Fallen Hero Brought Home To Highland, Illinois
My family and I have had a very somber but humbling and special experience over the past couple of days. Highland Illinois is the town that my kids go to school in, that we celebrate festivals and homecomings in. It is a fantastic and All-American town. It's picturesque and something to brag about always. This week was a coming together of citizens in Highland in that we lost an American and one of our own...We lost a hero in SFC Gary Vasquez. SFC Vasquez was on his third tour in Afghanistan when on Sept 29th his vehicle was hit by an IED and he along with two other heroes...SFC Vasquez was killed. Vasquez was a Green Beret, the best of the best and by his fellow soldiers' comments, he was a "Tell it like it is and No nonsense" soldier and that's why they liked him so much.
Take a read of this article and please watch the video...... Right Here...
As I drove into Highland to pick my kids up that day, I couldn't help but be humbled and proud... and a bit choked up at the flags lining the streets of Highland, all along the procession route and beyond. Flags on homes and businesses..flags everywhere. It was something to behold.
When I got to the kids' classroom to pick them up, they clamored to tell me about what they had witnessed. Both of them were holding little American Flags....The school had taken the students to line the street as the procession drove by...My daughter (6) said "Daddy, we saw a soldier brought home, he died to make everything better. It was sad" My son said "Not really Sis, it's a happy day too because he is with God now"... I was so proud of both of them. They told me about the Patriot Guard, a group of veteran and patriot bikers who have been an absolute blessing of support for families and friends of the fallen. It was a somber and surreal day in town, but it was also a day of learning for little ones and a reminder for the adults of how lucky we are to have such brave souls making the ultimate sacrifice. God bless SFC Gary Vasquez and his family and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
More Info and Footage Here......
Thx LT.... 
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