Highlands welcomes Marine back from the War on Terror

October 20, 2016 Star-Courier News Index - Front Page 0

Cpl. Drew Greer sits atop the back seat of his mother’s convertible Camaro as locals and the organizers of Southeast Texas Patriot Guard Riders prepare a flag ceremony to welcome his return from Saudi Arabia and eight other countries over the last four years. Drew is behind Corky Hamilton of PGR.

HIGHLANDS–From Camp Pendelton in California Drew Greer was looking forward to a relaxing homecoming to his Grace Lane residence, but his family and community had another idea, a welcome worthy of the dedication and service he had completed as a Marine.

His father, Stebo Greer, related how Drew had worked as the Chick-Fil-A cow mascot before putting on his Marine uniform. “Highlands has been very supportive of my family. I would like to thank them for turning out to welcome home my son and I hope that this will be a start of many more welcome homes for our service people.”

As he rounded the corner of Main St. to Wallisville out to Highlands Elementary, where he had attended as a pupil, he first saw a man pointing a camera at him and asked his brother and mother, Dr. Kim Rawlinson, “What is he taking pictures of out here?”

Then to his notable shock he saw a double line of flags backed by Highlands Volunteer Fire Dept. trucks with a team of motorcycles in the lead and ahead of that Miss Highlands and Highlands Junior Miss holding a banner that saying “Welcome Home.”

After being joined by the Chick-Fil-A Cow in his mother’s convertible a procession went north to his residence where more ceremonies commenced.

Initially, old stories of Drew before his service were told to rib him and show their notice. The kids bestowed small cows to him from Chick-Fil-A as an honoring. Some of his experiences during the service were relayed, he learned to cook an iguana lizard for example.

Drew’s response to the events are, “I thought it was awesome, I was fully surprised. It was amazing. It meant a lot to me to have all these people come out. My brother took me out to eat breakfast and play a little pool and then said I said are we going home, he said, ‘Naugh come on we need to go somewhere else.’”

Corky Hamilton Senior Ride Captain of the Southeast Texas Patriot Guard Riders said, “Anytime someone has a son or daughter come back from the military all they have to do is contact the Southeast Texas PGR or Corky Hamilton, we do all the work all they have to do is show up.”

The number for the Hamilton’s is (832) 385-3070.