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Man! The CRAZIEST stuff happens to ME. I AM married. And, I have KIDS. And a dog. And two cats. Read about it HERE...

A Hero returns home

by Tony Manes , posted Dec 19 2012 12:18PM

SO..

BECAUSE "I" WRECKED OUR DAUGHTER COLLEEN'S CAR..

WHILE WE WERE IN TUCSON
OVER THE WEEKEND..

"I"

GOT TO "FLY"-HOME YESTERDAY..

WHILE COLLEEN & HER MOTHER

"DROVE" THE 9-HOURS "BACK" TO BAKERSFIELD..

& "WHAT" AN UNEXPECTED "SURPRISE"

I ENCOUNTERED..

WHEN WE LANDED AT MEADOWS FIELD..

& WALKED "IN"-TO THE LOBBY..

IT WAS "PACKED"..

WITH PEOPLE..

A-"LOT" OF VETERANS..

BUT ALSO..MOM'S & DAD'S..
& GRANDMA'S & GRANDPA'S..
& LITTLE KIDS..

THERE WERE "LITERALLY" "HUNDREDS" OF PEOPLE IN THE LOBBY..

& WHEN I WALKED OUT THE FRONT DOOR..

THERE WERE "HUNDREDS"-MORE
"OUT"-THERE..

(I HAVE "NEVER" SEEN "THAT" MANY PEOPLE AT MEADOWS FIELD)..

& "EVERY"-WHERE I LOOKED..

AMERICAN FLAGS..

SO..

I ASKED ONE OF THE VETERANS "WHO" THEY WERE WAITING FOR..

& HE SAID LANCE CORPORAL JOSHUA BRUBAKER..

WHO HAD LOST BOTH LEGS IN AFGHANISTAN..

SO..

I WORKED MY WAY THROUGH THE CROWD..

TO CATCH A CAB..

BUT..

I "STOPPED"..

& THOUGHT..

THERE'S SOMETHING "SPECIAL" GOING-ON HERE..

SO......I TURNED "AROUND"..

& WENT BACK "INSIDE"..

& "JOINED" THE CROWD..

"IN" THE LOBBY..

WAITING FOR LANCE CORPORAL JOSHUA BRUBAKER..

& IT MADE ME "PROUD"..

TO LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE BAKERSFIELD..

WHERE "HUNDREDS" OF PEOPLE SHOW-UP

TO GREET A MAN LIKE JOSHUA..

(pause)..

IT WAS A WEEKEND THAT "BEGAN"

WITH "ME"
STANDING IN FRONT OF THE T-V IN "DISBELIEF" & "HORROR"

OVER THE CONNECTICUTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTINGS..

& "ENDED"

WITH ME STANDING IN AN AIRPORT LOBBY..
FILLED WITH "PRIDE" & "AWE"..

OVER "MY" HOME TOWN'S "WELCOME HOME" FOR A WOUNDED-HERO..

& "IN"-BETWEEN..

I CELEBRATED "OUR" OLDEST CHILD GRADUATING COLLEGE..

& OUR "2ND"-KID RETURNING "SAFELY"
FROM A SEMESTER STUDYING IN ENGLAND..

& I THOUGHT ABOUT THE "PARENTS"
OF THE KIDS IN CONNECTICUTT..

& THE "PARENTS" OF JOSHUA BRUBAKER..

& THE EXPERIENCE "I" HAD JUST "HAD" AS A PARENT..

& I FELT BLESSED..

& THANKFUL..

Tags :
Topics : Social Issues
Social : Social Issues
Locations : Tucson
People : JOSHUA BRUBAKER

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12/19/2012 9:18AM

A Hero returns home

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