care of Trees, Naperville; Homer Tree Service, Lockport; Northwestern Tree Service, Schaumburg; Rainbow Treecare, Chicago office; Stump’s Tree Care, Joliet; Vermeer Midwest, Aurora.

• Nurseries providing trees: The Fields of Caton Farm, Crest Hill; Green Glen, Joliet; Kendall Hill, Newark; Spring Grove, Mazon. out of the forest.”

“It’s nice for them to get this much work done all at once and have budgeted money they can spend on other stuff,” Marrs said. “There’s an endless amount of trees here to cut and trim.”

Cemetery Director Sean Baumgartner said plans were being made to remove the ash trees

Eric Ginnard - eginnard@shawmedia.com

Members of a Homer Tree Service cutting crew clear branches and debris away from a walking path Sept. 23 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

when the Saluting Branches volunteers offered their services.

“The emerald ash borer has just devoured a number of our ash trees over the years,” said Baumgartner, who called the volunteer effort “a wonderful thing.”

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery almost did not make the list of cemeteries receiving the volunteer effort in the first year of Saluting Branches.

The day of service was organized by Rainbow Treecare, a tree service company in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that grasped the need for arborist volunteerism at national cemeteries after doing such an event three years ago at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Mark Nega, territory manager for Rainbow’s Chicago office, said he was helping organize Saluting Branches for Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield when it became evident Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery should be added.

“This has come together in two months,” Nega said of the local effort.

Across the country, planning

has been in the works for three years, and more than 1,100 volunteers were participating.

Jim Teiber, city arborist for Joliet, organized the volunteer work at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Teiber said interest in participating was so strong that at one point he worried that he might have more people than he could manage.

He said he also was surprised and motivated by the gratitude he received when the public heard about the volunteer effort.

“A lot of thanks, especially from veterans and from people who have people who are buried here,” Teiber said. “It gives you goosebumps and makes you want to work hard.”

Among those at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery was Beth Corrigan, a specialist with the Community Trees Program at Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

Corrigan said it is important to remove dead ash trees – not only for aesthetics but for safety.

“They are very dry and brittle,” Corrigan said. “A lot of trees will stand dead for a long time. Ash trees are not one of them.”

Eric Ginnard - eginnard@shawmedia.com

Members of a Homer Tree Service cutting crew clear branches and debris away from a walking path Sept. 23 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

• Tuesday, November 11, 2015

ELWOOD – Ash trees that offered shade and arboreal appeal to the Memorial Walk at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood have died from infestation by the emerald ash borer.

Many of those trees came down and were replaced in late September – one of the jobs done by 35 volunteers who joined the first national Saluting Branches day of service.

Arborists and horticulturalists contributed their efforts, skills and machinery across the country to improve the appearance at 27 of the national cemeteries where veterans are buried.

“I’m a certified arborist and an American,” Jeff Marrs with Stump’s Tree Care said when asked what brought him Sept.

23 to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

“I have quite a few friends who are buried here and at national cemeteries around the country.”

Marrs said there was a lot of need when it came to tree service at the Elwood cemetery, which he described as being “chiseled

SALUTING BRANCHES CONTRIBUTORS

SALUTE TO VETERANS | The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com

Tree specialists donate day of service at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

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