February 19, 2008

Video: A Hero's Welcome

A friend of mine asked the other day if I ever visited "good" news sites. Yes, I answered. Good news to me is when our finest and bravest take out the terrorists. When another alQaeda leader or Taliban member is captured or killed I rejoice. When we Jawas shut down their propaganda sites this is very "good news to me".

My answer isn't what she expected and she went further on to explain.

"I meant heartwarming stories. The feel-good kind of what someone special has done"
Taking out the bad guys is damn special to me I commented.

I started to think. It is damn hard finding the kind of stories she was speaking of. The MSM doesn't want people to think Americans care. "Bad news sells and good news doesn't", is their motto.

Imagine my surprise when reading my local paper this morning to find a "heartwarming" story about a very special lady that started "A Hero's Welcome" in August of last year.

This article was in the commentary section that I normally skip over due to rise in bloodpressure. Hmmm, have I missed others? Taken from Kevin Ferris's editorial at the The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Back Channels: A desire to give back is helping veterans," reads the headlines.

Sharon Hyland Keyser 28, left her full-time, six-figure sales career to fulfill a strong desire to give back to our returning soldiers. Her goal is simple:

Put your political thoughts aside, and honor our troops when they come home.

People always want to tell me we shouldn't be there. Well. I don't care what you think about the war. I Don't Care.

All she wants are local communities to know when a hometown hero is back. To thank vets when they see them in the grocery store. Pick up a bar tab, anything to show thans for serving our country.

The article goes on to say:

When Keyser gets a call from a family member in the service, she tries to find out what the vet is like, what he or she has missed the most, what one thing would make that homecoming complete.

Keyser has done about 20 locally-include an airport salute, a celebration at the vet's favorite restaurant or bar, an introduction to vets of past wars, even vists to local shools. "I want kids to see what a real hero looks like. "Keyser says. "Don't look up to Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan. Look up to real hero's."

Looks like Sharon Keyser has one lucky husband, Ian Keyser from the 173d Airborne Brigade. While home on leave from Afghanistan in the fall, Ian Keyser married the woman cheering him. The marriage took place at the airport.

I took part in an "Airport Salute" while waiting at our local airport. The welcome was started by a young child getting excited when she saw returning soldiers entering the tarmac. "Mommy look, bad-ass busters are home," she yelled.

LOL, that was enough for everyone to take notice and almost all at the airport stood and cheered. God Bless that child, she is being raised right!

This article jogged my memory of that "Hero's Welcome" and I am thankful for that. I hope to do more of those. I salute each and every one of our finest and bravest from the US Military! You are in my prayers every day.

Please visit her site, Hero's Welcome, to see if there is a chapter in your state.

Video from Glen Beck show about "Hero's Welcome" below the fold.

By Stable Hand at 01:56 PM | |