In 1967, wounded service members who had fought in Vietnam arrived before the holidays at Downey Veteran Administration Hospital in North Chicago, the predecessor to the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.
VFW posts and auxiliaries in Lake, McHenry, Kane and Cook counties reacted to the news and secured monetary donations, as well as donations of personal care items such as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream, disposable razors, socks, books, games, playing cards, blankets, batteries and flashlights.
Christmas packages were packed on a Saturday afternoon. They were handed out by VFW and auxiliary members and the Waukegan Jr. ROTC to service members at Downey VA Hospital on Sunday afternoon.
This December marked the 53rd consecutive year that 5th District VFW posts in northern Illinois provided Christmas gifts to hospitalized service members and veterans at the health care center in North Chicago.
Planning for Operation Christmas Cheer started March 1 with letters going out to major contributors W.W. Grainger, Team Home Depot, American Dental Association, Johnny D Tees and Consolidated Community School District 26.
In June, VFW members were faced with a potential cancellation because of COVID-19 restrictions put in place by the Veterans Administration.
Operation Christmas Cheer Chairman Kevin Cournoyer and 5th District VFW leadership were determined that Operation Christmas Cheer would continue and a plan was presented to the VA.
On Dec. 15, Cournoyer and a couple of volunteers delivered 200 packages to the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, 45 to Edward Hines VA Hospital and 16 to Thrive of Lake County.