Above / Judge Don Hennessey (pictured here in 2011!) performs songs of the season with students from Naperville North High School and other folks who visited Hines V.A. Hospital to sing for the holidays. Oh! The fond memories! Throughout the year, the bus departs at 6:15PM on the second Tuesday of the month, Sept. through June, from the VFW. All are welcome.
Update, Dec. 11, 2019 / Every seat was filled with lively conversation as folks headed to spread good cheer at Hines V.A. Hospital when a bus departed from the VFW Post 3873 to Maywood on Dec. 10. After the songfest and a group photo was taken, organizer John Shaw reminded well-wishers that the bus will depart again next month when folks will return to play BINGO with the service men and women at Hines.
For information about Hines visits or to reserve a seat on the bus, call Shaw at (630) 961-3479.
Members of the community are invited to join a group of regulars who visit Hines V.A. Hospital on the second Tuesday of the month, September through June, to spread good cheer to Veterans receiving treatment in the Spinal Cord Unit.
Sing-along on Dec. 10, 2019
At 6:15PM on Tues., Dec. 10, the group will head to Hines VA Hospital for its annual sing-along of holiday songs. All voices are welcome! Words to seasonal favorites are provided. Tra la la la la la la la la.
Organized by John Shaw with complimentary seats on the bus, the public is invited to join the group that travels to the hospital in Maywood, Illinois.
Stop in the Canteen at the VFW to sign in for the trip between 6PM and 6:14PM.
“The bus leaves promptly from the Post at 6:15PM,” reminds Mike Barbour for the VFW. “Come join us. You will feel so good after we are done caroling. The Veterans are so appreciative.”
Afterward when the bus returns to Naperville, the carolers have been known to celebrate the season with more accordion accompaniment and singing in the canteen back at the Judd Kendall VFW.
For information about Hines visits, call Shaw at (630) 961-3479.
Remember! Holiday Parties at the Post Dec. 7 & Dec. 8
Santa will visit! Snacks and juices will be served and all good boys and girls will receive a gift!
RSVP to Kathy Thornton at kmrthornton@sbcglobal.net or (630) 667-6704. Include child’s name, age and gender.
For more info, visit www.napervfw3873.org.
The Judd Kendall VFW is located at 908 W. Jackson Ave., just west of downtown Naperville. And there’s plenty of parking at the rear of the building.
Hines ‘Bingo’ visits return, depart January through June
Then on January 14, 2020, local citizens meet up again with Veterans at 6PM in the VFW Post Canteen, sign in and prepare to depart to Hines V.A. Hospital via a bus provided by the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 and the American Legion Post 43.
Visitors play Bingo, distribute hand-made greeting cards of cheer created by local students as well as pass out lap blankets and engage in friendly conversation with expressions of gratitude from room to room.
“If you haven’t made this visit with us yet,” suggests Veterans advocate Mike Barbour, “please come out and help to bring a smile on the face of a Veteran.”
All are welcome any month to join members of the American Legion, VFW, Auxiliary members and other citizens, September through June. The cost of the transportation in underwritten by the Veterans’ organizations.
Active VFW Post all year!
For more information about committees, scholarships, medical services, blood drives, special programs, and plant and flower sales, offered by members of the award-winning Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, visit www.napervfw3873.org.
Throughout the year, the facility also hosts educational forums, monthly meetings, taco nights, holiday parties, social events and fish fries provided by the American Legion Post 43 as well as the Judd Kendall VFW.
In addition, the VFW provides space for rental to community groups and individuals for birthday parties, memorial events, weddings, candidate meet-and-greets and so on.
For instance, on the second Tuesday of most months, the Naperville Jaycees meet at 7:30PM upstairs. They often present monthly donations to local nonprofit agencies with proceeds from their fundraisers such as Last Fling.