Hamill's homecoming
By Staff
May 10, 2004
Tommy Hamill's Iraqi odyssey seems to be over now. In the pre-dawn hours Saturday, the former hostage stepped off a private jet and prepared for an extended rest with his family in Macon. Home again, and how sweet it must be.
In keeping with his wishes for at least a semblance of privacy, Hamill and his wife, Kellie, who had joined him in Germany, were greeted by a small gathering of family and close friends. Yellow police tape kept waiting media crews at bay, ribbons decorated nearby trees and red, White and Blue balloons were floating on top of the mail box that sits along the Hamill's driveway.
In a statement later, he said he was relieved to be back in the U.S. We can only imagine the feelings that must have washed over him as his plane neared its destination.
Given the violence and confusion in Iraq that hits both military and civilian personnel, Hamill is indeed a fortunate man. We join today with his family and friends in extending our very best wishes for a speedy recovery from his physical wounds and say, simply, welcome home, Mr. Hamill, get some rest and when you're ready to tell the rest of your story you'll have our rapt attention.