MOORESVILLE, North Carolina (WCNC) – Thousands of people lined the streets of Mooresville, North Carolina Friday evening to welcome home a 22-year-old Marine who earlier this year lost parts of both of his legs in Afghanistan.
Family and friends surrounded the motorcycle where Corporal Garrett Carnes was, riding behind his father as it pulled to a stop in the center of town.
Hundreds of members of the Patriot Guard had provided the escort and the roar of all those engines echoed off the downtown buildings as a band played.
Carnes, who lost his legs in an IED explosion back in February said, “This is great and everything but I wish my brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, especially those in my unit, could be here for this special day.”
“This is unbelievable what this town has put together for me,” Carnes said. “It shows the true love they have for our service men.”
Carnes still has to spend almost a year in rehab back at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
After that is done he said he will be back home for good.
“I plan to stay in Mooresville and whatever job I do, as long as it is in Mooresville, that is where I will be,” he said.
Written by Krister Rollins
(WCNC)
April 23, 2012
