A young man who I have never had the pleasure of meeting came home today. I had a joy within about his homecoming almost as I would with family even though he doesn’t know me. You see, Andrew Wilson grew up in the Brentwood area. He attended Brentwood Academy and graduated as any other young man would imagining the world was at his command and was ready to tackle it. All of this happened right before my very eyes in that he lived, attended school and hung out just a couple of miles from my office. But yet, I never even saw him until today!
My staff and I walked outside my office in a dark, chilly rain drenched morning to pay tribute to Spec. 4 Andrew Wilson, age 25, a member of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division based in Fort Drum, N.Y. He comes home today a different young man! He has no legs! He lost them after an IED blast exploded under
him while on patrol in Afghanistan this past October. He has spent the last couple of months at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Bethesda, MD. learning how to live without nearly half of his body!
The City of Brentwood stepped up in paying tribute! The streets were lined – even in the inclement weather – with well wishers holding their umbrellas. As the motorcade approached, people began to clap, raise the American flag and many could be seen saying – 
as I did when he passed by – a simple “Thank You!” You could tell this young man was stunned at this reception that a grateful city would come out to acknowledge his commitment and bravery to defend and protect us and so many others as he has. It was the very least any of us could do and it still felt like so little.
I know of very few people that truly get the sacrifice these young men and women and all of their families have gone
through as a result of this war. I personally have had no family members who have served in this latest conflict but had a father and uncles who served in World War 2. I’m told they were never the same men after they fought and returned home. Andrew Wilson won’t be either but he did end up with still a better deal than more than 2800 others in Afghanistan alone – he has his life! It will just be different as he goes forward. But from all I read and hear about this brave young man, he has plans, dreams and desires and says this injury won’t stop him!
He can consider me a cheerleader for those goals. Once again, it’s the very least I can do!
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