A 22-year-old Manhattan man got a surprise hero’s welcome Sunday in New Lenox.
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Sam Persin, who was in the U.S. Navy stationed in Hawaii, said he was surprise to be escorted from Walmart to the New Lenox VFW Post 9545 by dozens of motorcyle riders from groups that support veterans.
“I thought we were coming for drinks and food,” Persin said.
Persin, who served four years in the military, said he was “overwhelmed” by the event.
The VFW post was crowded with bikers, former military personnel, his friends and members of the Persin family.
New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann told the crowd that Persin was the “product of the community” of patriots. He thanked him and his family for the sacrifice they made.
“We’re certainly so grateful for your service,” Baldermann said.
Persin’s days stationed at Pearl Harbor were spent as a damage controlman, which is essentially a Navy firefighter.
Sam Persin left for service at an emotional time for the family, said his mother, Tina Persin. All within a year of him shipping out, the family lost two grandparents.
“It was devastating. I did not want him going,” Tina Persin said.
Coming home earlier this month also has been an adjustment, Sam Persin said.
The first thing he wanted when he returned home was his mother’s shepherd’s pie. Persin said Hawaii possesses many exotic treats, but he missed his family’s home cooking.
The toughest adjustment so far is the time difference, Persin said. Hawaii is five hours behind Chicago, and even waking up at 11 a.m. here still feels early for him, he said.
For Persin, being home means getting to enjoy the freedom that he and other veterans served to protect, he said.
“I can do what I want, finally, and not have to listen to someone tell me what to do every second of every day,” Persin said.
Persin does get to sleep in a real bed again, but it hasn’t exactly been a quiet change to civilian life, Tina Persin said.
Workers hammered away completing roofing at the Persin family home for the first two days he was back, she said.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.