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Article updated: 9/8/2012 8:05 PM

Barrington Marine receives hero’s welcome

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A overwhelmed Gari Buergin, grandmother to Cpl. Marcus Kuiper, 22, of Barrington welcomes him home Saturday after his second tour in Afghanistan.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

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Cpl. Marcus Kuiper, 22, of Barrington is welcomed home after his second tour in Afghanistan by his friends and family members dad, Mark Kuiper, stepmother, Jessica, and brother, T.J.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

A overwhelmed Jerry Kuiper, grandfather to Cpl. Marcus Kuiper, 22, of Barrington welcomes him home Saturday after his second tour in Afghanistan.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Cpl. Marcus Kuiper, 22, of Barrington is welcomed home Saturday after his second tour in Afghanistan by his friends and family members.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Cpl. Marcus Kuiper, 22, of Barrington has his first beer with Patriot Guard member Matt Charlier of Cary on Saturday as he is welcomed home by his friends and family after his second tour in Afghanistan.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Cpl. Marcus Kuiper, 22, of Barrington is welcomed home after his second tour in Afghanistan by his friends and family with a personal escort from the Patriot Guard.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

About this Article

The well-deserved hero's welcome thrown by a crowd of friends and family left Marine Cpl. Marcus Kuiper humble and gracious as he returned to his hometown of Barrington from Afghanistan Saturday afternoon. Loved ones and friends from his Barrington High School days — barely four years earlier — cheered and waved American flags as he took a deep breath, slowly turned around and took it all in.