Pocono News Section

Patriotic Welcome Home for Local Soldier back from Battlefield

Patriotic Welcome Home for Local Soldier back from Battlefield - Monday, March 29, 2010 at 04:09AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Monday March 29 2010
AVOCA, LUZERNE COUNTY - 21-year-old Army Specialist Robert Jones of Throop just completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan and faces an upcoming deployment to Iraq. He found family, friends and even strangers on hand this afternoon to welcome him home on a 30-day leave. Cheers, applause and plenty of smiles greetedthe soldier Sunday afternoon at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport. "It's really nice to be home to see friends and family. It's been a long time. It's just a relief to finally be back home," said SPC Jones.

It's the first time this two-year army veteran has been back to northeastern Pennsylvania since last May. That's when he last got to visit with loved ones before being deployed to Afghanistan with other comrades. "You don't see your families. It's just pretty much you and your friends every day."

Several military support groups made it a point to be on hand to greet Specialist Jones -- including Rolling Angels Chapter 2 based in Jessup. Members liked Michele Homitz find taking part in the patriotic tribute a bit overwhelming. "Just emotions. Total emotions," she said. "Thank God he's safe. Thank God he's home." The non-profit organization has welcomed home hundreds of military men and women. The group's secretary, Jean Long, gets choked up at the importance of thanking each and every one. "Another troop member that served, that was there for us that we had the honor of being there to say welcome home and thanks."

The sight of this welcoming committee dozens strong was not lost on this soldier. "It really helps to see the support of everybody back home for what we're doing and what everybody goes through," said SPC Jones. The boisterous welcome inside the airport terminal was only part of this happy homecoming. The military support group Friends of the Forgotten formed a motorcycle escort for Specialist Jones en route to the Mid Valley -- thanking a Pennsylvania Patriot in a very public way.

Specialist Jones says he most looks forward to some fishing during his leave. After that, he'll return to his home base at Fort Richardson, Alaska where he'll prepare for his next assignment.