by Janet "Jax" B.
Member since:
August 16, 2006

Friday Parade for Homecoming of Soldier...(photo essay)

June 23, 2008 01:19 AM EDT (Updated: June 23, 2008 01:28 AM EDT)
views: 165 | comments: 57
Friday, Air Forceman Ryne Kirkland came home from his tour in Iraq, and our subdivision decided to give him a hero's welcome. Almost all of the houses had American Flags flying outside...and flags decorated mailboxes and fences. Balloons and signs were hung around the neighborhood...and even poor Maggie was decorated up.

The parade went right by our house....and the police led the way.


http://media-files.gather.com/images/d870/d788/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg
After the police and fire truck came Ryne. He looked so incredibly embarrassed by the whole thing, which was a total surprise for him. The news and newspaper interviewed him just before the parade too.
The image
Other people with decorated cars and bikes were also part of the parade.
http://media-files.gather.com/images/d880/d788/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg
Neighbors lined the street to cheer and wave. Of coarse Angela had to get Maggie all dressed up for the event too.
http://media-files.gather.com/images/d887/d788/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg
Maggie didn't really seem to mind too much. She did try taking the hat off a few times (not that I blame her...LOL).













After the parade, the firetruck came back out of the subdivision and handed hats out to all of the kids...and even the "big" kids.
http://media-files.gather.com/images/d890/d788/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

So this was how we spend our Friday evening. What's I found interesting was when my brother came back from Iraq a couple years ago, he didn't get a parade....guess I should have been the one to organize it...nah.

Welcome home Ryne!!! We are all so proud of you!
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Comments: 57

Carol Lloyd Jun 23, 2008, 1:42am EDT
Beautiful shot good to see we learned a lesson Ed Over 30 yrs late Ed but ty and welcome home.
Vic Needs Coffee Jun 23, 2008, 1:53am EDT
That is wonderful. All our returning troops should be received so warmly.
Dee - Nature Babe! Jun 23, 2008, 5:38am EDT
What a great way to celebrate the homecoming. Thanks for the cute photo essay.
Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Jun 23, 2008, 6:52am EDT
Great job on this Janet. Your neighborhood is just beautiful.
Looks like a great summer day for the homecoming.
Ten Plus
Marianne R. Jun 23, 2008, 6:54am EDT
That's wonderful. Great photos too!

Glad you exlained the parade as I was dumbfounded as to what local parade was happening.
Kimber F. Jun 23, 2008, 6:58am EDT
What a wonderful welcome he came home to. I just wish we could do that for all of our soldiers coming home. Thanks for sharing and peace.
Phyllis R. Jun 23, 2008, 7:27am EDT
I think this is awesome, - honoring those who are defending our country is the greatest gesture we can do!!! Now Maggie certainly dressed for the occasion, - she should win the 'Patriotic Dog' award!!!
Denise B. Jun 23, 2008, 8:06am EDT
very, very cool
Connie C. Jun 23, 2008, 8:49am EDT
That is so cool that there was a parade for him. I am glad he came home safe. Your daughter has fun no matter where she is - doesn't she?
flit . Jun 23, 2008, 11:46am EDT
I bet he was embarassed...but pleased too :)
Beth - Doing God's work Daily J. Jun 23, 2008, 1:53pm EDT
That is so neat...
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Jun 23, 2008, 2:14pm EDT
Great idea! They should all have parades!
Austin Cushing Jun 23, 2008, 8:05pm EDT
This comment is to let you know that this content has reached ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations!
Chris E. Jun 23, 2008, 8:16pm EDT
That is awesome! If we gave a parade to evey soldier who came home we would be have parades every night. We did have a big bash when my husbands unit came home from Iraqw and let me tell you planning that was a nightmare.
Debby C. Jun 23, 2008, 8:37pm EDT
"We the people..."

Your peeps rock and a big WELCOME HOME to your brother too Janet!
lynn a. Jun 23, 2008, 11:42pm EDT
No doubt it might have made him feel a bit awkward, but he now has this parade and this "thank you, we appreciate you" under his belt, and I think it is awfully important that returning vets get this. I know all of them don't, but they should. Your neighborhood must be close-knit enough for word to get around some, and I'm glad. Sorry about your brother though. That's tough, but I bet he takes a good deal of pride in knowing that you all did this for Ryne Kirkland. I don't know of anyone who came back from Iraq who was so warmly greeted here, but it may have happened. When some of the entire units have come back, the families have been there to greet them. This is a great photo essay.
JoAnn C. Jun 23, 2008, 11:44pm EDT
that's awesome your neighbor did that. Thank you to your brother for serving!
necee t. Jun 23, 2008, 11:50pm EDT
wow, that was sooo nice of you all to do this for him...
God bless him and all his family and friends...
dianne j. Jun 24, 2008, 3:15pm EDT
That's a wonderful welcome. When my brother came home from Vietnam, we were all just glad no one spit on him.

We don't have to agree with the reasons our government chooses to go to war, but we should never blame those who put their lives on the line for us.
Donald M. Jun 24, 2008, 4:30pm EDT
Each and every Veteran should be honored when they come home from serving in a war. No one in my town was ever honored or given a parade, they all fought in Vietnam and before that Korean War, Then when my son grew up Dessert storm. No big parades. We have had obituaries on front page of ones that came home with purple heart for dying. That isnt to good.
♠~Dnbuster~♠ ~. Jun 24, 2008, 4:33pm EDT
thats a great welcome home!!
Risa G. Jun 24, 2008, 4:50pm EDT
How wonderful that the whole town did this! So beautiful to see - such love for a local guy!
Rodney R. Jun 24, 2008, 10:24pm EDT
very nice
Connie C. Jun 24, 2008, 11:53pm EDT
Is Pher home? How much weight did he loose? Are you rested up yet???? Come on spill the beans already. LOL
Lynn R. Jun 25, 2008, 12:06am EDT
This is wonderful Jax. You all should be proud to honor Ryne like this. Every soldier deserves a welcome home like this.

Welcome Home Ryne.
Monica H. Jun 25, 2008, 1:31am EDT
Awesome that they gave him such a warm homecoming!
Brian T. Jun 25, 2008, 10:39pm EDT
It's great that a home town welcomes one of their own with such open arms and gratitude.
Melinda ~choosing happiness~ S. Jun 26, 2008, 7:03pm EDT
What a wonderful neighborly thing to do! Great photos!
Pher B. Jun 27, 2008, 12:17am EDT
I'm sorry I missed it.
Shannon W Jun 29, 2008, 12:49am EDT
I think that is so great they did that, what a wonderful way to welcome him home.
DIANE D. Jun 29, 2008, 6:42pm EDT
WONDERFUL!
Toni V. Jul 1, 2008, 10:19am EDT
That was an awesome thing to do for him. How cool! You got some great pictures too.
Trudy P. Jul 1, 2008, 11:57am EDT
Wonderful photo essay Janet. I love that photo of Angela!
amy s. Jul 1, 2008, 4:01pm EDT
i am so glad that Rynne came home safe and sound. Maybe he was emabarresed but I know that it was only because they are told not to show that emotion. I gave you a ten, because you are special to me. Have a great Fourth of July.
Ghostly Ghoul Jul 3, 2008, 2:06pm EDT
That's pretty cool, love all the pictures!

for the comment on my daisy picture.
Angela <:3---}~~~~ M. Jul 7, 2008, 9:21pm EDT
very nice photo essay!
Amy C. Jul 8, 2008, 10:23am EDT
wonderful photo essay!
Jodi V. Jul 8, 2008, 11:23am EDT
That was beautiful, Jax. Every soldier should get a parade homecoming! And Maggie looked so cute... :)
Tiffany G. Jul 9, 2008, 6:19pm EDT
How special!!! Lovely photo essay! Welcome home Ryan!!
Anne Marie A. Jul 9, 2008, 6:57pm EDT
That was really heartwarming! I was about to comment exactly what Jodi said in her above comment, so ditto!
Ellen M. Jul 10, 2008, 11:39am EDT
Wow, fantastic pics you really captured it well, looking at the pics makes you feel like your there...cool.
April H. Jul 10, 2008, 1:57pm EDT
What a great way to honor him!
Sarah (can't believe the year's over) G. Jul 10, 2008, 3:37pm EDT
Great photo essay! Great parade!
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. Jul 11, 2008, 12:08am EDT
Wonderful essay, and wonderful for all to honor him
Stephanie C. Jul 16, 2008, 2:07pm EDT
Great Article I enjoyed it
Xavier Neduveli Jul 21, 2008, 12:21am EDT
I enjoyed reading... a well written article.
Chelsea R. Jul 24, 2008, 3:39pm EDT
great photo essay!!
Ellie !. Jul 25, 2008, 12:42am EDT
I'm glad he came home in one piece physically. I hope he does well emotionally. A parade thanking and honoring him was the right, good thing to do. I just cannot imagine how it would be to serve in Iraq.
Abby N. Jul 26, 2008, 6:37pm EDT
Great article! ten for you! Checking out the pics.
queen.susan . Jul 31, 2008, 12:35am EDT
wonderful photos!
looks like it was a good parade.
Nurse Nancy S. Aug 4, 2008, 4:08am EDT
Great photos!!
Michelle S. Aug 5, 2008, 1:21am EDT
What a fantastic way to salute our brave soldiers. They give their lives so that we may live ours and I know that I personally cannot thank them enough. Many thanks to your heroic brother who sacrificed his time for his love and devotion to this wonderful Country we all like to call -- home.

May God bless you and your family ...
Michelle
edna r. Aug 16, 2008, 6:28am EDT
That is so great. Nice photo essay.
Barbara B. Aug 16, 2008, 5:22pm EDT
Janet this was such a fantastic photo essay it touched mine
heart my friend. Welcome home Ryne God bless you young
man for serving your country!! I'm getting emotional now...
Dove D. Aug 17, 2008, 3:14am EDT
That's awesome... my husband has served in Iraq and Afghanistan and no one has ever done anything as wonderful as that! But he has been thanked in many other ways

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