Did you know that there are 37,000 veterans living in Lake County?
About 800 veterans attend the College of Lake County, which took time Thursday afternoon to honor all veterans during its annual Veterans Day ceremony.
"We owe a debt to those who protect us," said Mike Peck, a retired colonel and the superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission.
Peck, who served in Korea and Vietnam, was the keynote speaker at the event. The Wauconda resident talked about the role of the Veterans Assistance Commision. The organization provides services for all veterans, including the 1,600 unemployed veterans in Lake County who are seeking work and those who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
Peck said 50 percent of veterans will suffer from PTSD, and the Veterans Assistance Commission in Lake County provides counseling not only for those veterans but also for veterans' families.
The commission also provides transportation for veterans to and from the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, and donates items to the center's homeless shelter.
"We have programs and must do the outreach," said Peck.
Thursday's ceremony also included a prayer from Navy Chaplain Cmdr. Roger C. Bouma and the posting of colors by the Great Lakes Navy Color Guard. Navy Musician Second Class Brian Tuczynski played "Taps" at the end of the ceremony.
Watch a video here of the color guard posting the colors.
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