A hero's homecoming

Crowds along U.S. 27 gathered for an emotional welcoming home of Army Cpl. Corey Lyons, who lost his leg while serving in Iraq.

"In our eyes he's our hometown hero," said Helena Roland, admission and marketing director for Oaks at Avon, a rehabilitation and nursing home center in Avon Park.

India Cobb, a certified nurse assistant at Oaks, cheered for Lyons' return in front of the center alongside about 35 residents and employees.

"I know he is a hero and I am sad for what happened," Cobb said.

Hours before Lyons was to arrive in Avon Park he was thinking about all the familiar faces he might see at the welcoming spots in Lake Wales and Avon Park.

Local chapters of the Latin American Motorcycle Association and the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club waited for Lyons' at Fat Boys' Bar-B-Q in Lake Wales. Businesses along U.S. 27 from Main Street to Bill Jarrett Ford-Mercury also participated in the welcoming home.

"It's important to say thank you because of his loss ... and the sacrifice he made for the defense of freedom," said Howard Jenkins Jr., a LAMA business representative and Heartland Workforce veteran's representative.

Lyons signed up for the Army in April of 2006. He said it was an opportunity for a better life.

He wanted to attend college and financially support his wife and two children, ages 4 and 11 years old. Months after his enrollment he heard talk about the possibility of being deployed to Iraq. Although the U.S. had occupied Iraq for seven years the sudden news of deployment was unexpected.

On Feb. 5, 2008, just four month's into his first tour in Iraq, Lyons' life changed forever when the cargo truck he was riding in went over a roadside bomb. The explosion tore into the truck and severely injured Lyons' right leg.

"I am still going through therapy, both physical and psychological ... It is an ongoing battle," Lyons said.

Lyons was taken to a military hospital in Washington, D.C., where doctors told him due to complications from his injury they had to amputate his leg.

The two years of therapy since his injury have been tough. He was in physical therapy rehab at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where his wife Danielle Lyons said she's seen improvement.

"It was hard for me to accept that I lost a limb. I was under the weather," Lyon said.

Lyons, 24, is the youngest veteran in Highlands County to become a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highlands County Chapter (601).

Local support

Residents and employees of Oaks spent the day drawing up welcome home posters decorated with small spin wheels, American flags and other patriot emblems like the American bald eagle.

Robert Young, a resident at Oaks who also received a Purple Heart for his service in the Philippines, was proud of the efforts made by the community in welcoming home a fellow solider.

Young's son, Robert Young Jr., who was visiting from Tuscaloosa, Ala., was elated by the local support.

"These people have put their lives in harms way. The least we can do is show them they are loved back home. No matter how big or small their time in service they need to be appreciated," Robert Young Jr. said.

Highlands County Sheriff's Office, Avon Park Police Department, LAMA, U.S. Military Vet Motorcycle Club and others escorted Lyon's from the county line to his home in Avon Park.

"I'm very appreciative of the support. It makes me really happy," Lyons said.