KILGORE (KYTX) -- They welcome soldiers home with open arms all year round. Tonight the people behind the "Welcome Home Soldiers" program gathered for their annual volunteer celebration. CBS 19's Abby Broyles was there and shows us why these volunteers do what they do.
When an East Texas soldier comes home from war, they can expect a hero's welcome - a homecoming made possible by the volunteers behind welcome home soldiers. Some veterans themselves, others are like Christie Blake - an East Texan with a military family.
She tells me she can't do enough for our soldiers today.
"They sacrificed a lot being there, and I cry. it's joy in my heart but sadness for what they go through," Blake said.
Within the past year, she's been to more than 75 "welcome home" events.
Other volunteers here have done the same.
Saturday night at First Baptist Church in Kilgore, they give thanks for our military and for each other - inspired by heroes like warren Barnes, a WWII veteran honored here for his service.
Maurice Barnes is proud of his military dad and of his son, currently serving in the U.S. Air force.
"He received the training mentally from his grandfather, watching his grandfather," Maurice Barnes said.
Warren is proud to show his support for other young soldiers.
"I have Parkinson's disease, and I can't get out and do what I used to so my connections to them are limited," Warren said.
But they're still connected by the strength and the common bond of the red white and blue.
"I thank God every night for our soldiers," Blake says, "because believe me, we can't thank them enough."
VOLUNTEERS ASK THAT FAMILIES OF THE SOLDIERS CONTACT THEM WHEN A LOVED ONE IS COMING HOME TO EAST TEXAS. CALL (903) 561-6016
