Returning soldiers greeted with old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Barn party — An old-fashioned-looking red barn provides the perfect setting for a celebration of the Fourth of July and the safe return of troops from Afghanistan. The Cowart family in DeLand hosted the celebration for the homecoming of Spc. Denny Cowart.

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Welcome back — Veterans of Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War and other operations took turns at the microphone, greeting returning soldiers during a special Fourth of July party at the Cowart home in DeLand. Here, veteran and Patriot Guard Rider Bob Fox takes the microphone with words of welcome and appreciation.

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
A solemn moment – Denny Cowart, front right, and Army comrade Joshua Brown, left, listen solemnly to military veterans who thanked them for their willingness to serve their country. It wasn’t all solemn, however. Outside, food sizzled on a hot grill and cold drinks flowed from a tap for a grand Independence Day celebration at Cowart’s DeLand home.

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jul 11, 2009 - 9:28:53am

What better time to return home from war than the Fourth of July?

What better way to celebrate it than with an old-fashioned barn party?

There are none better, according to Spc. Denny Cowart of DeLand and a dozen or so of his comrades, newly returned from serving a tour in Afghanistan.

The soldiers, from various parts of Florida, shipped out July 4, 2008, so they missed last year’s Independence Day celebration.

Denny is the son of Dennis and Dori Cowart of DeLand. Dori was determined this year’s Fourth of July would not only be a bang-up celebration to make up for last year’s missed one, it would be a celebration of the safe return of Denny and the members of his platoon from the 715th Military Police Company of the U.S. Army National Guard, out of Melbourne.

Dori said she wanted a great celebration for the soldiers who had “been living in tents” and waiting to get back home.

When the returning soldiers set foot on U.S. soil again in Melbourne July 2, a group of Patriot Guard Riders (www.patriotguard.org) was on hand to greet them and give them a motorcycle escort to the National Guard Armory for a reunion with their loved ones.

Patriot Guards are drawn from various veterans organizations, including Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Leathernecks Motorcycle Club and AMVETS. The motorcyclists provide escorts for returning vets, funerals of fallen vets, and other ceremonial occasions.

On July 4, a band played songs like “Only in America,” while Denny, friends, comrades, Patriot Guard Riders and family celebrated Independence Day and a safe return.

“I’m very glad to be home,” Denny said.

After a 90-day leave, Denny will return to his civilian job as a building inspector for an Orlando firm and weekend National Guard duty.

— pat@beacononlinenews.com

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