Member News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 29, 2006
Never Too Old to Support the Troops in Iraq
Westmoreland Nursing Center resident Margaret Berg, who will celebrate
her 100th birthday next month, has joined forces with the many Lake
Forest Hospital employees who are supporting one of their own serving
in Iraq. The ongoing effort to send “care packages” of requested items
from home to hospital security officer Mike Kempski and members of his
U.S. Army squad in Iraq received a generous donation from Berg of Lake
Forest, who has been a resident of the hospital’s affiliated nursing
home since May 2006.
She read about the popcorn-sale fund-raisers at hospital facilities
and employee donations of goods to send to Sgt. Kempski and his fellow
soldiers in the nursing home’s newsletter. Items purchased with the
funds raised and those donated have been sent to Iraq in the form of
several “care packages.” The most recent mailing was Nov. 3.
“I’ve always had a warm spot in my heart for our service
personnel,” says Berg, whose 17 years of volunteer service at the
Downey (now North Chicago) VA Hospital included starting a golf program
there in 1960. “I was so happy to hear about [what ‘s being done for
Kempski] that I wanted to help.”
That help came in the form of a check presented to Lake Forest
Hospital Director of Safety, Security and Telecommunications Ron
Cundiff Nov. 6. Cundiff says the money will help achieve the goal of
sending food, other supplies and written greetings from home to Kempski
and members of his squad as long as Kempski is serving in Iraq.
The 26-year-old Kempski is 1st Squad Alpha Team Leader with the
1/34 Brigade Alpha Company 1-125 3rd Platoon. He was living in Lake
Bluff, had been working at Lake Forest Hospital since February 2004 and
was taking classes at an area community college when he was called for
another tour of active duty – this time in Iraq – in March 2006.
Kempski had served four years in the Army immediately following his
1998 graduation from Libertyville High School. The period during which
he could be recalled to active duty was due to expire in about two
months when he was recalled. At the time he also was three courses away
from completing his current college program. His long-term career goal
is to become a lawyer.
Lake Forest Hospital (LFH) has been named the #1 Consumer Choice
hospital in Lake and Kenosha counties for 2006/07 by the independent
firm National Research Corporation. LFH has earned this honor two years
in a row for having the best doctors, best nurses, best image &
reputation and best overall quality.