Thank You, Veterans

Read thank you letters to McHenry County area veterans in our 2024 special section: Thank You Veterans

Veteran and Island Lake resident Robin Waltrip paved the way for woman in the army and she’s still making a difference by helping out with Habitat for Humanity.

Diane Ahrens spent 15 years shipping goodie boxes to troops overseas while running her East Dundee bakery. When she closed the business, she found another way to give back to those who have given of themselves to the country.

Operation HerStory celebrates women who served and put on its first flight to Washington landmarks in 2021. The group is hoping to organize a second trip.

Today’s edition is about thanking veterans from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces for their service — both during times of war and in peace.

First Sgt. George Theodore Hyatt of the 127th Illinois Infantry exemplifies the Illinois soldiers from the Civil War to World War II to Korea to Vietnam who won the Medal of Honor.

It was the most heroic day in the history of Illinois soldiers. Forty-one Illinois soldiers won the Medal of Honor for that morning’s one charge. Of the 150, fewer than half survived.

Huntley-based Veterans Q sells BBQ sauces that support veteran organizations.

The day to honor World War II vets started in 2010; now the numbers of the so-called "greatest generation" are dwindling.

Mathius Carter, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, wrote a children’s book, “Instead of Sheep: A soldier’s way of explaining PTSD to his son.”

Kurt Eldrup, who has been making furniture out of airplane parts for the past 25 years, now has a storefront in McHenry.

McHenry teacher and coach Ray Hagerty learned valuable lessons and discipline with his three-year stint in the Army, things that he constantly shares with his students and athletes.