There was a homecoming yesterday...

Last night, Cpl. Richard "Ricky" Nelson was reunited with his new bride, arriving home just one week before their first wedding anniversary. They were high school sweet hearts. He was a part of Fox company, in my brother's battalion stationed over in Iraq. He wasn't supposed to come home until late Summer but God had other plans. Joining him in his homecoming was another marine - Lance Cpl. Dean D. Opicka.

Now, typically theses brave men return home with big hoopla, arriving home to streamers, banners, posters made with love, coming home to wives and families that spent weeks or months just picking out that first outfit that they would be seen in. Sometimes there are parades in their honor, thanking them for their service, and parties celebrating their homecoming.

These men however, will receive no party. There will be no streamers. No posters will have been slaved over, no homecoming outfits will have been picked out yet.

Last night Cpl Ricky Nelson came home to his bride.

He was escorted by other honorable Marines. And he arrived in a box with a beautiful red, white, and blue American flag draped over it.

Cpl Ricky Nelson never made it to his first anniversary.


He was only 23.

Stand down Cpl Nelson, you did your job.