US Army Corporal Jared Griffin didn’t have the first clue that he would be coming home to a hero’s welcome Saturday evening.  But he did.

Just before 8:30 pm, starting at the county line, deputies with the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department began an escort that carried all the way past the high school on to the Griffin’s home at Linden Park.  At CCHS, the La Follette Fire Department set up its ladder truck while Griffin’s caravan came by as fellow members of the Hillcrest Baptist Church were on hand for the welcome home surprise.

Griffin is a member of the Tennessee National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Squadron.  He and the nearly 200 others returned Thursday to the Volunteer Training Site in Smyrna.  The troops were part of a nine-month deployment to Poland as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence.

LFD Assistant Fire Chief Jimmy Pack (L) and La Follette Mayor Mike Stanfield salute as Corporal Jared Griffin passes by

While Griffin was away his wife Lacy gave birth to twin sons, Maverick and Conner, in February.  She, the twins and their other children drove the new  father of twins back home to La Follette from Smyrna.  Tomorrow will be extra special as well.  Because it’s older sister Maddix’s birthday.

Lacy, who owns Lacy’s Cake Shop across from Jacksboro Middle School, said, “I wanted Jared to know how loved he really is, and that the sacrifice he gave by going away did not go unnoticed by our town, church and family.”

Welcome home Jared.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/18/2019-8:45PM)

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