Welcome Home
Sgt. Justin Kinnee
03.16.2008
Final thoughts from some Legion Riders.
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| Waking up this morning, a sense of pride and duty was in the front
of my mind. It was the day that my American Legion Rider family of Post
111, Dallas Georgia and friends would meet at the Legion post and travel
together to Cartersville airport where we would meet Sergeant Justin
Kinnee's single engine transportation from his duty station in
Jacksonville, NC. Welcoming him today would not be the first time for many of us. We were so honored previously when the then Corporal Kinnee flew in and out of this same airport during the last holiday period. After the holidays he returned to his duty station and continue his physical therapy, was promoted to Sergeant and finalized his medical discharge under honorable conditions. Though it may not have been our first opportunity to welcome Justin home it would be the most important. It was on this trip he would be returning home for the final time. A heroes welcome would be in order! Leading up to the escort mission today many of our group, community and church groups worked to ensure Justin and his family would be certain to recognize his community and our American Legions' deep respect and appreciation for the sacrifices he and his family has made to defend our freedom and liberty. Better than 30 bikes and 5 cages, including a special chauffeured antique Corvette just for our hero driven the Vettes owner and friend of the legion who I know by first name only Dave, assembled at the Legion Post on the sunniest of days in a week. As a matter of fact Justin would have been home a day prior except for severe weather including tornadoes touching down in the vicinity of Cartersville airport. The assemblage, including Justin's family took group photos to further chronicalize this day when the word came to us from our advance party at the airport the plane had a strong tailwind and was expected to arrive early so we should depart the post as soon as possible. So following a special group prayer by our Chaplain Jim Tully, Asst. Road Captain John "Cowboy" Cagle gave a ride brief, identified me and two others "Fragel" and "Rags" as road guards and gave the call for all riders to "Fire'em UP!" Our trip to the airport in Cartersville led by our ALR V.P. Dave "Superdave" McCoy was made with little wasted time and without incident. We arrived at our destination with excitement filling the air, obvious by the many smiles, hand made signs, a large banner by Jim "Doubleshot" Williams and the many flags large and small. As with our previous trip the staff and pilots at this small airport were very accommodating and proudly took part as our heroes welcoming party assembled. As his plane taxied in, we held flags at present arms and the crowd cheered, whistled and waved to Justin who's modest grin was visible through the passenger side windscreen. After the engine silenced, his luggage taken to one of the awaiting cages, Justin deboarded the small aircraft to cheers and a loving and patiently waiting mother Hazel who lead family members to the plane to greet him. Once Justin finished the family hugs and kisses he was met by our SGT. at Arms, Dante "Doc" Cabactulan and Anthony "Gunny" Guzewics who proceeded to welcome Justin with a fraternal Marine tradition of tacking on the chevrons of the new Sergeant. Then other Marines who previously served in the Corps. greeted there Marine brother and our hometown hero. The group then gathered around the Sergeant and greeted him with hugs, handshakes and words of thanks for his service and his sacrifices he has made. Sergeant Kinnee in true hero style is a very humble soul and does not like to think of himself special in anyway and in true Marine fashion recognizes his fellow Marines still in the daily heat of the battle and defers all tags of heroism to them still serving. In a short while banners and flags stowed, Chaplain "Tully" led us all in prayer, "Cowboy" called for the group to "saddle-up!" and led by Paulding County Sheriffs Dept we set out For Justin's home in Hiram, Georgia. Our trip south was greeted in various places along the way by groups of citizens who clapped and waved as our procession rolled by. It didn't take very long and we were traveling through the heart of Hiram's business district. One of the joys of escorted rides is the limited traffic difficulties and stops, with the exception of an occasionally confused travel we come upon from behind. Not long from the heart of Hiram and our rumbling, rolling mass of flag and banner covered motorcycles surrounding our hero and his chauffer in the corvette arrived at the beautiful and newly renovated Kinnee home. Our bikes and gear secured, the group of Legionnaires and friends of the Legion surrounded Sergeant Kinnee and the trio of flagpoles placed in his front yard. We then respectfully and properly hoisted the National Ensign, The Marine Corps "Proudly Served" and the POW/MIA flags and at this point more applause and words of thanks brought our mission to a successful completion! This is one of the proudest days I have experienced in recent memory. I am proud to be a member of the American Legion, I am proud to be a veteran and an American. But I am most proud of our young people like Sergeant Kinnee who have voluntarily entered military service and give of themselves unselfishly. Who with their families give everything they have in support and defense of our great nation and ensuring the freedom and liberty for generations to come. For Sgt. Justin Kinnee the war is over but his battles will continue with continuing rehabilitation an learning ways around the ever present obstacles, both real and those that are sometimes self-made. If you are given the opportunity to meet this young man, this marine, this American hero you will recognize his determination and gentle and modest manner. You will be impressed and feel better having just met him. I know I do. I hope that Justin will always remember this day fondly, remember we as his extended family of veterans, family and friends are always here for him and perhaps one day he may want to join our ranks in the American Legion, I can speak for all members when I say we will be damn proud to receive him! This mission is part of what the American Legion family organization is all about in giving to our community and supporting and assisting members of our Armed Forces including those who were held as prisoners of war and those missing in action (POW/MIA.) Late last year our Post commander Wayne Callahan tasked a few members to go and meet and become involved with community and church leaders who were already in progress with renovating the Kinnee home. Many took those marching orders and followed through with them, being part of the escorting parties or actual hands on tools in the renovating process. For that I salute our commander for his leadership in recognizing that a need existed and for deploying able bodied legionnaires to do what they could to help. Finally my brothers and sisters of the American Legion Post 111 and all of our friends and potential members that took part in making a difference in the life of this American hero and his family Thank YOU! For God & Country, Richard E. Mellick AD1/E6 USNR (Ret.) a.k.a. "Reb" |