Marine Returns Home For The Holidays

PHILADELPHIA - A Delaware County Marine returned home to a hero's welcome Wednesday.

First Lt. Grant Hahn has served in Iraq and will soon deploy to Afghanistan.

With Christmas fast approaching, Fox 29’s Bruce Gordon joined family, friends and complete strangers who took time to say thanks to a young man who gives them the gift of freedom, 365 days a year.

Today's event at the airport was just the latest in an ongoing series of greetings organized by two groups: 'A Hero's Welcome' and 'The Warriors Watch Riders.'

It seemed fitting, given the patriotic theme of the day, that American Airlines Glight 1776 carried Grant Hahn home to Philadelphia.

Standing by, as family members took turns squeezing the 27-year-old Marine, were strangers who volunteer their time to say "Welcome Home."

"We just do it because we want to thank them and just give them a little piece of what they give us," says Maria Hyland of "A Hero's Welcome."

Many of those involved in "A Hero's Welcome" are themselves military parents who know a litle something about spending holidays alone, while a loved one is in danger, half a world away.

"I just know how much it meant to my son, who put his life on the line over in Afghanistan, to have people back home appreciate them," says Evelyn Kromer of "A Hero's Welcome."

The biggest hug, no surprise, came from mom - her pride and joy spilling over like the tears down her cheeks.

"I'm just so happy and so proud that we just get to touch him for a little while, till he has to deploy again..." says Mary Wilson.

Hahn spent 13 months in Iraq then it was off to Hawaii - then to Camp Pendleton for training in preparation for a Spring 2010 deployment to Afghanistan.

Greetings - like this one - remind Hahn and his family that they are not alone.

"We're really touched by all the friends we've made," says dad Mark Wilson. "There's really a community of people that understand the sacrifice that these young men and women make."

The final touch: a horn-honking, flag-waving escort home to Boothwyn.

Christmas at home for a Marine whose service to his country provides all of us with the gift of freedom.

It was hard to miss Lt. Hahn’s Dallas Cowboys shirt.

Military service in Iraq and Afghanistan - fairly impressive. Wearing Cowboys gear in Philadelphia? Now that's bravery!