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Rauners to host Military Family Day

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Illinois

Current and former members of the military and their families can enjoy free food and entertainment at the Executive Mansion Saturday as guests of Gov. Bruce Rauner and first lady Diana Rauner.

The Rauners are hosting Military Family Day to acknowledge their service.

“This is really an opportunity just to show our appreciation to current active-duty and veteran families,” Diana Rauner said in an interview Wednesday. “We make, of course, great ceremony of many events during this time, but this is one that it a little bit more of a low-key, fun way to show appreciation to families. That’s the most important part of all of this.”

Rauner described the event as “your basic down-home party with activities for children of all ages.” She said that will include baseball and football games, carnival games, crafts, music and a princess parade with Disney princesses, along with a visit from Big Bird and Elmo from “Sesame Street.” There will be a video game truck for older children, and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will be bringing some Civil War re-enactors to the event.

This Saturday’s event will be privately funded. Click here to RSVP by Friday (it says September 12th at the link, but that’s been changed).

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 10:33 am

Comments

It’s privately funded, but IHPA is sending re-enactors? Ok, so it’s a mixed event.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 10:37 am
Glad he is doing it.

Wish I felt it was sincere and not a campaign event. But that is on me, not the Governor.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 10:40 am
Every day at my house is a Disney princess parade, heh. Very cool idea.

Comment by Liandro Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 10:45 am
No thanks.

Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 10:47 am
Thanks for all the warnin’ BigBrain…we were sitting around with nothin’s on the calendar..no little league, football, badmitton. Cabella’s did some of these 2 weeks ago and maybe that’s where this big brain idea came from….BTW November is Military Family Month ( by presidential proclamation) but that might be too late for the campaigns. Will ya be showin’ your new movie?

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 11:11 am
Nice gesture.

But I would like to point out that many veterans rely on the benefit of free tuition at a public college or university. When those go out of existence due to the budget mess, where will the veterans get their education?

Comment by A Jack Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 11:20 am
From what I have observed and read, Rauner is a great people person and genuinely warm at a personal level. I am sure he will make this an enjoyable event.
There is a big disconnect when it comes to his policy agenda which shows him as genuinely calculating and determined to pursue his goals at the expense of people who cannot protect themselves from the consequences.
Both sides seem to be the “real” Bruce Rauner in different settings. Some people really may be Jekyll and Hyde.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 11:25 am
It is the beyond sad reality of Illinois politics that this event is met with disillusionment. I am by no means a fan of the Governor, but my gosh, people. Can we all step back from the abyss of finding a black cloud for every silver lining?

Comment by Southside Markie Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 11:42 am
So tired of politicians wrapping themselves in the flag and praising military families when their policies hurt those same families.

Don’t host a dinner find them jobs, find them health care, and find them the mental health care they need when they return for duty.

The adrenaline their body and mind has been exposed to in the war zone is hard to replicate in day to day life and leave a hole of self doubt and meaninglessness.

AND NOW A SNARK I wonder what village people costume the governor will wear? The Harley rider, the cowboy, the hunter, or maybe a sailor costume.

Comment by Publius Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 11:48 am
As is bleedingly obvious to anyone who pays attention here, I am no Pat Quinn fan but I lauded him for his attention to veterans. I will give this governor the same benefit of the doubt.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 11:56 am
“Wish I felt it was sincere and not a campaign event. But that is on me, not the Governor.”

This Governor does non-campaign events?

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 12:01 pm
Publius, perhaps the Guv gave us a clue with his outfit from last week’s BBQ for the Brave. I highly recommend eveyone check out his Twitter from that event and see what he is wearing when he says “Our men and women in uniform are the ultimate heroes”. Sorry I can’t figure out how to paste it here.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 12:11 pm
A lot of veterans continue to serve publicly after their service (myself included). There are many Veteran state workers, police, firefighters, etc… that Rauner is trying to destroy.

The effort to do something for us is applauded, but find ways to help that isn’t politically charged.

Comment by Consideration Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 12:12 pm
Think I will show wearing an AFSCME T-shirt

Comment by Donald Segretti Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 12:14 pm
Seems to be a common ploy now a days. Hold campaign events saying how much you love vets. At the same time pursue policys and such that directly hurt the same vets. You can see it in both state and fed. I find it more of an insult. If you really care for vets then put money on it and really take care of them.

Comment by Union thug Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 12:25 pm
I have never been a fan of these functions. I went to one a long time ago and felt like a prop for someones agenda.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 12:58 pm
Did the Governor approve medmar for the treatment of PTSD? Serious question.

Comment by Casual observer Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 12:59 pm
Observer - Believe a Cook County judge ruled it to be added to the list and Rauner later signed it into Pilot Program.

Comment by Consideration Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 1:11 pm
Donald Segretti… Maybe AFSCME Veterans should all go together. In special shirts.

Comment by just passin' through Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 3:03 pm
Consideration, thank you for your past and current public service. Three generations of airmen, sailors, and soldiers in the family. (Feel free to insert your own Marine joke here.)

Someone should ask the Governor how he would feel putting up a Blue Star in his window and see his reaction. PQ never had to, but he sure knew what it meant.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 15, 16 @ 9:38 pm