After completing his training to become a radio technician for the U.S. Army, David Boelkens had orders to go to Hawaii, but when he got to California his orders were changed to Vietnam.

Marvin Frederick expected to be drafted into the Army since he had a 23 lottery number. “I knew it was coming so I waited for the letter in the mail,” he said.

Stopping by Clavin Dairy Farm, chances are you’ll see three generations of the family milking cows. “I started milking when I was 7 years old and my girls probably started a little bit earlier,” said Leanne Casner.

For the farmers of Will and Kankakee counties who volunteer with Wreaths Across America, the time and labor to receive, unload and transport over 10,000 Christmas wreaths to a national cemetery goes beyond a good deed.

“I have seen it 58 times now — and it never gets old,” said Steve Garrington, the director of the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, a regional hub of the national Honor Flight program.

Many military veterans find that farming promotes self-healing, purpose and self-identity upon return from active duty.

Marine Corps veteran Mike Mosier completed three tours of service before retiring in 2005. Mosier bounced between jobs until he found a career that lessened his PTSD symptoms — farming. Now he runs Fourth Mission Farm.

Jeremy Rutledge is proud of his service to his country, he’s proud of returning to the family farm, but what he’s most proud of is being a father and husband.

Ted Mottaz was fresh out of college and all set for a career in agriculture education, but Uncle Sam had other ideas.