AsburySkinsFan Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Many of you know that I am the pastor of a small church in a small town in central Kentucky, well we are all celebrating today because one of my church members just returned today from a year long tour of duty in Afghanistan, she is about 20 years old and is an MP (Military Police) and she worked in the prison that houses the worst of the worst in Afghanistan. She was attached to the 198 MP Battalion out of Louisville, KY and they sent 105 soldiers 1 year ago and returned 105 soldiers today. Her family, myself and a couple others from our church drove to Louisville this morning to greet her and her unit as they arrived home, and what a wonderful time it was. Our small town welcomed her with a hero's welcome, a fire engine escort, and about 50 people from the town braved the cold weather to welcome her home and thank her for her service. Her mother decided that their family would not celebrate Christmas until she came home, this inspired many around our community who kept their Christmas decorations up so she could have a little bit of Christmas to welcome her home. I am simply blessed and honored to be part of a community that cares so much for one another and celebrates the homecoming of soliders the way this community does! BTW, this Sunday we will be singing Christmas hymns and have a Christmas sermon. What a great day! And a real answer to prayer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goaldeje Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 That's awesome, truly great story. Sounds like you live in a great place... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 That's just wonderful. Kudos to you and all your fellow residents for doing this extremely kind thing.:applause: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 What a great place! Thank you and everyone that gave her that welcome home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Many of you know that I am the pastor of a small church in a small town in central Kentucky, well we are all celebrating today because one of my church members just returned today from a year long tour of duty in Afghanistan, she is about 20 years old and is an MP (Military Police) and she worked in the prison that houses the worst of the worst in Afghanistan. She was attached to the 198 MP Battalion out of Louisville, KY and they sent 105 soldiers 1 year ago and returned 105 soldiers today. Her family, myself and a couple others from our church drove to Louisville this morning to greet her and her unit as they arrived home, and what a wonderful time it was. Our small town welcomed her with a hero's welcome, a fire engine escort, and about 50 people from the town braved the cold weather to welcome her home and thank her for her service. Her mother decided that their family would not celebrate Christmas until she came home, this inspired many around our community who kept their Christmas decorations up so she could have a little bit of Christmas to welcome her home. I am simply blessed and honored to be part of a community that cares so much for one another and celebrates the homecoming of soliders the way this community does! BTW, this Sunday we will be singing Christmas hymns and have a Christmas sermon. What a great day! And a real answer to prayer! Merry Christmas !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlinga Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 How wonderful!!! All of our soldiers should be welcomed home like this! Please send my thanks to her for her service. Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted January 31, 2007 Author Share Posted January 31, 2007 Thanks all, this truly is a great place to be, and I am honored just to live here. I will send her all the best from you crazies on here. ;-) I know that when my time on earth is done I will wish to have spent more of my time here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfitzo53 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Tell her Merry Christmas for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorresA Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 That is great. Great Small town atmosphere showing appreciation for those who serve. Tell her thanks for everything.. and is she single? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Now that's the kind of story you don't hear everyday. Great story and thanks for sharing. Bless you all . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted January 31, 2007 Author Share Posted January 31, 2007 Hey guys, I just wanted to show you the article that appeared in the Lexington paper about yesterday. http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/16585368.htm A small-town show of force CHRISTMAS HELD OVER JUST FOR HER PAINT LICK - It still looks a lot like Christmas in this little burg on the Garrard-Madison County line. That's because townsfolk didn't want a returning soldier to miss the holiday. After spending a year in Afghanistan, National Guard Spec. Shannon Dale, 20, came home yesterday to twinkling Christmas lights in store windows, 27 residents waving flags, a bouquet of roses and baby's breath, and a salute from the bearer of the flowers, Tim Robbins, chaplain of the Paint Lick-Cartersville Volunteer Fire Department. That was followed by a reception with cake, punch and hot chocolate. "I didn't expect all this," Dale said, a little overcome by the hoopla. "I appreciate it a lot. This was my first Christmas away from home, and I was pretty upset about missing Christmas." Downtown Paint Lick is less than a city block long, but several businesses had kept up Christmas decorations as a show of support to Dale, a member of the 198th Military Police Battalion based in Louisville. Red and white ornaments still hung from a Christmas tree in Sweet Pea's General Store and Diner. Garland was still in the window of the post office. And wreaths, lights and yard decorations still graced several homes. It was all part of "Operation Homecoming," in which Paint Lick resident Rita Mackin Fox encouraged businesses and residents to show their appreciation for Dale and other soldiers overseas. Fox, who attends the same Methodist church as the Dale family, came up with the idea after learning that the Dales planned to postpone the exchanging of Christmas presents until Shannon's return home. The Dales were surprised to see the number of people, some of whom the family doesn't know, who kept decorations up, Fox said. But the Rev. Jeremy James, pastor of Paint Lick United Methodist Church, wasn't surprised. "When I first got here, I started preaching sermons about community, because that's where everybody else is at: to regain community," James said. "It took me six months before I realized: people here know what community is. They live it. They know it. It's simply who they are. They come together for things like this. They really go out of their way to do things for each other." Paint Lick (so-named because early settlers found that Native Americans had marked rocks and trees as hunting signals to each other near a salt lick) is an unincorporated town of anywhere from four to more than 1,000 people; the population depends on how big a radius you draw outside downtown and which communities you include. "It's still one of those places in America that's a great place to raise a family," said Joe Brown at First Southern National Bank. "The smallness promotes closeness and promotes the fact that you know your neighbors and know them rather well." Said Peggy West, one of the well-wishers at the reception: "We're not much on quantity but we're a lot on quality." Dale said she plans to resume her studies in occupational therapy at Eastern Kentucky University. In the meantime, she has Christmas shopping to do. And come Sunday, the Methodist church congregation will sing Christmas hymns. "I appreciate everything the community's done," Dale said. "It makes me really proud to come home to this little town. These people have good hearts." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tizzod Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Wow, that's great stuff. Great group of people over there. Definitely please tell her, and anyone else you might happen to see, thanks from us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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