Long Island Soldier Welcomed Home By Hundreds In Local Celebration
STEWART MANOR, N.Y. (CBSNewYork)-- A hero got a warm welcome home this Fourth of July weekend on Long Island as hundreds of neighbors came out to thank the soldier for his service.
U.S. Army Specialist Daniel MacFall is back on American soil, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
"Overwhelming, but in a good way," he said. "Knowing that a lot of people cared about what you were doing out there feels good."
The celebration, meant to be a small family gathering, multiplied into a block party as word got out Specialist McFall was coming back.
"It ballooned from putting a couple of ribbons on a tree to this wonderful welcome back festivity," his grandmother Linda Stone said.
"Once I found out we had a hometown hero coming home I started making phone calls," Assistant Fire Chief Tim Skinner said.
The calls lead to the fire department, veteran bikers, local boy scout troop, and family and friends all lining up to salute the American hero.
"We need to let our soldiers know that there's people standing for them, 'cause they stood for us," Pete Wenninger, of Patriot Guard Riders, said.
While serving overseas for six months in Afghanistan, the MacFall family was proud of Danny, but plagued with worry.
"Every once in a while in the paper, there's not a lot of coverage, but you see something horrific happen and you think about what he's going through," father Tim MacFall said.
Now all of their anxiety has dissipated.
"All the time you were away we thought about you every moment. We missed you so much it's so great to have you back," brother Ryan MacFall said.
Specialist MacFall will have three weeks of well-deserved rest and relaxation and he has some plans in the works.
"Me and my girlfriend Kaycee are going to Disney word," he said.
For now he'll enjoy a family cookout at home, celebrating all things American is exactly where he's meant to be.
