A Special Day for a Patriot and Tears in My Eyes Along the Way

Marine Corporal JB Kerns was injured in Afghanistan on April 7, 2011. He was on his third tour there, when  his vehicle was struck by a road side bomb. He was

lucky to survive, but lost both legs, and the lower half of his right arm in the explosion. He had been at Camp Lejeune waiting for the return of his unit, but was set to come home, to Ararat, Virginia today.

Arrangements had been made for the Patriot Guard to meet him in Pinnacle, North Carolina, and to escort him from there to Ararat. It was certain that a good percentage of the town would be there to greet him. He is a home town Hero.

Over two hundred bikes showed up in Pinnacle to meet him, and a thoughtful Highway Patrol officer had arranged for a police escort and road blocks for our caravan of bikers as we escorted JB through Mt. Airy, North Carolina, to his home coming.  What a sad and happy day. Sad because of JB's injuries, but happy because he made it through alive, and has gained all the respect, honor, and love of his town, his country, and of those who know his story.

When he arrived in Pinnacle in a van, he got out and greeted the waiting crowd. All of the two hundred plus of us wanted to shake his hand, hug him, and thank him

for his service, and most of us did. As his van finally pulled out, the bikers revved up their engines, and formed a staggered formation for the 25 mile trip through Mt. Airy and on to Ararat.

Along the route, people were clapping, saluting, holding flages and waving for JB, and cheering us as we rode along. It was a rousing display of appreciation and honor for JB, and a remarkable show of patriotism. You see, JB is the real thing. He is a living testament to the sacrifice that our military makes for us every day to preserve our freedoms, and the people along the route demonstrated that there are people out there that really understand this, and care deeply about it. They took their Sunday afternoon to pay respect to a Marine hero; a soldier that we all owe something to for his service to our country.

It's was good to see this demonstration of patriotism, and it brought tears to my eyes, because I love our country too. JB went home today, but he brought home for all of us the meaning of military sacrifice.

It would be nice if the world were a friendly place, but it clearly is not. Unfortunately, we need young men and women to defend our freedoms, and carry the message of that freedom into the world. JB has done that with honor, and he has shown all of us his tennacity and courage in doing so.

Today, Marine Corporal JB Kerns had somewhere between 500 and 1000 supporters today there in Ararat, Virginia, and with the evening news reports that will air tonight hundreds more, in the comfort of their homes, will get the chance to share in the joy of an American hero who teaches all of us a most precious lesson in Patriotism. Thank you and God bless you JB, and God bless America.