Monday, December 3, 2012
US Army SPC Rosalio "Charlie" Aguirre was welcomed home Sunday afternoon at his Aurora home.
US Army SPC Rosalio "Charlie" Aguirre, an Aurora resident, recently arrived home from Operation Enduring Freedom. And Operation Welcome You Home (OWYH) was there to give him a hero’s welcome on Sunday afternoon. A huge crowd of well-wishers and members of Naperville-based OWYH drove to Aguirre’s family home in Aurora with a fleet of motorcycles, five fire engines, ambulances, police cars and many cars and trucks flying flags and honking in earnest. Verna O’Brien was part of the motorcycle group and said she had done many ‘welcomes’ before. “It’s always an honor,” said the Romeoville resident. Aguirre was born in Aurora and attended West Aurora High School. He served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in the Army…
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The organization is accepting donations to help the veteran and his sister get back on their feet.
Operation Welcome You Home (OWYH) is working to find a home for a Vietnam veteran and his sister. The Naperville-based organization provides “respectful, thoughtful, uplifting and joyous homecomings for all of our returning warriors and their families. The commitment we make is to provide a memorable, thankful, and honorable experience our Troops will never forget,” according to their mission statement. OWYH currently has a new mission: to find housing for a Vietnam veteran. According to OWYH founder Donna Morsovillo, the organization found out about two veterans who had been living in a Naperville park. A marine in the area paid for several nights for them to stay at a hotel, but the OWYH is looking for a more permanent solution. “Where …
Monday, May 7, 2012
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Christopher Bastida was 'certainly surprised' by Saturday ceremony.
Oswego High School graduate Sgt. Christopher Bastida got a welcome home he never expected Saturday morning. Local military support group Operation Welcome You Home threw a surprise parade and homecoming ceremony outside the family’s Boulder Hill home complete with numerous presentations from various veterans groups from around the area. Oswego Village President Brian LeClercq also was on hand for the ceremony. Residents along Boulder Hill Pass watched as a convoy of police vehicles and motorcycles made its way to the Bastida home. Fans taking in a ball game at Boulder Hill School even stood and paid their respects. Bastida has served in the U.S. Marine Corps since 2007 and was first deployed to Afghanistan in late 2009. He was sent for …
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Operation Welcome You Home hosts first event Aug. 13.
Whenever soliders return home after being deployed, the volunteers at Operation Welcome You Home do their best to give them a joyous reception. Those welcome homes are important to both the volunteers and the soldiers because there was a time when military personnel were not treated with the respect they deserved, said Judi Stapleton, assistant coordinator, Operation Welcome You Home, a Naperville-based nonprofit. In a few weeks, the organization will host its first fundraiser, a candlelight bowling event, Stapleton said. She hopes that just as the soldiers get a rousing welcome home, they will get a rousing community response with a bowling alley packed with people. “Someone thought of the idea and I took it over and ran with it,” she …
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Pat Gavros
6:03 am on Monday, December 3, 2012
Thank you for your service Sgt. Aguirre! I'm glad you came home safely. Have a beautiful Christmas. more ›