thedrifter
04-27-08, 06:40 AM
Local Marines receive a Heroes Welcome, despite spoiled surprise
By Brandie Kessler, bkessler@pottsmerc.com
LOWER POTTSGROVE — Lance Cpl. Bill Obrien received a warm welcome home from dozens of friends and family members Friday night after serving with the Marines for eight months in Iraq.
The celebration was organized by A Heroes Welcome, and founder Sharon Hyland-Keyser.
The plan was for Obrien, who was returning home with fellow Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Ortwien of Allentown, to be pulled over by Lower Pottsgrove Police before being told he was actually going to be escorted to the welcome home party.
But Obrien and Ortwien took an alternate route, and bypassed the police officers, and went straight home.
“When I pulled up nobody was expecting me to be pulling up” without the police escort, Obrien said.
Nonetheless, the welcome home celebration went on.
Local fire companies came out to show their support and several items were donated by the That’s Italian Trattoria on Keim Street, the Santaoga Thriftway and the West End Beer Baron.
Additionally, Obrien and Ortwien will be guests on the Preston and Steve radio show on 93.3 WMMR on Monday morning and they will be the honorary captains of the Philadelphia Soul arena football team Monday night.
Obrien, a 2006 graduate of Pottsgrove High School, said he ws happy to be home and glad to see so many people there to welcome him home.
“I was just overwhelmed, really I had no idea what to think,” he said.
While serving at Camp Ramadi, west of Falluja in Iraq, Obrien was a humvee driver and was responsible for transporting patrols.
He will be home until May 12, when he must return to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to restart training.
Obrien said he thought about joining the military throughout high school but opted, initially, to go into automotive work. He eventually realized that a career in the military might be the right move for him, and called up a recruiter.
Obrien said he comes from a bit of a military family, with several uncles, an aunt and a grandfather having served. Also, a good friend of his who is a Marine talked to him about joining.
Obrien said the welcome home was a welcome surprise, as sometimes servicemen and women need reminding that people are still concerned about the troops.
“It’s like, wow, there’s actually people who still do care,” Obrien said. “I still don’t know what to say. It was just great, just amazing, overwhelming.”
Ellie
By Brandie Kessler, bkessler@pottsmerc.com
LOWER POTTSGROVE — Lance Cpl. Bill Obrien received a warm welcome home from dozens of friends and family members Friday night after serving with the Marines for eight months in Iraq.
The celebration was organized by A Heroes Welcome, and founder Sharon Hyland-Keyser.
The plan was for Obrien, who was returning home with fellow Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Ortwien of Allentown, to be pulled over by Lower Pottsgrove Police before being told he was actually going to be escorted to the welcome home party.
But Obrien and Ortwien took an alternate route, and bypassed the police officers, and went straight home.
“When I pulled up nobody was expecting me to be pulling up” without the police escort, Obrien said.
Nonetheless, the welcome home celebration went on.
Local fire companies came out to show their support and several items were donated by the That’s Italian Trattoria on Keim Street, the Santaoga Thriftway and the West End Beer Baron.
Additionally, Obrien and Ortwien will be guests on the Preston and Steve radio show on 93.3 WMMR on Monday morning and they will be the honorary captains of the Philadelphia Soul arena football team Monday night.
Obrien, a 2006 graduate of Pottsgrove High School, said he ws happy to be home and glad to see so many people there to welcome him home.
“I was just overwhelmed, really I had no idea what to think,” he said.
While serving at Camp Ramadi, west of Falluja in Iraq, Obrien was a humvee driver and was responsible for transporting patrols.
He will be home until May 12, when he must return to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to restart training.
Obrien said he thought about joining the military throughout high school but opted, initially, to go into automotive work. He eventually realized that a career in the military might be the right move for him, and called up a recruiter.
Obrien said he comes from a bit of a military family, with several uncles, an aunt and a grandfather having served. Also, a good friend of his who is a Marine talked to him about joining.
Obrien said the welcome home was a welcome surprise, as sometimes servicemen and women need reminding that people are still concerned about the troops.
“It’s like, wow, there’s actually people who still do care,” Obrien said. “I still don’t know what to say. It was just great, just amazing, overwhelming.”
Ellie