Marine gets hero's welcome from thousands in Jacksonville

Florida Times-Union ^ | August 21, 2010 | Dan Scanlan

[Chieftain]

The rattle of thunder was replaced by the rumble of Harley-Davidson motorcycles Friday afternoon as 20-year-old Tyler Southern came home from months of hospitalization at Walter Reed Army Medical Center following severe injuries from a bomb.

But the sky seemed to brighten when he lit up a big smile as he rolled to his parents’ home on Gathering Oaks Drive at 5:30 p.m., arms high as he rode in a motorcycle sidecar.

[Chieftain]

I was there yesterday with fellow FReeper, Recovering Ex-Hippie. We drove the entire 3 mmile route from I-295 to Tyler's house and there were THOUSANDS of people lining the streets waving American and Marine Corps flags, Happy Birthday, and Welcome Home Hero signs! There were kids, young people, old people, veterans in uniform and HUGE American flags suspended from fire trucks and bulldozers. We drove to Cpl Southern's house where the street was jam packed with patriots. There were police motorcycles roaring down the street and soon a motorcycle with a side car rolled up with Cpl Southern in the sidecar, followed by hundreds of bikers, led by the Patriot Guard Riders and other veteran motorcycle clubs.

Ironically, one of my own sons who is a Marine just returned from his tour in Afghanistan a week ago and he was driving to Florida to come see his Mom and me, but he wasn't going to arrive till after Cpl Southern was home. I took my "Welcome Home Marines" banner down from the front of my garage and we used it to welcome Cpl Southern.

While we were waiting for his arrival I watched as 2 little girls were sitting on the curb holding American flags. One of them placed her hand over her heart and spontaneously began reciting the pledge of allegiance. After only a couple words, the other girl joined in. After they finished I walked across the street and asked them if they would please repeat their performance so I could shoot a video of them. You can see it here.

When Cpl Southern rolled out of the garage in his chair, people from the crowd came up to him and hugged and kissed and persented him with different mementos. I was pretty emotional and I reached out for his right arm prosthesis and embraced him and yelled "I'm proud of you, brother".

I saw the guy who was talking to Tyler's Mom and asked if he know his dad. He told me he was Tyler's uncle. I reached into my pocket got my "Marine Dad" coinand handed it to him and asked him to give it to Tyler's dad.

A couple hours after Tyler's homecoming, my own son arrived at our house safe and sound and not missing any parts. I showed him the videos and photos from Tyler's homecoming and he was deeply moved. My son has been flying missions as a door gunner on a Marine CH-53 helicopters there in Helman province.

It was a day of great pride, patriotism, appreciation and realization of the real cost of freedom.

[Chieftain]

Jacksonville HERO PING!

[BamaDi]

Great video except for that darn RedSox shirt.....

[noexcuses]

AWESOME!

[Chieftain]

The photo of me greeting Cpl Southern is #4 in the online photo gallery link of the article on jacksonville.com. I can’t post it as it is copywrited.

[Mouton]

I am proud to say we have a contingent of patriots here in North East Florida.

Way to go gang.

Vince

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Great write up, Chieftain! And the pictures are great.

It was an honor to be there to welcome home this brave Marine...a fine young man!

With all the depressing events politically and economically happening in this country lately, to see Americans come out to honor a Wounded Warrior....Thousands who did not know Cpl Southern personally.....was such an uplifiting spiritual experience. We ARE a Community of Americans who are patriots!

The signs were all homemade, the singing spontaneous and the tears and joy heartfelt. This reaffirmed what our mission is....to keep this country safe and free!

[Chieftain]

Recovering Ex-Hippie on the left in photo #15 and other photos in the on-line gallery.

[Chong]

BUMP!!

[Edgewood Pilot]

A proud day for America.

Thank you Cpl Southern and your kind !

A big Happy Birthday tomorrow, too !

[Allegra]

Thank you so much for this reminder that despite all of the bad things going on, the true American spirit is quite alive and strong.

[lowbuck]

WOW, the video at the link was amazing!!

Thanks so much for posting this, and, I am glad your son is home safe and sound.

[oh8eleven]

I took my "Welcome Home Marines" banner down from the front of my garage ...
Make sure you save your sign for your son. When I returned from VN, my parents put up a "welcome home" sign for me. It really made me feel proud.
Please pass along a big Semper Fi from me to your son.

[paterfamilias]

“Tyler Southern leaves in a few days to return to therapy, already working with prosthetics and ready to stay in the Corps.”
Honor. Courage. Commitment.

Thanks to Tyler Southern, to his corpsmen, medevac crew, and medical staff.

Thanks to the good people of Jacksonville - may they all henceforth be our examples.

Honor. It’s not just for our military anymore.

[Chieftain]

I had the banner back up for his arrival 2 hours later.

I had that banner made when my twin sons were in boot camp 5 years ago. It has been there every time they came home to Florida from their base in NC or when they came back from overseas we took it to NC. They know to look for it and they can find us easily!

That banner is the best $60 investment I ever made!

[EternalVigilance]

Caption: BOB SELF/The Times-Union--8/20/10--(left) Patti Southern, the mother of Cpl. Tyler Southern looks on as a crowd of well wishers greet him upon his return to his family's Mandarin home Friday evening. Southern returned to his Mandarin home Friday evening to a hero's welcome as thousands of Jacksonville residents lined the roads leading to his home to honor his sacrifice serving as a U.S. Marine in Afghanistan. Southern was awarded a Purple Heart after he lost both legs and an arm to an IED in Afghanistan and was returning home from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to celebrate his 21st. birthday with his family. (The Florida TImes-Union, Bob Self)

[EternalVigilance]

A great photo gallery of this here:

http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1061410&CategoryID=9088&ListSubAlbums=0

[VOA]

“
“It’s nice to be here,” Southern said with a laugh. “I can’t believe
this support. … Oh my goodness!”
“

There is still hope for this country.
Somehow we’ll survive having a disappointment in The Oval Office.
We’ve done it before.

[Scarpetta]

Just fantastic. God bless Tyler, and all those wonderful people who lined his way home.

[Chieftain]

I uploaded all my photos to my photobucket account. You can view them here.