“Homecoming”

By

Gerry Niskern

Veteran’s day is Friday. A day we honor our country’s war veterans with parades, speeches and memorials. In other words, a day for memories.  Many  people will remember not a whole army, but one boy, because that’s what most of our soldiers are when they leave home.

Before a young man knows fear, his mother does. It strikes her heart when she hears the words, “Mom, I’ve enlist

I was around ten when my dad and mom took me down to Union Station in Phoenix to see the train bringing in a very brave young man. Army infantryman, Sgt. Selvestre  Herrera, Arizona’s first living Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

The train slowed to a stop. We were pushed forward as the excited crowd surged toward the first car. I heard people shouting, “There he is.     I see him. I see him!” The band struck up another rousing march and the man in the red and white shirt had to scream “peanuts, popcorn” in order to be heard.

The conductor shouted for everyone to “please, stand back”.  He placed the extra step for the train passengers to step down, and then looked up with pride.

One step at a time, a soldier in full dress uniform backed down the steps. He was lifting one side of a wheel chair. Before the soldier holding the other side of the chair could reach the pavement, the occupant was grabbed by many anxious hands. They hoisted the young soldier atop their shoulders. “But Dad, Dad” I shouted “Why is….my voice was drowned out as the jubilant throng passed him along from man to man. I thought he looked like a volley ball bouncing on top the crowd.  Finally, they placed the returning hero on top the back of a red convertible, with a banner on the side reading, ‘Read Mullen Chevrolet”

The bright chariot started slowly up Fifth Avenue. Men, women and kids shouting  and waving American flags as they  scrambled to keep up with the car when it turned East on Washington. The driver picked up speed and suddenly I was separated from mom and dad. Phoenix was a small town then.  A kid  couldn’t become lost in the few short blocks to the designated uptown celebration site.  I was swept along with the throng towards Central Avenue beside the band.

The procession stopped in front of the Republic and Gazette building on north Central.  Some kind of temporary platform was draped with red, white and blue bunting.

The state senators and representatives were on the stage. The people cheered for the governor. They clapped for the mayor.

“On behalf of the people of Arizona, I’m proud and happy to welcome you home, Sargent  Hererra,” the governor shouted.

“This is indeed a glorious day” declared the mayor. “You must be very proud to be the first Congressional Medal of Honor winner from the State of Arizona. “

I pushed up close to the speaker’s stand trying to see the war hero. I ducked in front of some adults.  The legs of the young warrior’s pants  were carefully folded back above his knees with large shiny safety pins.

Finally, the speeches were finished and everyone on the platform jumped to their feet and clapped furiously. Then,  I couldn’t see Private Hererra anymore. He was hidden by the politicians.

NOTE: Sargent Herrera was not a citizen of the United States. He was brought from Mexico as a child by an uncle who raised him. He was married, with two small children when he enlisted in the U. S. Army in World War II.