SANATOGA PA – With an escort of police vehicles, motorcycles, fire trucks, and cars filled with joyful family members, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Robert Safford (left) was welcomed back Sunday afternoon (Dec. 19, 2010) from military service in Afghanistan to his family’s home on Bleim Road in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township. He is on Christmas leave for two weeks, and then will ship out to California for another 10 months of duty, relatives said.
The quiet, smiling Marine was met by Pennsylvania state troopers while he and his family were traveling west from church services in King of Prussia, and Lower Pottsgrove police took over at the township line.
With horns blaring and sirens raging, an army of happy volunteers fell in line behind the Safford car. They created a welcoming parade that traveled north on Rupert Road from U.S. Route 422, then west on Pruss Hill Road to North Pleasant View, and the short turn west again onto Bleim.
Ringing Hill Fire Company, which would have normally provided the fire escort, had its members occupied with their annual Santa Run, which also occurred Sunday. “We’re pleased our members could be here to represent Ringing Hill in this duty,” Sanatoga Fire Company Chief Rick Brendlinger said. “We’re happy to cover for them.”
The escort, as well as a presentation of certificates of appreciation, was organized by “A Hero’s Welcome,” the 3-year-old group dedicated to ensuring all returning veterans are welcomed home from duty, and by the motorcyclists of the southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of Warriors’ Watch Riders. Maria Hyland, mother of A Hero’s Welcome founder and 1997 Pottsgrove High School graduate Sharon Hyland Keyser, and Warriors’ Watch representative Tim Rooney both were on hand to offer hugs and handshakes as Safford was encircled by about 100 family members, friends, and neighbors.
The temperature was cold but the sun shone brightly as Safford, dressed comfortably in shirt sleeves and jeans, embraced relatives and strangers alike. Both he and his grandfather, Robert Safford Sr., who also served as a Marine, were honored with A Hero’s Welcome certificates. Rooney also called to the front of the crowd other servicemen and women who had arrived to give their best wishes.
A large, hand-made banner that proclaimed “Welcome Home” fluttered in the breeze from atop the porch roof line of the Safford house. Red, white and blue balloons were attached to the mailbox at the roadside, and flags were seemingly everywhere. Traffic respectfully stopped and waited for the parade to pass at every intersection. Some drivers rolled their windows down to wave and shout, and on Bleim Road one woman without a coat stood at the edge of her front lawn to cheer the procession.
Safford actually arrived in Lower Pottsgrove on Friday night; Ringing Hill was contacted Saturday, and A Hero’s Welcome worked with the Marine’s family, Warriors’ Watch, law enforcement and other groups to pull the parade and ceremony together in less than 24 hours. “He’s a hometown hero,” Lower Pottsgrove Fire Marshal Lou Babel said. “For something like this, short notice is never a problem for either of our fire companies.”
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The Post scanned available news feeds today (Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010) and found these stories of local interest.
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