Lt. Governor Quinn presents wounded Iraq War veteran with an early Christmas present
CHICAGO - December 22, 2008. Lt. Governor Pat Quinn presented wounded Iraq War veteran, Army Specialist Jacob Kieler, with an early Christmas present - tickets to see his favorite team, the Chicago Bears, play the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football!
"I first met Jacob at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany after he was injured in Iraq," Quinn said. "I am so honored to be here with him today to present him with tickets to tonight's Bears game."
Specialist Kieler was raised in Wisconsin, however both his parents are from the Chicagoland area. He has been a life-long Bears fan and his favorite player is Brian Urlacher.
"It is a dream come true to be able to see both Bears and Packers play on Monday Night Football," said Specialist Kieler, who is currently stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado and is home on Christmas leave.
While deployed with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq, Specialist Kieler's vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device as he was moving along a main supply route north of Baghdad.
He was taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center where he met Lt. Gov. Quinn on November 20 of this year. Landstuhl is the first stop on a long road home for many soldiers wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan. Landstuhl is also the home of Fisher House, which provides temporary lodging to families of hospitalized active duty servicemembers and veterans.
Hines VA, in Maywood, recently broke ground on a Fisher House, set to be one of the largest in the country.
"It is important that we honor and care for our veterans and their families, not only today, but throughout the year," Quinn said. "I encourage Illinois citizens to donate to Fisher House, a home away from home for so many military families, by visiting FisherHouse.org."
The Bears tickets were generously donated by Brad Buell, the President of Buell Insurance. Quinn was joined by Denny Udelhofen, Keith Krantz and Matthew Steffen, father, uncle and best friend of Specialist Kieler.
For more information on how to help our military heroes, visit OperationHomefront.org.