$250K donated to suffering family
After suffering a string of losses -- a father's job, his VA benefits, their home to a fire, their son to the war -- the Alcozer family of Elmhurst learned Tuesday just how much their misfortunes had touched others.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $250,000 had arrived in cards and handwritten letters -- many from veterans and widows -- from all over the country.
"Oh, my God. Oh my God," said Judy Alcozer, 41, when she learned the good news. "I have to sit down. I am so amazed. I feel like crying. That just goes to show how wonderful and caring people really are."
A string of disasters had befallen the Alcozers, most recently a fire on Dec. 27 that left the family, including four children and two grandchildren, homeless. The fire started after a candle was left burning on a homemade shrine to their son, Christopher, an Army private who was killed last November in Iraq.
'It's unbelievable'
A trust for the family was set up at the Community Bank of Elmhurst by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn's office last week. Many tried to make donations on Jan. 2 -- a federal holiday -- after reading of the family's tribulations in the Chicago Sun-Times that day.
When the bank opened the next day, cars were lined up around the bank to make contributions.
"It's like winning the lotto. It's unbelievable," said Jesse Alcozer, 57, the family patriarch. "I never dreamed that people would respond like this. I still miss my son. It still hurts. It's sad for me to accept these gifts. It's still not going to bring my son back."
The family's grief for their son was further punctuated last November when at the memorial services a fringe group held signs that read: "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."
"I didn't care what kind of group they were. I was upset," Alcozer said.
That particular cruelty seemed to touch thousands of letter writers in Chicago and across the nation, many of whom were veterans themselves, or family members who had lost sons in Iraq.
"I think there are a lot of vets out there who are not able to talk about their feelings or about what they went through in war," Alcozer said. "This is their way of speaking out."
On Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Norris City) announced that Phelps will introduce the "Let Them Rest in Peace Act" this week in the General Assembly. The law would ban protesters from coming within 300 feet of any funeral service in the state.
Full VA benefits restored
The family plans to use the donations to buy a modest two-story frame house in Elmhurst. On Tuesday, the family learned the closing documents were ready. Furniture already has been donated. Since last week, the family has been living in a house provided by Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Clothing and toys also have been donated. A fund-raiser is set for Jan. 29 at Dugan's, 128 S. Halsted, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Also on Tuesday, Alcozer, a wounded Vietnam veteran, won restoration of his full Veterans Affairs benefits.
Alcozer, shot seven times in Vietnam, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2003 and rated 100 percent disabled. But last year, the VA notified Alcozer that it planned to cut his benefits.
The VA on Tuesday gave Alcozer medical cards so that he and his family can be treated.
In the midst of the family's joy, there was one setback. Judy Alcozer just learned that she will need surgery for gallstones.
"I think we are going to get better," Judy Alcozer said. "I don't think things could get any worse. We've already been there."
