An 'overwhelming' welcome for one soldier

A North Barrington soldier received a hero's welcome Saturday, as he returned home from Baghdad for a 30-day leave.

Army Spc. John Moran, 23, was greeted by Patriot Guard Riders standing at attention along the ramp off I-90 at the Des Plaines oasis, holding American flags and forming an honor guard.

"I'm overwhelmed," Moran said simply, before thanking many of the nearly 35 Patriot members.

Moran had left Fort Drum in upstate New York Friday to start his drive home, picking up his father, Jim, in Chicago. The Barrington High School graduate was stationed in southwest Baghdad for 15 months.

"I was crying," said his grandmother, Carol Jacobson of Mount Prospect, "to see all of those Patriot Riders, standing there in the snow, to welcome him home."

As Moran prepared to make the last leg of his journey, the Patriot Guard Riders formed a motorcade led by alternating state and village officials, including Illinois state troopers. They handed the group off to Barrington police and fire department officials, Lake County police, and finally, Lake Zurich police and fire department members.

By the time the motorcade reached J.J. Twig's Pizza & Pub in Lake Zurich, where a party awaited Moran, the Lake Zurich Fire Department led the parade of cars, with its fire engine's sirens blaring.

Once he entered the restaurant, Moran found another honor guard assembled, this one made up of members of the VFW Post 7706 of Barrington.

"This is our fourth 'welcome home' since October," said Jim Mulvihill of Barrington. "This is one of the most exciting things I've done in uniform."

More than 60 friends, classmates and village officials broke into applause as Moran arrived. Once again, he went around the room, thanking and hugging nearly every guest.

"These are all the people who have sent him packages and supported him while he's been away," said his mother, Kathy. "We're so excited. This Christmas is so much better than last year, when he slept on a cot and ate powdered government issued food."

North Barrington Village President Bruce Sauer presented Moran with a framed certificate, declaring him a "hometown hero," while friends Bob and Carol Bieniek of Barrington simply handed him a card.

"We're very proud of him and of his service," Bob Bieniek said. "He's a fine young man."