Soldiers greeted in Zelie They're back from Kuwait deployment
Firefighters gathered in Zelienople to welcome home two of their own Tuesday afternoon.
Senior Airman Scott Frederick of Zelienople and Sgt. John Kovacic of Jackson Township returned home after being deployed in Kuwait for six months.
Both were deployed as firefighters with the Air National Guard from the 171st Air Refueling Wing in Pittsburgh.
They both also are volunteer firefighters, Frederick with the Zelienople department and Kovacic with the Harmony department.
They were greeted Tuesday afternoon by their families, fellow volunteer firefighters and members of the Butler County American Legion Riders when they arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport.
With help from the Allegheny County Police, they were escorted out of the airport and back to Butler County.
With an escort from several police and fire trucks the convoy rode north on Route 19 and into the borough where they were greeted by numerous fire trucks, ambulances and people standing by the side of the road waving American flags or holding up signs.
Frederick went to the Zelienople department's station on West Beaver Street, where he was greeted with hugs by friends, family and firefighters.
“It was very humbling to see that much support. I knew they might do something, but I didn't think it was going to be that big,” he said.
Frederick, 23, said he had helped the Butler County American Legion Riders in the past welcome home members of the military.
The Riders are a group that organizes motorcycle escorts for military members returning home from deployment. Though it was too cold Tuesday to ride their bikes, they rode along in a van.“It's definitely a good thing to do, it's a good community involvement,” he said.Frederick said now that he is back he will return to work at Pittsburgh International Airport as a firefighter, though he could be called upon again for another deployment.Harmony Fire Chief Neal Nanna said Kovacic wanted to go directly home and spend time with his family after the community welcome.Nanna said he was contacted by Kovacic's wife with the idea to welcome the two men home.He then made calls and put out messages on social media inviting any emergency responders in the area to assemble on Main Street when they arrived.The response from neighboring departments was phenomenal, he said.“It was pretty nice. People bought into it and showed their respect for it,” he said.Nanna said he wanted to thank all the fire departments, ambulance services, police and people who helped with welcoming the two men home.“This is what America is all about,” he said.
