For local Marine, there's no place like home

Friends, relatives, neighbors and even strangers welcomed Lance Cpl. Eddie Perez home to St. Charles Monday night.

Perez, 22, is on holiday leave from his job as a Marine rifleman with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, based out of Twentynine Palms, Calif.

From late April to late September, he helped secure the Iraq-Syria border.

More than 50 people cheered and waved U.S. and Marine Corps flags when he arrived at the Foxboro Plaza shopping center at Route 64 and Dunham Road around 6 p.m.

From there, Perez was escorted to his parents' home on 13th Avenue by police and Warrior Watch, a private group that welcomes soldiers and sailors home.

"Honk your horns. Let the whole town know he is home. It's a celebration, make it that!" said Dave Skinner, a Warrior Watch organizer.

Warrior Watch was notified of Perez's visit by his mother, Lily.

"I appreciate everything. Thanks for coming out," a surprised Perez told the crowd, as his mom, wearing a "Proud Marine Mom" T-shirt, stood nearby, beaming. "I thank you all. I knew my Mom was up to no good."

Perez graduated from St. Charles East High School in 2005. He wanted to join the Marines even before graduation, but his mother asked him to wait and make sure the decision was right.

When he turned 21 last year, he signed up. He graduated from the School of Infantry earlier this year, got married March 28, and shipped out April 21.

He will return to his base after Thanksgiving. His next overseas assignment starts in October in Afghanistan.