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Matt's Homecoming from Iraq
	After 15 months in Iraq, Matt finally made it home to the waiting arms of his moms, dads, and friends. I can only liken it to the birth of a child -- it was so exciting and long-anticipated that the occasion raised gooseflesh and gave us butterflies and hot flashes at the same time. Patty and Cherie decorated Patty's and Tom's house for the homecoming.

The Excitement Builds Sheridan Gym at Fort Lewis 12 September 2007 8:01 p.m.
	The kids are all abuzz, waiting for their dads to arrive at the gym. Their energy can't be contained, so they dance and run around the gym floor

Don't let their suave demeanor fool you, the older generation is just as excited as they await their sons. Josh's mom Judy, in black, his dad Steve, Cherie, and Mel's parents, Patty and Tom, anxiously await Matt's and his buddy Josh's return.

	See what I mean? Can you feel the tension in Judy's face? The gym was filling up, and on the wall was a projected live video of the returning troops as they waited at McChord Air Force Base for the bus to take them to Fort Lewis.

"De Plane! De Plane!"
The plane that brought our boys home was like the proverbial stork -- not pretty, but it got the job done. A tape of the soldiers debarking was shown in the gym, in between live feeds of them waiting for the bus.

Matt Arrives That's him behind someone's waving hand. Methinks his training has taught him to avoid anything aimed at him, including video cameras.

Matt's friend Josh walks the tarmac. Looks like it was a long flight, huh Josh?

	Matt's buddy Jason, aka Mindy, is happy to be on American soil too. Looks like he's checking out all these trees -- where's the cactus?

8:15 p.m. Our first look at Matt — He's Home! Here he is, in living color, on the gym wall. Matt gazes off camera, while his frind "Cooter" who we'd met at Thanksgiving in Michigan in 2005, ponders the first bar he'll hit when he gets his wheels.

9:15 p.m. The Boys Are Baaaack
The bus arrived, and in marched the soldiers of B Company, 5/20 Infantry Battalion, 3rd of the 2nd Infantry Division after a long, hard ride from Kuwait.		The band struck up, friends and family members squealed, waved flags, and jumped to their feet, as sons, fathers, and brothers filed into the gym.

Tom, left, is poised with the camera, while Patty and Cherie hold up the posters they made to honor their heroes and welcome them home.

The moms were gawking, picking out their sons in the body of soldiers assembled on the gym floor. Fortunately for us, Matt was right in the front row, the third one from the right, where we could catch his eye and let him know we were there for him.

Matt, third from the right, stands at attention, sort of, as the troops are called to order. As usual, he has the longest hair and the slouchiest stance in the unit. Beetle Bailey has nothing on Matt.

	A cool breeze from the waving flags mingles with some hot air from the brigidier general as the troops are welcomed home. Okay, I've gotta ask. What's in the silver case that the bald soldier is carrying? Is it nuclear launch codes or just a preppy way to carry dirty underwear? He'll never tell, and if he did, he'd have to kill me, I'm sure.

9:20 p.m. Finally, Cherie Gets Her Hands On Matt The worry, the concern, the excruiciating wait, are all over as a mom finally gets her arms around her hero soldier. If you could bottle this emotion, you'd never have another bad day in life. Matt is finally back.

Matt hugs one of his other moms, Patty, as he makes his way up into the stands

Tom welcomes Matt home to Fort Lewis, while Patty looks on. I think Patty was as excited to see Matt as was Cherie. With her occasional tears, we found the true meaning of the term "Patty Melt."

General mingling ensues as buddies introduce their families to each other and bask in the company of loved ones. I found that this kind of homecoming is very much a "hands on" experience. Everyone just wants to touch each other, as if their hands were the terminus of their heart strings. The Three Sergeants Three friends, and soon to be apartment roommates, Josh, Jason, and Matt, pause for a photo op upon their return.

9:37 p.m. Let the Tailgate Party Begin As soon as we were out of the gym, the car trucks opened and the coolers spilled out their icy bottles of beer and Jagermeister. Welcome home, guys.

Mindy and his mom and dad, left, Josh and his family in the middle, and Matt and his families take up position for an hour of tailgate celebration in the gym parking lot. Not surprisingly, our group was the first to start and the last to leave the impromptu party. As if that wasn't enough, we continued the celebration as a waterfront bar in Tacoma, but that's the subject of another set of pictures.

Matt and His Moms
Cherie gives Matt a motherly face pinch — perhaps to say, "it's about time you got home."

Patty gives Matt mothering, too. The moon was rising that night—Blue Moon, that is.

Matt's other mom, Judy (Josh's mom), gives her boy a pat on the back for a job well done. That job, of course, was to keep the Bud Lights coming.

Matt cozies up to his moms after donning the Guiness shirt he bought on the flight's stop-over in Ireland. Methinks he is still flying.

Josh's family, left, Steve, Kelly, and Judy, invited Matt to spend Easter with them in Ohio a couple of years back. They were kind enough to adopt him at the time. Here's to family ties, or is it to families who tie one on?

Okay, that answers the question, Judy.

Some days everyone is Irish, expecially when Guiness is available. Matt, in his Michigan cap, and Josh, in his Notre Dame shirt, on the eve of the big football game. Michigan won, by the way.

More Partying Follows
To see the party as it continued into the following days, click on the Celebration link, or click on the photo at right

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