Silvana Tabares (standing at far left), candidate for State Representative of 21st District, welcomed Private First Class Kurt Scapardine and Sergeant Jesse Lopez (standing at right), two war heroes back in Lyons, Illinois. Also pictured (from the left): State Representative Michael J. Zalewski, Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, Ill. Senator Martin Sandoval (D) and Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty.
It was a tumultuously festive and special homecoming. The heroes were whisked off to take part in a procession from Scapardine’s home to the Lyons Village Hall, where hundreds waited to greet them and welcome them home, including the J. Sterling Morton West High School marching band.
Scapardine, 29, has been in the Army for two years, half of that time spent in Iraq and Baghdad. He said seeing his family and eventually returning home was what kept him going. It feels good to be back home,” said Scapardine. “I really wasn’t expecting anything like this, and this is definitely a big surprise.” The young soldier is planning a career in the military. These two young men answered the call of duty and both did it with grace and with style. And they both said they would be willing to do it again because serving their country is important to them.
Lopez, 25, spent 15 months in Iraq. “You make really good friends in the military, so I don’t regret any part of it,” Lopez said. “It’s a surprise for him, wonderful as you see,” said mother Soledad Lopez.
