Sand Springs Blue Star moms welcome home a pair of Marines

While Operation Sidewinder begins, much of the military action in Iraq is starting to wind down and military personnel are returning home. <br><br>A big welcome home celebration was held Monday night

Tuesday, July 1st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

While Operation Sidewinder begins, much of the military action in Iraq is starting to wind down and military personnel are returning home.

A big welcome home celebration was held Monday night in Sand Springs. It was a chance for the community to thank those who served in Iraq. And as News on 6 anchor Craig Day explains, it was also an opportunity for military personnel to thank those who kept them in their thoughts and prayers.

It's the regular meeting of the Sand Springs chapter of the Oklahoma Blue Star Mothers, but at this meeting some of the servicemen are home. "Gentlemen. Welcome home." Those words are what Travis Austin and Danny Bullock have been waiting for. Both served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Corporal Travis Austin, US Marine Corps "There is a lot of pride in what we do and it's not a kind of pride like look at me I'm a marine. But it is the kind of pride when you look around and know that you have preserved everything you see. You and the buddies out there serving with you."

It's Danny Bullock's first day home. Cpl Danny Bullock, US Marine Corps "It's a big relief, big relief. You don't realize it, but when you touch down, on the ground, you realize how comforting home is."

The meeting is a chance to tell the men thank you. It's also a chance for those men to thank the Oklahoma Blue Star moms who sent so many letters and care packages from right here in Sand Springs to so many military men and women half a world away. Those military moms and other volunteers sent hundreds of freedom boxes to men and women away from home.

Generosity they will never forget. Cpl Danny Bullock, US Marine Corps "Those care packages, they mean the world. You get out there and you just know there are people in America backing you and that means a lot." Lance Corporal Travis Austin, US Marine Corps "For you guys to pull together like you did and put the time that you did and the effort to make us feel a little more like we were at home there. That was awesome and that speaks so highly of Sand Springs, Oklahoma."

The Sand Springs Chapter of the Oklahoma Blue Star Mothers is still sending freedom boxes to military men and women away from home. Those soldiers aren't asking for much. They mostly just want things like tea bags for iced tea, Kool-Aid, Oreo cookies and of course, letters.