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Soldier returns home to surprise celebration

Nov-12-2007 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

By CATHARINE HADLEY, Port Clinton Herald

PORT CLINTON --U.S. Army Sgt. Travis McCleary might have expected a few friends and family members for his homecoming.

He did not expect two police cars, three fire trucks, an ambulance and a handful of other vehicles to escort his girlfriend's car from Ohio 2 to Perry Street, then Madison and Second Street Wednesday evening.

He did not expect nearly three dozen people, including the mayor, safety-service director and a Wolf Scout pack braving chilly temperatures to welcome him home.
A homemade banner reading "Welcome Home Travis" hung from the front wall of 222 Second St., where his girlfriend, Sarah Schoen, lives.

Schoen said the police cruiser had pulled her over on Ohio 2, then flagged to her to drive ahead. McCleary had no idea the stunt was just the beginning of his homecoming celebration.

The crowd held signs and small American flags, then cheered and clapped for him as he got out of the car.

"This is crazy, just crazy," the 2001 Port Clinton High School graduate said as he scanned the group. "I thought we were getting pulled over," he said.

Members of Wolf Scout Pack 361 formed a line to shake hands with McCleary, who later posed for pictures with them.

Port Clinton Mayor Tom Brown hugged the returning soldier, then he and Safety-Service Director Dennis Fligor presented McCleary with a patriotism award. Brown also gave McCleary a coin his son had brought from Iraq.

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(via Blog-Ah!)


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