Written by Samantha Yale Scroggin with Santa Maria Times
The families of at least five military service members have something special to be thankful for this Thursday — the return of their loved ones in time for Thanksgiving.
The group Welcome Home Military Heroes helped families greet two military members in Santa Maria on Saturday and three others in San Luis Obispo.
At the Santa Maria Public Airport, volunteers gathered with American flags and banners to greet Army Spc. Tony Manfredi from Orcutt, who has spent the last year stationed in Hawaii working with missile systems. He is a member of a family deeply dedicated to military service.
Coincidentally on the same flight, Navy Corpsman David Oliver from Orcutt also returned from a deployment to Afghanistan. Oliver had been welcomed home by some 75 supporters in December when he returned from a previous deployment.
Cheryl Tolan, co-organizer of Welcome Home Military Heroes, said the group recognizes service members regardless of where they are stationed.
“They make a choice to serve, we make a choice to come out and welcome them and let them know we appreciate their service,” she added.
A surprised-looking Manfredi, 25, grinned widely as he walked into the airport terminal Saturday afternoon and saw the crowd who greeted him with a hearty “welcome home!” called out in unison.
“Wow,” he said, before walking over to hug his brother.
After accepting greetings and thanks from the dozens present, Manfredi relaxed outside for a few moments.
“That was amazing,” he said. “I expected just some family here when I came up.”
Tony’s stepmom, Patty Manfredi, said the family is part of the Welcome Home Military Heroes group.
“We felt he deserved it. He’s been gone for a year,” she added.
Having her son home was “amazing”, Patty Manfredi said.
She added that it’s always fantastic to have her sons return home from service.
The Manfredis have six children, four of whom have served in the military and two of whom are actively serving. Two have been deployed to war zones so far.
“When they come home, it’s huge,” Manfredi said.
“(We) spend a lot of time worrying about them.”
The brothers’ father, grandfather and uncles have also served in the military.
“There’s people that do it and there’s people that don’t do it,” said the father, Ric Manfredi, of the family’s decision to serve.
Ric Manfredi said Tony has applied to pilot school but is scheduled to be sent to Afghanistan next year if he isn’t accepted.
“Veterans Day last year was the last time he was home,” Manfredi said.
The family wasn’t able to celebrate Christmas with him, or his birthday or the Fourth of July.
“He hasn’t been able to do all the family stuff,” Manfredi added.
In the next three weeks while Tony is home before he must return to duty in Hawaii, the family intends to make the most of their brief time together.
To start, Manfredi planned a gathering at his house for Saturday after Tony’s arrival.
“I’m barbecuing rain or shine,” the father noted.