Quinn heads to Maryland to visit wounded soldiers

Gov. Pat Quinn has departed for his annual holiday trip to deliver Christmas cards to wounded soldiers.

This year the outgoing governor is headed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. He’s delivering cards made by Illinois children. In a statement released late Sunday, Quinn says the cards are a small way to show gratitude to men and women who have served.

Quinn made a similar trip in 2013, but in previous years he’s visited U.S. service members in Germany. Quinn has said there aren’t as many U.S. soldiers in Germany there as there once were.

Quinn leaves office next month when Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner will be sworn into office.

ASSOCIATED PRESS