| Send to Printer | << Back to Article |
| Local |
|
Sailors come home to a heroes’ welcome
)
(Arianne Starnes/ Examiner)
Naval Petty Officer 2nd Class Marland Garrett, 31, of Glen Burnie, right, who served overseas for 7 months, is greeted by his Lt. Robert Garis, 27, of Odenton, as he escorts him to a homecoming ceremony. There’s no “I” in team. When the U.S. Marine Corps or Army units return home from service, they return as a group, but those who are not deployed as a team often do not get that special treatment. That changed Wednesday. About 30 Individual Augmentees of the U.S. Navy were honored during a homecoming celebration. “We wanted them to have the same ‘team’ appreciation as the Marine Corps or the Army,” said Devanice Ball, event coordinator with Lincoln Military Housing. “We want them to know that we’re excited they’re back, safe and sound.” Supporters sitting in the auditorium wore American flag hats, waved American flag streamers and pom-poms, and clapped their clappers. The song “Proud to Be an American” blasted from the speakers. Guest speaker Col. John Ripley, a Naval Academy graduate of 1962, told the crowd, “We are never alone. We always look for our mate on our port and starboard sides and try to help them out.” One of the honorees, Lt. Commander Edward Fiorentino, said the celebration is important for their children. “They see that their parent went away, came back, and people care. It gives them context,” he said. Commander Tim Tumelty’s 12-year-old son Matt agrees. “It’s cool to see my dad up there,” he said. “I want to be in the Navy, too.” His dad just smiled and said, “We’ll see.” QUICK FACTS More than 13,000 sailors serve as Individual Augmentees in the Central Command area of responsibility, which includes Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, according to the U.S. Naval Academy. Do you know any sailors? Respond below in our comment section. |