SALISBURY, Md.- One Wicomico County man is home for the Holidays, after returning to Salisbury on Saturday from Afghanistan. Jonathon Prouse was greeted on the tarmac by his parents Rick and Gail. It was the first time that they had seen their son since April.
"We were ready," said Rick Prouse. "I wanted to run out there but they wouldn't let me run out there. So, I was ready to see him."
Jonathon's parents were not the only people ready to welcome him home. Inside the Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional Airport were dozens of people cheering and waving American flags as Prouse walked in. The group was made up of family, friends and others gathered by Operation We Care.
"It's huge,you can't even describe it especially since this time last year they were saying goodbye to their son and sending him off to Afghanistan. So, this has a huge impact for the local community and the family," said Jeff Merritt, the Operation We Care coordinator.
Amongst those gathered were total strangers to the Prouse family. People came from all across the region and up into Pennsylvania to give Jonathon Prouse a hero's return.
"We support," said Tim Robinson of Laurel. "We're all there, we are as a family. Once you're a military family, you're a military family forever."
"My son is in the Navy and has been for 16 years," explained Pat Koszarek of Bristol, Pa. "It is to support all of the people that are defending us and give so much up and their families give so much up."
Jonathon Prouse will get to spend the Holidays with his family in Wicomico County on his 30-day leave before heading back overseas.
