Thanks so much, I am so glad the ribbons arrived and that you guys love them. i know you will all wear them with pride :-) Have a great time and please travel safely. Remember me whenever you are looking for any handcrafted items or ribbons for other graduations or homecoming celebrations. Stay in touch :-)

Welcome Navy Moms, Dads, Family, and Friends:

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is John Spadaro (Aka Sarge). I proudly served our country for over twenty years of active duty and retired as a Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army.  I have lived in the Great Lakes Area for over 30 years. Some of you may ask, why did a kid from Brooklyn New York retire in Gurnee?  Well there is a simple answer. My wife of 38 years and I fell in love with this area when I was Stationed at Great Lakes/Fort Sheridan. We have seen this area change over the years for the better. We have one nephew currently on active duty with the Navy and, one nephew currently on active duty with the Army. I support our troops and family members the best I can. Every year I am involved with the Adopt a Sailor program. See the photos on face book. My face book can be found by searching for taxisarge@gmail.com  I also host a FREE Navy Moms & Dads Meet and Greet every Thursday before the P.I.R. On occasion I host one on a Wednesday when graduation is on a Thursday such as during the Christmas/New Year’s holidays.  The Meet and Greet is free for all who are attending the Graduation. The meet and Greet starts at 5:30 PM and normally ends at 9:00 PM. It is more than an informal gathering. I show a short video and answer questions about the area; I also give you excellent information regarding the graduation that you won’t find anywhere else.  Also I provide excellent buffet style food at my expense. The Sundance Saloon provides me the space for free.  Beverages are the only thing you have to pay out of pocket. Here are some of the questions that many parents call me or email me about. If your question is NOT found here, please feel free to call me at 847-212-0246.

Question: Sarge, what is the best hotel to stay at and why? Answer: I highly recommend the Marriott Spring Hill Suites in Waukegan, or any of the other Marriott’s in the Area of Waukegan or Gurnee. The Spring Hill Suites is a modern hotel and is located in the Fountain Square shopping Plaza. It is only steps from the Sundance saloon where I host the Meet and Greet, and you can walk to restaurants, Wal-Mart, Denny’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotles, Chili’s, and Sweet Tomatoes’ and other businesses. Always check reviews before booking your hotel!

Question: Sarge, I heard that the Navy Lodge is also a Great Place to stay however I heard negative comments.  Answer: If you are just looking for a place to rest it’s ok.  The Navy Lodge is located on the Navy Housing Side of the base. It does not have a restaurant and only has vending machines. It is not with-in walking distance of any restaurants or entertainment. I recommend you look at other Navy for Moms comments and reviews.

Question: How do I get from the airport to my Hotel? Answer: Be very careful – City Taxi fares from O’Hare to the suburbs will cost approximate $96.00 From Midway or Milwaukee, it cost $160.00.  If you think I am exaggerating, read the Navy for Moms horror stories.  However, there is a solution. I own my own Taxi service and have seven drivers on my team. Our rates from O’Hare are only $54.00 for the cab, not per person, to any hotel in North Chicago, Waukegan, or Gurnee. From Midway or Milwaukee it is only $85.00 per cab. If you search on Navy for Moms for “Sarge” you will see many positive comments about me and my drivers.  As an added bonus, anyone who hires us from the airport to their hotel, I provide a free ride to the P.I.R. on Friday morning.

Question: Are there any good restaurants in the Area? Answer: There are a host of good restaurants in the area. At the meet and Greet I will tell you about them all. One restaurant is owned by a good friend of mine who is also a Viet-Nam veteran; Nick and his wife Patty provide a free meal