Jim Bailey & UMTV
TriCities.com
Jan 6, 12:10 AM EST

Private First Class George McCready has just finished guarding a bridge in dangerous Fallujah, Iraq. Now, he's getting a hero's welcome home, as grand marshal of his own parade.

"Its amazing, it's amazing." the young Tennessee National Guard soldier grins at his reception.

No argument there. No one else in the country celebrates returning soldiers like the Putnam County Tennessee Soldier Support Group. Lisa Bishop has organized 17 of these receptions. The parades wind through the streets of Cookeville, Tennessee, and end wherever the soldiers would like, often at their own front doors.

"We don't see color. We don't see branches. We see soldiers, we see heroes, we see families left behind." explains Bishop. "It doesn't matter what branch you're from, if you need us, we're there."

Bishop's support of the local troops is truly a matter of faith. The Bible instructs that great sacrifice is love, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 NIV. Honoring those who have risk their lives shows a communities love for them.

The Rev. Gerald Taylor / Freedom United Methodist Church: "Lisa is a minister as we all are and she is very effective in her ministry." the Reverend Gerald Taylor is Lisa's pastor. "She gets cards and calls from some of those people saying she's their angel. And what bigger compliment could you receive than that?"

Just ask Private McCready. "Its good to know everybody is behind you. It makes you swell with pride."

Other soldiers say this warm welcome home helped wash away the horrors of war.

Staff Sergeant Frank Robertson is one of them, "It just brings tears to your eyes, when you're little boy is just proud as can be, and your little girl sitting next to you, and your wife's just glassy-eyed because she doesn't know whether to cry or smile at the same time. To me, it's the best feeling in the world."

Both soldiers served in the midst of the danger in Iraq with the 278th Armored Cvalry Regiment of the Tennessee National Guard. In addition to having their own parade route, each soldier gets a key to the city and a free dinner at their favorite restaurant. Perhaps more importantly they feel the gratitude of the people they risked their lives to serve.

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