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homerhorizon.com NEWS
the Homer Horizon | March 15, 2018 | 5
Veteran receives donated van from Illinois VFW
Homer resident joins
others in presenting
vehicle at Lockport
VFW Post 5788
Jacquelyn Schlabach
Assistant Editor
United States Army veteran
Latondra Green was
at a loss for words March
6. A single mother of five,
Green’s fellow comrades
had come together to change
her life for the better.
“This is what Veterans
of Foreign Wars is about
— this is what we do; we
take care of veterans, the
widows, the orphans,” said
Robert McLeod, who is the
Lockport Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 5788 judge
advocate and the director of
Illinois State Voice of Democracy
for the VFW Department
of Illinois.
After months without a
vehicle, Green received a
donated 2004 Honda Odyssey
van from a dealership in
collaboration with the VFW
Department of Illinois at the
Lockport VFW Post 5788,
where she is also a member,
on March 6.
“I’m at a loss for words,”
Green said. “I’m grateful,
I’m appreciative. I feel
blessed. I really do.”
The 30-year-old woman
is a resident at Hope Manor
of Joliet, which is supportive
housing for low-income
veterans. It was there in
November of last year that
a worker had noticed Green
didn’t have a vehicle and
started to spread the word to
change that.
“Everyone’s been very involved
in trying to help her
out,” McLeod said.
The VFW Auxiliary Post
5788 has also been supporting
Green by donating diapers
and children’s clothes
for her 7-month-old triplets:
Zieyeal, Darryl and Zeibulon.
A trustee at Post 5788,
Joe Antole, also donated a
three-seat stroller for Green
back in November.
“It chokes me up, because
this is very good,” President
of the VFW Auxiliary Post
5788 and Homer Glen resident
Karen Szynkowski said.
The children’s father was
killed in Chicago last May,
and since then, things have
been difficult for Green.
“It’s just been hard after
the passing of their dad,” she
said.
Green’s previous vehicle
could only seat three other
people, and with the triplets
and her two other children,
10-year-old Nicholas and
6-year-old Nikyah, it was not
practical for the family. The
car eventually had some issues,
and Green was unable
to repair it, leaving her sister
to help her out and take her
where she needed to go.
“Word went out [that she
didn’t have car], and there
were a lot of entities to
get wrapped around this,”
McLeod said.
VFW Post 5788 Commander
and Lockport resident
Ernest Errico said that
the post, along with the auxiliary,
the Veterans Assistance
Commission and the
VFW Department of Illinois,
came together as a team to
help her out.
“This is what we do,” Errico
said. “We do our best not
to leave no veteran behind.”
The VFW Department
of Illinois also paid to have
the title of the car in Green’s
name.
“This is awesome,” Errico
said. “This is what we should
be doing. This is what the
VFW does.”
Even though the VFW
worked to help give Green
the vehicle, Errico wants
veterans to know that they
don’t have to be a member
of the post to get help.
“The VFW, as far as how
Members of the Lockport Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5788 and New Lenox Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9545, along
with Homer Glen resident and President of the VFW Auxiliary Post 5788 Karen Szynkowski, gather with U.S. Army veteran
Latrondra Green March 6 outside the Lockport VFW. Green received a donated 2004 Honda Odyssey.
Photos by Jacquelyn Schlabach/22nd Century Media
helpful they are to veterans
in need, like I really appreciate
it,” Green said. “They’re
the best.”
Green, who served in the
Army from 2005-2008 and
was overseas for a year in
Afghanistan, is looking to
move to the VFW National
Home for Children in Eaton
Rapids, Michigan.
“Unfortunately, it’s one of
the best-kept secrets the Veterans
of Foreign Wars has,”
McLeod said. “It’s a place
where if something happens,
it’s a place where [kids] can
get help and assistance, and
it’s also a place for families
to go. So, that’s what we’re
trying to do right now is to
get her up there.”
According to its website,
“The VFW National Home
for Children’s mission is to
provide children, youths and
families of veterans, activeduty
military, and members
Lockport VFW Post 5788 Commander Ernest Errico gives Latrondra Green a hug after she
gets emotional when receiving her van.
of the VFW and its Auxiliary
opportunities for growth and
development in a nurturing
community, and by doing so,
serves as a living memorial
to all veterans.”
The community has 42
single-family homes, with
facilities including a gym, library,
computer lab, day care
center and much more.
Until Green is able to live
at the VFW National Home
for Children, she continues
to receive all the support
from those around her.
“[All the support has] been
overwhelming, but like I
said, I’m at a loss for words,”
Green said. “I’m very appreciative
of everything.”