TERRE HAUTE — Several dedicated American Legion Riders waited through two delays, but they were determined to be there when Marines with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment arrived at Terre Haute International Airport on Friday night.
The Marines, who were mobilized in early April 2009, were returning from combat missions in Iraq.
Friday meant a lot of “hurry up and wait” for DeWayne “Dewey” Long, an American Legion Rider who organized a caravan that would accompany the Marines from the airport to the company’s unit on South Fruitridge Avenue.
“We’re bringing these guys home to assure them we still care about them, we still think about them and we still love them as our hometown heroes,” said Long, who’s from Worthington.
Around 3 p.m. at the Brazil America Legion Post 2, American Legion Riders and others began gathering to organize the escort.
Long expected riders from Shoals, Brazil, Linton, Worthington, Bloomfield and Riley, many of them members of the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion or Auxiliary American Legion. “It’s just another way for us to support our veterans,” Long said.
A few years ago, the Legion Riders provided a similar escort for the Marines that involved 532 bikes; that time, they came from Indianapolis. “It was heartwarming,” Long said.
While being interviewed, he learned the Marines’ landing would be delayed to about 7:10 p.m.
Long was joined by his brother, Jack Long, 50, a 14-year Navy veteran, who is from Linton. “These boys deserve this,” he said. “They’re making sacrifices for us.” Jack Long served in the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm, he said.
Randy Blake of Bloomfield also planned to join the caravan. “I’m supporting those that support us,” he said.
Todd Pierson of Riley rode to the Brazil American Legion on his newly-purchased Harley-Davidson, which had two small flags on the back. On his jacket was written, “Support our Troops.”
Several of the riders reconvened at the Terre Haute airport a few hours later, only to learn the Marines’ flight home would be delayed to about 8:30 p.m.
Among those who planned to stay as long as it took were Cesar Vallejo, 63, of Brazil, and Debbie Smith, 56, of Parke County.
“We wanted to give them moral support and see the troops come in and make sure they feel like they are welcome to come home,” Vallejo said.
He’s an army veteran who served overseas during the Vietnam War era, although he personally did not go to Vietnam.
He remembers coming home in uniform and “we got a really bad feeling. They looked at us like we didn’t belong … The troops didn’t have any support whatsoever. There was a lot of people against the conflict in Vietnam.”
He doesn’t want today’s veterans to experience that same feeling.
Smith, a secretary for the Brazil Legion Riders, said, “We just wanted to show our support and let them know we appreciate the sacrifices that they and their families have made.”
Jack Long’s wife, Tonia, was at the airport along with daughter, Lisa, 20, and son, Kenny, 18. Lisa is in the Army National Guard out of Bedford.
“We always support the troops,” Tonia said.
Lisa wanted to be present because “I love the military,” she said. She still is in boot camp, but on convalescent leave. She brought her son, Rylan, age 2.
“We’re hoping to teach him respect for the service,” Tonia Long said.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
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