Community Corner
Area Army Specialist Receives a Hero’s Homecoming in LITH
Friends, family, and members of the Warrior's Watch Riders welcome Specialist Mark Simmons home at the American Legion in Lake in the Hills
Twenty-three–year-old U.S. Army Specialist Mark Simmons was home on leave from his tour in Afghanistan over the weekend and in for a surprise.
Instead of the quiet welcome home gathering of only family and friends, Simmons was greeted by a processional of the Warrior’s Watch Riders, a national coalition of support stateside for , at his family’s home.
A long train of motorcycles and vehicles decorated with American flags brought Simmons and his family to the American Legion of Lake in the Hills for the celebration of his safe return.
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Simmons was greeted with applause and recurring shouts of “Welcome home!” at the American Legion from family, friends and complete strangers.
“I feel like a rockstar,” he said with a laugh.
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Simmons served a tour in Afghanistan from the beginning of March 2010 to the end of February 2011.
He has been on leave for the past three and a half weeks and will report to Fort Campbell in Kentucky to serve out his contract stateside until its expiration in January.
“It feels awesome to be back,” Spc. Simmons said. “I’ve been hanging out with my wife, catching up with people. It feels great to do normal things.”
Simmons’ family is more than happy to have him back.
“It’s really awesome to have him back, there’s no other way to describe it,” Simmons’ wife, Kat Simmons said.
The pair married in August of 2009.
“We started dating right before he began basic training. It was one of those things where time was running out and I realized, this is the person I want to be with. I can’t let him get away.”
“I am extremely grateful and relieved [to have him back], the relief is just overwhelming,” Simmons’ mother Lee Simmons said.
Lee Simmons contacted the Warrior’s Watch Riders to arrange the surprise.
“Every returning soldier should have a welcome like this. I’m amazed at the turnout," she said.
Simmons comes from a long tradition of military service. His father served in Germany during the Vietnam era, one grandfather served in the Navy, the other served in the Air Force.
After Simmons completes his military service, he intends to return to the Cary area, attend college, and pursue a career in law enforcement.
