thedrifter
04-13-09, 07:21 AM
In passing: Church honors one Marine home from war, one there, one on his way
By TONY REID - H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR - The Few. The Proud. The Marines added a splash of uniform color Sunday to an emotional service at Grace Baptist Church.
In an unusual Easter tribute, the church welcomed home Marine Sgt. Douglas Henderson, 26, just back from his third tour of Iraq. It also said a fond goodbye to Marine Pfc. Michael Barnes, 20, about to deploy for his first overseas tour but not sure yet where he's heading.
Henderson and Barnes, who live in Decatur, were present in dress uniform with their families while the church also had another Marine congregation member on its mind: Pfc. Chris Smith, 22, a Mount Pulaski soldier now a month into his first deployment in Iraq.
"So we have one coming home, one going and there is one who is there in Iraq right now," said Pastor Jerry Shirley. "We have three examples of all the emotions that people go through: ecstatic about coming home, sad to be leaving and one already in the midst of it all."
Shirley themed the service around a play on words, comparing the biblical message of "He Rose" to the "Heroes" among them called to put their lives on the line for their country.
Henderson, decorated by the service after twice being involved in the rescues of downed helicopter pilots, said soldiers notice and appreciate when the public has got their back. "Pretty awesome," he said, and used the same words to describe the security transformation in Iraq. "I am pretty proud to be a part of that history," he added.
His wife Christine, 22, married to him for two years but not having seen him much, is looking forward to having him around. Her husband had been called back to active service for his third tour, and they're hoping that this time he's done and can settle down to civilian life. "We've got our fingers crossed," she said.
For Pfc. Barnes, Sunday marked a send-off he wouldn't forget. "It's always in the back of our minds, 'Are people thinking about us?' he said. "Knowing they are, and that they support us, helps keep us going."
Rich and Tina Smith are the proud parents of Pfc. Smith and say the church has sent their son care packages and stayed in touch with him. "And we know they pray for him, and that means a lot to us," said his father.
When Tina Smith asked her son how it was going in Iraq, he said it was kind of boring. "Good," she said. "We'll take boring."
treid@herald-review.com|421-7977
Ellie
By TONY REID - H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR - The Few. The Proud. The Marines added a splash of uniform color Sunday to an emotional service at Grace Baptist Church.
In an unusual Easter tribute, the church welcomed home Marine Sgt. Douglas Henderson, 26, just back from his third tour of Iraq. It also said a fond goodbye to Marine Pfc. Michael Barnes, 20, about to deploy for his first overseas tour but not sure yet where he's heading.
Henderson and Barnes, who live in Decatur, were present in dress uniform with their families while the church also had another Marine congregation member on its mind: Pfc. Chris Smith, 22, a Mount Pulaski soldier now a month into his first deployment in Iraq.
"So we have one coming home, one going and there is one who is there in Iraq right now," said Pastor Jerry Shirley. "We have three examples of all the emotions that people go through: ecstatic about coming home, sad to be leaving and one already in the midst of it all."
Shirley themed the service around a play on words, comparing the biblical message of "He Rose" to the "Heroes" among them called to put their lives on the line for their country.
Henderson, decorated by the service after twice being involved in the rescues of downed helicopter pilots, said soldiers notice and appreciate when the public has got their back. "Pretty awesome," he said, and used the same words to describe the security transformation in Iraq. "I am pretty proud to be a part of that history," he added.
His wife Christine, 22, married to him for two years but not having seen him much, is looking forward to having him around. Her husband had been called back to active service for his third tour, and they're hoping that this time he's done and can settle down to civilian life. "We've got our fingers crossed," she said.
For Pfc. Barnes, Sunday marked a send-off he wouldn't forget. "It's always in the back of our minds, 'Are people thinking about us?' he said. "Knowing they are, and that they support us, helps keep us going."
Rich and Tina Smith are the proud parents of Pfc. Smith and say the church has sent their son care packages and stayed in touch with him. "And we know they pray for him, and that means a lot to us," said his father.
When Tina Smith asked her son how it was going in Iraq, he said it was kind of boring. "Good," she said. "We'll take boring."
treid@herald-review.com|421-7977
Ellie