Local Iraq Vet's Family Gets Early Christmas

AUBURN HILLS (WWJ) - Christmas comes early for a local Iraq war veteran and her family.

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard delivered several wrapped gifts and food to Specialist Cynthia Vanhout, her husband, and their three teenage kids in Auburn Hills Thursday afternoon.

It's all part of the sheriff's Adopt-A-Vet program.

"She served in Iraq for a year. She was gone from home for three years. That's tough on a family, it's tough on a mom, it's tough on kids. And the least we can do I think as a society, as Americans, is to not just say 'thank you' when they come home but to try and look to fill holes that they may have as a result of the issues of being gone," said Bouchard.

Vanhout is out of work and her husband is retired. She and her three children have had some health challenges recently.

She says she is grateful for the help.