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Molino Welcomes Soldier Home From Afghanistan
March 1, 2014
A local soldier received a hero’s welcome home to Molino late Friday afternoon.
U.S. Army Capt. Lea Wiggins had spent the last year stationed at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division working as a military liaison. With an escort provided by the Molino Volunteer Fire Department, Wiggins rolled into a parking lot in Molino filled with family, friends and even complete strangers on hand to welcome her home with flags, balloons, American flags and an over abundance of smiles.
“You don’t know us,” one lady told Wiggins. “But we heard about this, and we wanted to be here and thank you for your service.”
“I was blown away. It was more than I every could have asked for or imagined. It’s very humbling and very surprising,” Wiggins said of the event. “It means the world,” she said, “it’s a big motivator for not just myself, but for soldiers that are still over there still fighting.”
For Wiggins it was an exciting event — especially the chance to see her sister Heather Kinnard who is expecting her first baby, a boy, in June. “I was hoping he would kick for me,’ Wiggins said.
“I missed family and friends,” she said. “It’s not just enough to be able to talk to them now and then, I wanted to just sit down with them just catch up on everything.”
Now that Wiggins back on American soil, she plans to finish her captain’s career course, hopefully taking a command by the end of the year. And she’ll probably work a little bit on a new hobby she picked up in Afghanistan – Muay Thai kickboxing.
Friday’s celebration was compliments of Fran Hampton at Fran’s Country Diner, who said she just wanted to do something to support our military.
Pictured above and below: U.S. Army Capt. Lea Wiggins was welcomed back to Molino during an event Friday evening at Fran’s Diner. Pictured bottom inset: Wiggins with her pregnant sister Heather Kinnard, hoping to feel the unborn boy kick. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
13 Responses to “Molino Welcomes Soldier Home From Afghanistan”
Welcome home Soldier and THANK YOU for YOUR SERVICE!!! May God always keep YOU SAFE!!!!
From one “Screaming Eagle to another” “Welcome home and thank you for your service”.
Welcome home Captain Wiggins and thank the Lord for your same return home.
Thank you for your service Ma’am.
Welcome home and thank you for your sacrifice and service. My family and I appreciate all that everyone does in protecting our country!
Semper Fi and God’s Speed fellow warrior.
I don’t know you but please, I want to say thank you for what you do and for what you did for all of us!
Thank you so much for your service for our country! You make us all proud! God bless you and be with you and all the other men and women in uniform!
Welcome home and THANK YOU for your service and sacrifice. My family and I appreciate all that you do!
Welcome home and thank you for serving our wonderful country!
Lea,Thankyou for your service. Welcome home!
Thank you Lea for your service to our Country.. It was great to see you and the Wiggins family. I hope you enjoy your time at home.. I especially loved the great picture they took of you Heather and my soon to be Grand.. Love you and thanks again.
Thank you for your time and service so glad you came home walking. God Bless
Welcome home!!
Thank you so very much for your service & sacrifice to our country. It is so very refreshing to see that there are still selfless young people willing to place their lives on hold for our protection. What a go!!!!