Community Corner
Local Marine Arrives Home In Little Red Corvette
The best Father's Day gift a family could receive, LCpl Joseph Harr arrives home safe and sound from Afghanistan
Local Marine LCpl Joseph Harr arrived home in style from Afghanistan on Sunday afternoon in a vintage Corvette escorted by a joyous convoy of Warrior Watch Riders.
More than 250 neighbors greeted the young Marine and 2010 graduate as he stepped out of the car grinning ear to ear. American flags lined the sidewalks and lawns on Sproat Avenue for a very special Father’s Day homecoming.
What a welcome it was. Dad, William Harr, picked up his son in a 1962 red Corvette that he had won in a raffle.
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“I told him the ‘Vette was his for the next 23 days,” William Harr said. “He can do whatever he wants with it.”
While many neighbors, friends and family welcomed Joe home, they couldn't pass up the opportunity to check out the old muscle car. Even Oak Lawn Mayor Dave Heilmann took a moment out of his Father’s Day to extend his best wishes to the young Marine.
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“What a homecoming to have him come home on Father's Day,” Heilmann said. “Every time a soldier returns, there should be this kind of event. He's 20 years old and serving our country."
After being presented with gifts from Soldiers Guardian Angels and Warrior Watch Riders, LCpl Harr breathed a sigh of relief. One of the things he missed was Giordano's Pizza.
"You gotta love it," Joe said. "I was looking forward to that and, of course, I missed my family, my girlfriend, Taylor, and my buddies here."
How does young Marine want to spend some of his time? Going to a Sox vs. Cubs game. Don't expect Joe to wear the blue bear, he's a diehard Chicago White Sox fan.
Mom, Sue Sommerville, told Patch how she kept in touch through the months.
"I sent care packages every week," she said. "At Christmas I sent a Christmas tree and ornaments, goofy little things like that."
In fact Sommerville is still collecting. "I'm collecting for a mom's organization. Some kids don't get that much, Joe got a lot."
As LCpl Harr was finally relaxing and laughing with friends and family, his mom Sue glanced over and summed up how everyone was feeling.
"I'm so happy my son is home," she said. "It doesn't get any better than this."
Contact Denny Tobleck to hearn how to send care packages to deployed miliary by email at dennysells@aol.com.
