McHenry County Blog

This may be the last time the Veterans Stand Down sponsored by Crystal Lake's NASA Education may occur at Camp Algonquin.

It's not because yesterday's event, the fourth at Camp Algonquin, was a failure.

Just the opposite.

The over 200 veterans, many homeless, filled the camp on the Fox River.

John Blanchard, head of the sponsoring organization, which specializes in finding good paying jobs for veterans, told me that the number of men and women attending the event is doubling each time.

This is the fourth Stand Down.

McHenry County Blog has written stories about each of them:

10-4-6 Veterans Stand Down Attracts 26 Homeless Veterans

3-7-7 Veterans' Stand Down Notes

10-7-7 Camp Algonquin Stand Down for Veterans to take place October 8 and 9

10-13-7 Manzullo at Camp Algonquin Stand Down

Headlining the event Monday was State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora and veteran herself.

In her sixth term, she can be seen above talking to my former legislative assistant Pete Castillo before she addressed the veterans. Pete is the area unemployed veterans' counselor of choice.

The attendees were in various stages of eating a scrumptious lunch provided for free by Pontarelli's Pizza at the corner of Route 176 and Oak Street (815-477-4040) in Crystal Lake and by Kyoto Japanese Restaurant on Route 14 in Crystal Lake, next to the Old Country Buffet.

Blanchard said that Kyoto chef Shawn Lee, a Chicago resident, got up at 5 A.M. to make his bounteous luncheon fair, which I can attest from three helpings was excellent. Mrs. Chris Lee said it was a several day effort. (Less than half of the Lee's contribution can be seen to the left.)


The Lee's so generous contribution embodied the attitude of the volunteers that helped put on the event.

And coffee came from the Downtown Crystal Lake Starbucks.

But, back to State Rep. Chapa LaVia.

She surely knows how to talk to veterans.

After telling of her support for veterans benefits, she concluded with this strong line:

“...until I have no breath left to scream, I'll be saying that.”

I was taking pictures, as usual, and didn't get a chance to write down other parts of her talk.

Chapa LaVia received a rousing reception.

Earlier she had told Castillo and me that she was pushing federal congressmen to separate benefits veterans have earned from the Defense Department budget. This former Executive Office of the President budget guy agreed.

Castillo, Rep. Chapa LaVia and her husband met at the Million Veteran March, at which Castillo and she spoke and which he was one of the veterans leading the others up the mall to the United States Capitol.

When Blanchard was introducing Rep. LaVia, he said,


After lunch, I finally got a picture of the hair stylists.

Previously, I had just found empty chairs.

From left to right, you can see

• Marie Borre of Sports Clips Salon in McHenry,


• Kristina Weingartner of Blades Salon on Randall Road in Algonquin,


• Krissy Dougherty, also of Blades, and


• Nicole Borress, a third stylist from Blades.

I also found Lockport Healing Touch practitioner Karen Johnson.

I pointed out to Johnson that you can't get from here to Lockport. She admitted that it was a two hour drive. In two hours I can be more than half way to Springfield.

Guess whose head her hands were on?

McHenry County Board member Mary Donner.

She keeps telling me that I can never take a good picture of her. This one with John Blanchard received her approval.

Shortly before three Castillo and I were standing in front of the Camp Algonquin Lodge and what should occur but a traffic jam.

A veteran was coming down the hill in a powerful motorized wheel chair with a Jesse Brown bus behind him.

There were vehicles everywhere.

And, was it foggy.

But, I guess fog is better than the earlier downpour.

Labels: Camp Algonquin, John Blanchard, Linda Chapa LaVia, NASA Education, Pete Castillo, Stand Down, Veterans, Vets

Earlier on McHenry County Blog, I wrote about a petition campaign being conducted by Crystal Lake’s John Blanchard to urge state officials to put the word “VET” on the driver’s licenses of veterans.

Blanchard already has over 100,000 signatures on the petition, the wording of which you can see here.

Wednesday I learned that last week Secretary of State Jesse White talked to Department of Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth about the idea.

White’s Public Information Officer, David Drucker, told me,

Jesse met last week with Tammy Duckworth last week and they discussed the idea of doing that.

They do tell me that we would need to get the approval of the General Assembly.

Duckworth's press person, Jessica Woodward, confirmed the meeting:

The Secretary of State thought it was a good idea.

It was just a first meeting. It’s a possibility that that will happen.

She added, "The director did talk to John Blanchard at the Stand Down."

Duckworth was the featured speaker at the early March Stand Down sponsored by Blanchard’s National Association of Systems Administrators Educational Foundation, which hires and trains homeless veterans for good paying jobs. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to Camp Algonquin for her talk, but did attend the second day. Blanchard also put together an earlier October Stand Down.

So, which member of the General Assembly wants to get legislation passed that would allow the Secretary of State to follow Georgia’s example?

If you look closely on the image, which is a copy of a copy of a Georgia veteran’s driver’s license with the man's identifying information removed, you can see the word “VET” in the bottom center.

Drucker reminded me that Jesse himself is a veteran himself, having served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division.

Drucker even knew how many veterans there are in Illinois:

We have 1.2 million vets in Illinois.

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State Senator Pam Althoff and State Representative Mike Tryon can be seen at last October's Stand Down talking to John Borchard.

Labels: Driver's License, Jesse White, John Blanchard, Tammy Duckworth, Veterans, Vets

Last fall I reported on a "Stand Down." At the time I had no idea what it was.

It's basically a safe place that members of the Armed Services go between more active service.

The same organization that sponsored the Stand Down last October--the National Association of System Administrators Educational Corporation--is putting it on again, with the cooperation of the YMCA Camp Algonquin. At the bottom of the press release is a list of those who will be available to help homeless veterans.

Here is the press release that NASA Education sent McHenry County Blog:

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL – The Stand Down for Homeless Veterans will take place on March 5 and 6, 2007, at YMCA Camp Algonquin, 1889 Cary Road, Algonquin. The sponsoring organization is the National Association of System Administrators Education Corporation (NASA Education), a Crystal Lake-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides vocational training for displaced, disabled and other U.S. veterans in transition.

L. Tammy Duckworth, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, will attend the Stand Down on the afternoon of March 5 to address the homeless veterans. Director Duckworth, who holds the rank of Major in the Illinois Army Guard and was shot down in 2004 while co-piloting a Black Hawk helicopter north of Bagdad, was appointed by Governor Rod Blagojevich to the post effective Dec. 15, 2006.

“NASA Education is delighted that Director Duckworth has chosen to support the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans in this way,” said John Blanchard, NASA Education’s executive director. “Her appearance will give hope and inspiration to the homeless vets and send a clear message to them that they have not been forgotten by the Department of Veteran Affairs. Like many of them, she has been disabled in the performance of her duty to her country, and she has come back from that to embrace an important leadership position and help others who have served their country.”

Director Duckworth lost both legs and her right arm was shattered in the explosion of her helicopter over Bagdad, but she kept busy during her recovery despite her injuries and rigorous rehabilitation schedule. She spoke to veterans’ groups, attended the 2005 State of the Union Address and testified twice before Congress urging that more needs to be done to ensure soldiers continue to receive the same high level of medical care as they move from military to veteran status.

Illinois Senator Pamela Althoff (R-32nd District) also is scheduled to attend the Stand Down at 1 p.m. on Monday.

The first NASA Education-sponsored Stand Down was held October 2 and 3, 2006, at the YMCA Camp Algonquin location and provided services to 36 vets. At least six vets found permanent housing as a result of these services and four obtained competitive wage employment. Two vets were admitted to North Chicago VA Medical Center for treatment and the homeless program.

The Stand Down comes from a venerable military tradition. In times of war, exhausted combat units requiring time to rest and recover were removed from the battlefields to a place of relative security and safety. Troops were able to take showers, get clean uniforms, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment.

Today, Stand Down refers to a grassroots, community-based intervention program designed to help the nation’s estimated 200,000 homeless veterans “combat” life on the streets. Homeless veterans are brought together in a single location and are provided access to the community resources needed to begin addressing their individual problems and rebuilding their lives. In the military tradition, Stand Down afforded battle-weary soldiers the opportunity to renew their spirit, health and overall sense of well-being. Today’s Stand Down affords the same opportunity to homeless veterans.

From 50 to 100 homeless veterans are expected to attend the two-day event in McHenry County and receive services such as medical screenings, meals, showers, overnight shelter, free haircuts, and the distribution of clothing, underwear and toiletry items.

Needed for the Stand Down in addition to cash donations are volunteers to provide transportation for the vets, security, set-up the day before, a variety of tasks such as serving food, escorting vets to the various stations for services and working with clothing, and cleanup after the event. Also needed is new or clean and gently used warm weather clothing, shoes in good condition, and new or clean and gently used underwear in men’s and women’s sizes.

Service providers who have confirmed their participation to date include: Michael Iwanicki, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County; John Carr, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kane County; Susan Giannone, Constituent Services Advocate, Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s Office; North Chicago VA Medical Center; Jeff Antonelli of the Law Offices of Gene Hanson Ltd.; Richard Lesniewicz, Veteran Service Officer, Illinois American Legion; Ted Biever, Veteran Service Officer, McHenry County, Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs; Lisa Biever, Veteran Service Officer, Kane County, Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs; New Horizons Transitional Living Services of Hebron; volunteer stylists Wendy Webber of SportClips Haircuts in McHenry, Tracy Fafinski of SportClips Haircuts in Rolling Meadows, and Krissy Olszewski of Chazio’s Salon in Algonquin; Sheryl Roberts, massage therapist, Changing Lifestyles; Lesley Delihant, massage therapist, Wolschlager Chiropractic in Crystal Lake; the Soul Mate Singers, Phyllis Taylor-Smith and Gail Pike of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs; Lions of Illinois Foundation (hearing screenings); Jennifer Gelman, attorney, and Janet Douglass, paralegal, of Prairie State Legal Services; Scott Ottesen, Outreach Specialist for Northern Illinois, The Vet Center, Evanston; Pat O’Dea-Evans, nurse and VA Aid and Attendance Specialist, Paxem, Inc.; Pete Castillo, Disabled Veterans Outreach Placement (DVOP) Specialist, Woodstock; Ray Infante, DVOP Specialist, Grayslake; Phil Bartmann, president of Radicom, Inc., and Jennifer Prell, president of Silver Connections, Inc. will provide professional services. Sister Minnie Lawrence of Ba’ruch Prayer Center will be available to pray with the veterans. The office of State Senator Pamela Althoff and the office of Representative Michael Tryon will also participate.

For more information, please contact Kathy Chwedyk, Development Director, NASA Education, by phoning 866-338-4968 (866-EDU-4YOU) or sending an email to kathy_chwedyk@nasaeducation.org.

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Top right is the sign that was on the bus driven by Joe Lewis (seen near the bottom on the left) last summer.

Next you can see NASA Education President John Blanchard talking with State Senator Pam Althoff and State Representative Mike Tryon. Below Althoff and former Algonquin American Legion President Gary Jensen converse as Althoff changes name tags. A veteran gets indivicual private attention from Pete Castillo, the McHenry County Disabled Veterans Outreach Placement (DVOP) Specialist. First head shot is of Mike Iwanicki, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County. the second is of Pete Castillo. All photos were taken at last October's Stand Down.

Labels: Camp Algonquin, Homeless, National Association of Systems Administrators, Pam Althoff, Stand Down, Tammy Duckworth, Veterans, Vets

I had not a clue what a “Stand Down” was, but National Association of Systems Administrators Education Foundation head John Blanchard and probably every other veteran in the country does.

A Navy veteran, Blanchard told me a Stand Down

typically was a safe place for combat or touring military to go to get

· their uniforms mended, replaced or cleaned,
· medical attention,
· their mail,
· warm meals and
· safe sleep.

With a U.S. Department of Labor grant of $8,000, NASA Education Foundation provided all of that Monday and Tuesday at Camp Algonquin. It was helped by numerous volunteers, including Gary Jensen, seen here with State Senator Pam Althoff.

While the event did not reach the expected 50-70 men--and could have accommodated 100--26 did attend.

“I think that this is only the tip of the problem,” Blanchard observed.

“I know that they are out there and since I’ll be able to provide mini-Stand Downs every other month with two (big ones) yearly,” Blanchard said, “I know that 50-70 will be touched very soon.”

Mike Iwanicki, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistant Commission of McHenry County interjected,

You probably reached 26 guys that weren’t reached before.

And, this is the first year.

“They can report back that it’s not so scary,” his wife Stacy added.

Blanchard told me that he had overheard some of the veterans, who were smoking outside Monday night during the downpour, say that their friends might wish they had come, too. That probably will be the case with many when they discover they missed out on a shower, clean clothes and a private room for the night, not to mention missing Monday night football.

Blanchard intends to hold mini-Stand Downs every other month at his Route 31 office, which is on the top of the hill north of the Terra Cotta factory close to the cellular phone towers. The address is 3305 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake (although Map Quest can’t find it, Blanchard says).

I asked Blanchard why he put the 2-day event together.

He explained there were 3 reasons:

The homeless veterans. I know they’re there. They need the services. They need the help. They need everything this Stand Down could give them.

Richmond’s Dale Rice added,

Services they are entitled to.

Blanchard continued,

The awareness of the community of the presence of homeless veterans.

Pete Castillo, my former legislative assistant who is now the county’s Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program Specialist, added,

"The community has to be prepared to receive them."

The third reason given by Blanchard was

to get all of these service providers who graciously gave their time to be here and mingle and collaborate with each other.

“I learned a lot from the veterans and a lot from service organizations that were here,” he added. “I was very disappointed that TLS (New Horizons Transitional Living Services) did not send somebody out here."

TLS operates the old Hebron motel for homeless veterans.

Blanchard said, “A lot of these veterans had no idea TLS is even here.”

Home of the Sparrow donated enough clothes and there are enough other supplies (toiletries, for example) “that we can do it every other month at our office,” Blanchard said of future Stand Downs.

There was some strange discouragement with regard to efforts to let veterans know of the Stand Down. Driver Joe Lewis of the bus that transports veterans places they need to go told me that notices that had been posted at train stations at Crystal Lake, McHenry and Cary had mysteriously disappeared after posting. Lewis put them back up.

It’s possible that some homeless veterans took them down so they could remember where to go. But it is also possible that someone else took down the Metra-approved postings down.

I am pleased to see that the Northwest Herald finally found the NASA Educational Foundation.

Previous McHenry County Blog articles about Blanchard are

April 24, 2006
Crystal Laker John Blanchard Helps Finance Washington Veterans March 2006

April 25, 2006
Vietnam Veteran Ed Bolf's Recovery from Post Tramatic Stress Disorder and His Re-entry into Society with the Help of NASA, a Crystal Lake Organization

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John Blanchard talks with State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Mike Tryon at Camp Algonquin's Stand Down for homeless veterans.

Beneath is State Senator Pam Althoff with volunteer Gary Jensen, a former Commander of the Algonquin American Legion.

The top head shot is of Mike Iwanicki, the Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County.

Between Iwanicki and the next head shot is the sign found on the McHenry County veterans bus: "Stand Down for Homeless Veterans."

The veterans bus driver is Joe Lewis.

Labels: Camp Algonquin, Homeless, John Blanchard, NASA Educational Foundation, Pete Castillo, Stand Down, Veterans, Vets

The Veterans March 2006 is being held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. this Tuesday and there is a significant McHenry County connection.

The 6,000 chairs, the port-a-potties and streaming video are being provided compliments of John Blanchard, CEO of the National Association of Systems Administrators, located on Route 31 north of 176. The firm was founded in 1994 and recently purchased a 24,000 square foot corporate headquarters in Crystal Lake.

This is not Blanchard’s first foray into philanthropy. He is a member of Angel Flight America (AFA), a non-profit, grassroots volunteer corps of more than 6,000 private pilots from all 50 states who transport patients and their families for free to hospitals for medical treatment. He served in the U.S. Navy for eight years.

One of the march’s organizers is McHenry County’s Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist Pete Castillo (who was my legislative assistant).

Commenting on the Veteran’s March’s goal, he said,

Remember…the primary purpose of our march…we are in the business of unifying all…veterans across this great Nation for economic prosperity, good health, and a well wishing journey. This, you might want to make note, is from the Word of God, where my Fellowship, Prosperous Journey Troops gets its name and mission statement.

They are flying to Washington in Blanchard's plane as this is published. Tuesday both will speak to the assembled veterans. Wednesday, they will speak to members of congress.

Pete has been working with NASA Education’s Project Fresh Start, an opportunity for veterans (and others) to get well-paying jobs as systems administrators and other information technology jobs. So far, Castillo has placed five veterans with the firm. Another one, a female vet, is coming in probably in a week or two, according to Kathy Chwedyk, Development Director for NASA Education.

There are four phases to Project Fresh Start:

· Phase 1: Unpaid training for a week or two to determine where trainee best fits and desire to continue
• Phase 2: Paid training for approximately three months to prepare trainee for employment
• Phase 3: NASA will place trainee in an On The Job (OJT) position for up to two years
• Phase 4: Trainee may take advanced study for earning certification in a product family; NASA will provide study materials and may assist trainee with certification testing costs

“We never pull the plug on them and leave them on their own,” said Chwedyk. “They know that if they’re at a customer’s site and they’re having a problem, or they see something they haven’t encountered before, they can call us 24 hours a day at our toll-free number. There’s always a technical specialist available to help.”

One of the veterans just placed in an Indiana job is Ed Bolf. He served as a medic in Vietnam and ran a blood bank for the Red Cross before succumbing to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (You can read his story here tomorrow.)

Another success story is Ron Taucher.

“It is important for us as Americans to support the troops of all eras,” Blanchard said. “Putting a yellow ribbon decal on your car bumper is a nice gesture, but it isn’t enough.”

Castillo stresses that the success in placing homeless veterans

came to pass because of the Inter-Agency Sharing Agreements that I(llinois) D(epartment of) E(mployment) S(ervices)/VETS has with the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission and New Horizons' Transitional Living Services homeless veterans center in Hebron, Illinois.

Labels: Ed Bolf, John Blanchard, NASA Educational Foundation, Vets