GARDEN GROVE : Students Give Troops Big Hurrah

More than 1,000 flag-waving and emotional students at a local high school Wednesday gave a thunderous welcome to 23 troops back from the Persian Gulf.

Lt. Kerry O’Connor, a three-year Marine veteran and the only woman in the group, called the ceremony at Bolsa Grande High School “really touching. Over there we heard about how much support there was, but now that we’re back, we’re seeing it.”

O’Connor, a 24-year-old Denver native, said she was most impressed with the vigor of the reception. “This biggest thing was the applause, when they were stomping their feet and cheering. The applause and the togetherness stuck out.”

The Marines honored were from the El Toro and Tustin Marine air stations and were greeted by an orchestra and choral singers performing patriotic songs, including “Yankee Doodle Dandee” and the national anthem. On the gymnasium walls were red, white and blue balloons and two large banners proclaiming “Freedom is worth fighting for” and “Thanks for a job well done.”

County Supervisor Roger R. Stanton spoke briefly, thanking the Marines for their heroism and the crowd for its support.

“I don’t think there’s a better thing to call yourself than an American,” he said. He also thanked three members of Vietnam Veterans Reunited who attended the assembly and mentioned the “shame” of how they were treated on their return.

“Hopefully, that has been somewhat washed away,” he said. The crowd responded to that and other tributes to those veterans with deafening applause.

Several of the Marines appeared misty-eyed during the ceremony, especially after two students whose loved ones were sent to the Gulf spoke about how they felt about the war.

“One reason I think the war was ended quickly was because of your courage, bravery, strength and loyalty. Without actions from you, we would not have won this war so quickly,” said Genevieve Long, an 18-year-old student whose boyfriend served in the Gulf.

Eighteen-year-old Eric Cables, whose father, Master Sgt. Richard Cables, sat nearby during the assembly, told the audience how his family feared for his father’s safety. He added that his mother cried often during his father’s absence.

“I started getting scared when the bombs got closer to my dad,” he told a silent crowd. And when his father returned at 3 a.m. one day, Cables told him, “ ‘Dad, I just wanted to say, I’m proud to be your son.’

“In honor of my dad and you guys over there,” he said to the Marines, “I just want to say thanks for a job well done, thanks, and again, thank you.” After the assembly, Eric Cables said he was surprised at the overwhelming and sincere enthusiasm of the student audience.

Josh Duncan, 18, whose father served in Saudi Arabia, said he agreed. “You could feel the goose bumps and (see people) all teary-eyed. It was real emotional. They really poured it on.”