thedrifter
03-14-09, 08:28 AM
Marine receives surprise welcome at CC airport
By: NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
Published:
Friday, March 13, 2009 3:05 PM CDT
Some were dressed in red, white and blue, and most were carrying American flags, as they waited patiently for first sight of him. Mom saw him first, shouting, “There he is,” as she waved an American flag so he could see her.
The smile on the young Marine’s face as he approached grandma, mom and dad, told the story - he is glad to be home.
Rockport-Fulton High School graduate and Marine Cpl. E4 Cody Collins arrived at the Corpus Christi airport Friday, March 6. He believed he would be greeted by a small gathering of family, friends, and some members of the south Texas Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR). What he didn’t expect was the group to be almost 75-people strong and include representatives from the Bahia Bay area, as well as many students from Sacred Heart School.
SHS principal Kathy Barnes explained Collins was as a third grader, and later again as a sixth grader.
Collins went on to attend schools in the Aransas County Independent School District and graduated from Rockport-Fulton High School in May 2005. Shortly thereafter he enlisted in the Marines.
The young man recently completed a seven-month tour in Iraq and has returned to a duty station in Hawaii. He was there about three weeks before being given leave to come home for a two-week visit.
Members of the PGR, of which Tom Colllins is a member, were ready to conduct their standard welcome home. They arrived on motorcycles armed with flags, and formed a line prepared to salute the young Collins upon his arrival.
When Barnes heard about her former students’ arrival date, she gathered fourth and fifth grade students who created signs for the big event. They were armed with flags as well and joined the PGR at the airport. PGR members assembled the students, one between each adult, along the line as well. Other students stood at the end of the line holding signs.
That was not all, however, as several Bahia Bay residents, a group who has been sending care packages to troops overseas since the war on terrorism began, also were on hand.
Waiting at the entry gate, the closest point possible, were Cody’s parents, Tom and Linda Collins, and his “Oma” Elizabeth Pellusch.
As he strode through the final barricade, he embraced his grandmother who didn’t want to let him go. When she did, the tears of joy were evident as she proclaimed loudly to everyone, “This is my grandson.”
The young man was hugged by both his mother and father, and when they finally broke apart, there were more tears of joy.
The marine then began to walk through the airport and was greeted, first, by Bahia Bay residents, and some PGR members. He then traveled down the escalator and walked through the PGR/SHS student welcome home line.
The surprise was there, but his smile gave proof of how much he appreciated everyone’s presence. As he reached the end of the line, Barnes was the next to embrace him, and again the happy tears flowed.
The SHS students sang to Collins, then prayed over him, after which he greeted and thanked each PGR member individually.
The Collinses were overwhelmed with gratitude over the number of people who were on hand to greet their son. Linda said, “So many people took time out of their day to be here. It’s so awesome I can’t even describe it.”
When they arrived at their home in City by the Sea, numerous residents and friends were waiting at the subdivision entrance with flags to greet the Collins family as well.
Since his arrival, mom said it has been a busy schedule as he has been been visiting friends, and they have been visiting him as well.
They have managed to have family meals, which has been great she said.
He goes back to Hawaii on March 20, where he will remain until January 2010, at which time he will be deployed to Afghanistan.
Mom said she wished he had not told her that, at least not yet. However, once he returns to Hawaii, he will not have leave again until after he returns from overseas.
Linda added, “We’ll just have to go to Hawaii (before he leaves in January).”
Prior to Collins’ arrival, a boarding passenger saw the PGR, the students, and everyone who appeared to be connected to them. When he discovered they were all waiting for Collins, he said, “All this for one person?”
The resounding answer was not just any person, a Marine, and a Rockport, Texas Marine at that.
Ellie
By: NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
Published:
Friday, March 13, 2009 3:05 PM CDT
Some were dressed in red, white and blue, and most were carrying American flags, as they waited patiently for first sight of him. Mom saw him first, shouting, “There he is,” as she waved an American flag so he could see her.
The smile on the young Marine’s face as he approached grandma, mom and dad, told the story - he is glad to be home.
Rockport-Fulton High School graduate and Marine Cpl. E4 Cody Collins arrived at the Corpus Christi airport Friday, March 6. He believed he would be greeted by a small gathering of family, friends, and some members of the south Texas Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR). What he didn’t expect was the group to be almost 75-people strong and include representatives from the Bahia Bay area, as well as many students from Sacred Heart School.
SHS principal Kathy Barnes explained Collins was as a third grader, and later again as a sixth grader.
Collins went on to attend schools in the Aransas County Independent School District and graduated from Rockport-Fulton High School in May 2005. Shortly thereafter he enlisted in the Marines.
The young man recently completed a seven-month tour in Iraq and has returned to a duty station in Hawaii. He was there about three weeks before being given leave to come home for a two-week visit.
Members of the PGR, of which Tom Colllins is a member, were ready to conduct their standard welcome home. They arrived on motorcycles armed with flags, and formed a line prepared to salute the young Collins upon his arrival.
When Barnes heard about her former students’ arrival date, she gathered fourth and fifth grade students who created signs for the big event. They were armed with flags as well and joined the PGR at the airport. PGR members assembled the students, one between each adult, along the line as well. Other students stood at the end of the line holding signs.
That was not all, however, as several Bahia Bay residents, a group who has been sending care packages to troops overseas since the war on terrorism began, also were on hand.
Waiting at the entry gate, the closest point possible, were Cody’s parents, Tom and Linda Collins, and his “Oma” Elizabeth Pellusch.
As he strode through the final barricade, he embraced his grandmother who didn’t want to let him go. When she did, the tears of joy were evident as she proclaimed loudly to everyone, “This is my grandson.”
The young man was hugged by both his mother and father, and when they finally broke apart, there were more tears of joy.
The marine then began to walk through the airport and was greeted, first, by Bahia Bay residents, and some PGR members. He then traveled down the escalator and walked through the PGR/SHS student welcome home line.
The surprise was there, but his smile gave proof of how much he appreciated everyone’s presence. As he reached the end of the line, Barnes was the next to embrace him, and again the happy tears flowed.
The SHS students sang to Collins, then prayed over him, after which he greeted and thanked each PGR member individually.
The Collinses were overwhelmed with gratitude over the number of people who were on hand to greet their son. Linda said, “So many people took time out of their day to be here. It’s so awesome I can’t even describe it.”
When they arrived at their home in City by the Sea, numerous residents and friends were waiting at the subdivision entrance with flags to greet the Collins family as well.
Since his arrival, mom said it has been a busy schedule as he has been been visiting friends, and they have been visiting him as well.
They have managed to have family meals, which has been great she said.
He goes back to Hawaii on March 20, where he will remain until January 2010, at which time he will be deployed to Afghanistan.
Mom said she wished he had not told her that, at least not yet. However, once he returns to Hawaii, he will not have leave again until after he returns from overseas.
Linda added, “We’ll just have to go to Hawaii (before he leaves in January).”
Prior to Collins’ arrival, a boarding passenger saw the PGR, the students, and everyone who appeared to be connected to them. When he discovered they were all waiting for Collins, he said, “All this for one person?”
The resounding answer was not just any person, a Marine, and a Rockport, Texas Marine at that.
Ellie