Soldier Returning From Germany Receives Hometown Hero's Welcome

Upon arriving at Long Island MacArthur Airport from Germany on Thursday, Sgt. Louie Varias was stunned to be met with a hearty hello as part of the Town of Islip's "Hometown Hero" Welcome Program at Long Island MacArthur Airport.

Varias, 26, an East Setauket resident who has been serving in Germany and Iraq with the U.S. Army for the past nine years, was very grateful to be back home for the first time since Thanksgiving.

His mother, Beatriz McClean, stepfather Ronald McClean and sister Loryn, 20, were joined at the airport by Islip Deputy Supervisor , a decorated Vietnam-era Marine who spearheaded the "" program in 2009, Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan, Councilwoman Trish Bergin-Weichbrodt, District director to State Sen. Lee Zeldin, Tom Croci, Long Island director for the State Senate, Nick Lalotta and Republican candidate for Brookhaven Town Supervisor, Cecile Forte.

Bergin-Weichbrodt presented Varias with a citation on behalf of the entire Islip Town Board, and Croci, who is running against Nolan for Islip town supervisor this year, gave him a certificate from Zeldin's office.

"It feels really good. I'm grateful. I feel appreciated. It was a big surprise," Varias said amid all the attention.

He will get to spend just 10 days with his proud family before heading to an army base in Polk, Louisiana where he will be stationed for a year. While he said his time overseas is done, he has no plans to leave the army just yet.

It was no surprise that as a teenager Varias decided to enlist. He comes from a strong military family: His stepfather served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years, his older sister, Luviminda, 30, was in the Navy for nine years, and is now married to a military man, and his younger sister Loryn is now looking to go into the Navy "very, very soon."

"I'm next," she said.

"I was a military wife, and now I'm even more proud to be a military mom," said Beatriz, a former volunteer in the American Red Cross.  "My heart always goes out to the men and women in uniform.  Now that he will stay home for a while, I'm so glad."

Bergin Weichbrodt helped Parrington put together this impromptu welcome home at the very last minute, after Ronald sent an email to Suffolk GOP Chairman John Jay LaValle on Tuesday night alerting him of Varias' return.

"They put all this together in one night," said Ronald.

"These guys put their life on the line for our country, the least we can do is be here to welcome them home," Bergin Weichbradt said.

Sgt.Edward Lufker of Huntington returned from active duty on the same flight home, although no one knew he would be there, and he seemed to have no one waiting at the airport, he, too, was greeted with a Hometown Hero's welcome.