 "Friends of Fisher House-Illinois worked tirelessly to support the
upcoming opening of the Hines VA Fisher House for military
families," Quinn said. "Fisher House is truly a home away from home
to so many families whose sons and daughters are receiving the care
after serving their county on the front lines."The Hines VA
Fisher House, scheduled to open in February 2010, will be the first
Fisher House in Illinois. The house will provide free shelter for
military families whose relatives are receiving acute medical care
at Hines VA Medical Center. Friends of Fisher House-Illinois needs
funding and donations -- ranging from computers to children's toys
and books -- to serve families scheduled to arrive at the facility
in February.
"Making a donation to Friends of Fisher House-Illinois is one of
the best ways you can make a difference in the lives of veterans and
military families this year," said Illinois Department of Veterans'
Affairs Director Dan Grant, who joined the governor at the event.
"They've worked hard to make this facility a reality and deserve
public support to make it fully functional for the military families
who will use it."
Quinn also announced the Illinois' Heroes holiday card drive, in
which schoolchildren across the state will make cards for service
members overseas. On Dec. 22, the week of Christmas, the governor
will personally deliver the holiday cards to service members at
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
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"We want every service member spending the holiday season at the
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to know that even the youngest
residents of Illinois are thinking of them," Quinn said.
LRMC is the largest American hospital outside of the United
States and also host to Fisher House. Quinn has visited Illinois
troops and their families in Landstuhl four times.
The governor was joined by the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Inspirational Choir; Betty Stamatis, president of Friends of Fisher
House-Illinois; children of Illinois service members; and students
from Nativity BVM and Andrew Jackson Language Academy in Chicago.
[Text from file from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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