Posted on 02/24/2005 11:20:45 AM PST by The Other Harry
Virginians welcome 'hometown heroes'
BY JEREMY REDMON AND STACY HAWKINS ADAMS TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS Feb 24, 2005
Pamela Arnold wore a conspicuous red jacket to her son's homecoming. She wanted Jon to be able to spot her easily in the cheering crowds.
"This morning I was looking for something different to wear so I would pop out and he would see me. I usually wear black," she said yesterday as she waited for his arrival at an armory in Powhatan County.
Her daughter Becky sized her up and confirmed: "You are brighter today."
Spc. Jon Arnold, 21, is a member of the Richmond-based 276th Engineer Battalion. His unit returned home after spending the past year in a deadly part of northern Iraq and several days decompressing at Fort Dix, N.J
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
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My nephew is in that unit and glad to be home. Thanks to all of you who prayed when I asked after their mess tent was suicide bombed. He wasn't hungry that day and skipped lunch.
May the Lord ease their re-entry into civilian life and remove the hurtful remembrances. I only pray that they have jobs to come home to and that they find love and respect among those of us who owe them more than words can encompass.
I our joy we remember those parents whose sons are not. May the Lord release peace and comfort into their hearts and may they see the honorable result of the costliest sacrifice.
God, America needs your blessing.
Thank you for posting this. When those buses turned down the road to the armory there were a lot of misty eyes, waves and cheers to greet them.
God bless our Troops.
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