Gurnee Community Church serves Thanksgiving meal to Navy recruits

GURNEE, Ill. (WLS) -- While many Thanksgiving meals are shared at churches and soup kitchens, others opened their homes to strangers and to members of our military who are away from family for the holiday. It's become a big tradition for hundreds of U.S. Navy recruits in north suburban Gurnee.

Volunteers prepared 41 deep fried turkeys this year at the Gurnee Community Church.

"Before doing this I'd never eaten turkeys deep fried. I tell you it's the best turkey I've ever eaten, and the sailors love it, too," said Dave Stouwie, a church volunteer.

There were 211 recruits from Great Lakes this year, the biggest group ever hosted in this church's Thanksgiving Day tradition.

"Some have never been away from home. It's so special to watch them contact their families and talk to them," said Linda Jackson, a church volunteer.

Their young faces are just shy of graduation from boot camp. They're away from home, and for many, this is their first contact with loved ones in weeks.

"You don't have people yelling, time to get off the phone, and plus Skyping. (You gonna do that?) Yes. Yes," said Emma Cooley, a Navy recruit.

"Actually, this little boy saluted me. That made my day," said Morgan Richter, a Navy recruit.

Sustained applause, a hearty thank-you, and service for those who've chosen to serve is part of the tradition, too. Chow down, mates. Today, there is no time-limit on the meal.