Thousands of people lined the 14-mile stretch of road from Leesburg to Purcellville Sunday morning waving American flags and cheering. An American hero was being escorted from the Leesburg Airport to his hometown Purcellville, VA. This man was no one famous as one might think from his big welcome home. He was an American soldier who gave his life to fight for our freedom.
“The people, the community, everyone, coming out here to welcome home one of our own renews my faith in all of us as Americans. These are the good people of our nation lined up here; these are our policemen and firemen, soldiers and marines, veterans, mom’s, white collar and blue: these are the exact people who make it all work, and they’re all here to honor the greatest of us all: those who serve,” said Alexia Small.
Emotion filled the crowd as the motor brigade passed with 21-year-old Specialist Stephan Lee Mace. The Patriot Guard motorcycle group helped the police escort Mace to the Purcellville Baptist Church. He will be buried at Arlington Cemetery on October 19,2009.
“I was proud and sad. I was proud that there are Americans that are willing to go and fight for our freedom but sad that many of them don’t come back,” said spectator Jimmy Lutz.
Mace was one of the eight soldiers killed last Saturday in the Nuristan Province where over 200 Taliban members attacked U.S. Soldiers. He was stationed at Camp Keating in Afghanistan. Two Army chaplains delivered the bad news to Mace’s parents, Larry Mace and Vanessa Adelson, around 5 a.m. last Sunday and his body was flown home this Sunday.
“I was very happy that a large number of people came to show their support and appreciation. It appeared that the family really appreciated it too,” said Austin James.
Mace is the first soldier from Loudoun County killed in the war. Many people in the crowd felt an obligation to come out and support Mace giving up his life in the war.
“Virginians always honor our Warriors. That’s why I’m standing here with my one-year-old daughter in my arms. Stephen didn’t die for me. He died for her. He died defending her future against Islamist freaks who stone women to death; who throw burning acid in young girls faces for daring to go to school, and who’ve pledged to slaughter anyone who doesn’t go along with their twisted view of women and the world. Stephen died to make her world a better place. He deserves this and so much we’ll never be able to pay,” said Leesburg, VA resident Chris Manthos.
