Winning ticket drawn for $7M McHenry VFW Queen of Hearts jackpot
McHENRY, Ill. (WLS) -- Let the silly string fly! After nearly two years of pulling tickets that failed to draw the Queen of Hearts, there was finally a winner at the McHenry Queen of Hearts drawing Tuesday night. The Queen of Hearts was hidden behind card number 25.
Last week, McHenry VFW Post 4600 said they would keep drawing cards until the Queen of Hearts came up. Three tickets into the drawn down, the ticket with card number 25 on it was pulled.
WATCH: The Queen of Hearts finally appears in McHenry
There's finally a winner, but all we know about her is her first name and the first initial of her last name, Lori S.
Dwane Lungren with the McHenry VFW gave her the news by phone.
"She needed to catch her breath. So she was totally flabbergasted, cause this is her first millionaire winner. It felt good to give it to someone who was happy to have it," Lungren said.
Week after week the Queen of Hearts drawing has brought thousands of people to the small VFW post in the far northwest suburbs, all of them hoping to walk away a millionaire.
They've had to bring in police to direct traffic and put up tents outside the building to hold the crowds. But it's also become a festive celebration for the community and for veterans.
"A lot of closure here tonight after all these years. But we're just really happy for the VFW," said Michelle DuBois.
The jackpot had grown to over $7 million in the nearly two years since the last winner. After a cut to the VFW, winner Lori S. walks away with $4.2 million before taxes.
For the volunteers this has been a long exhausting run. But a rewarding one as well.
"Glad to be here, it was fun and we've never seen anything like it," said Gary Hanlon.
The McHenry VFW is taking a break from the game until January.
