As I drove into Tomball this morning with a heavy heart, I looked all around me and saw all the flags at half staff. That afternoon I waited for our fallen hero to arrive. As I waited there with my friends, family and strangers I thought “This is how a town should be.”  As the sirens wailed and the police officers and Patriot Guard drove down the street, my heart filled with bittersweet joy. He was brave, fearless and fought and died for the most amazing country. Chills ran up my spine as I saw them coming closer. 

People in the motorcade kept saying thank you as tears flowed from their eyes. They proudly saluted our American and Marine Corps flags we held up so proudly for all of them to see. In all honesty, I felt like I should be telling them, “Thank You.”

Later that day I drove down Main Street and I just had tears in my eyes, because while driving home every sign had “God Bless the USA,” and “Thank you to the Johnson Family,” and “Our prayers are with the Johnson Family.” There were many small American flags lining the streets along the sidewalks. You could tell that even though people didn’t know Cpl. Jeffery Johnson, they believed in showing thanks to his family for what he fought and died for.

To be there with family, friends and even strangers, I truly felt like we gave the family and Cpl. Johnson the best homecoming we could. I have never been more proud to be an American…never more proud to be from a small town that came together to welcome this soldier home. Tomball has lived up to being a “Hometown with a Heart”!

God Bless,

Leslie Ward, Magnolia

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